[단독] Grammy 3rd Sue Richard Yongjae O’Neill “BTS will be sure someday…”

Violist Richard Yongjae O’Neill speaks of his feelings about winning the Grammy. [연합뉴스]

“I didn’t have a musical background, and I didn’t grow up in a big city. I played music hard, and I’ve always tried to improve even a little. So this award is more meaningful.”

Korean-American violist Richard Yongjae O’Neill, 43, announced his imprisonment for the Grammy Award in a telephone interview with Bonjour on the 15th. O’Neill won the’Best Classical Instrumental Solo’ category at the 63rd Grammy Awards on the 14th (local time). He received a Grammy for recording the viola concerto by American composer Christopher Theophanidis (54).

O’Neill is one of the most active viola players in the United States. He stood on stage with renowned orchestras, conductors, and performers, and last year joined as a new member of Takachi Quartet, a venerable string quartet. Graduated from the Juilliard Academy of Music and won the Avery Fisher Career Grant.

The moment he became known in Korea was the 2004 KBS documentary’Human Theater’. It was about becoming a musician while growing up in a small town in Washington State with a mother and grandparents adopted by the United States as orphans during the Korean War. The middle name’Yongjae’ is the Korean name given by Professor Kang Hyo, whom he met at the Juilliard Academy of Music at the time. In a telephone interview, O’Neill said, “I never expected anything in my life. Every opportunity has arisen unpredictably.”

O’Neill has been nominated for Grammy three times so far. He was nominated for the best soloist with the orchestra in 2005 and the best chamber music album in 2010. O’Neill said, “I didn’t expect more from 2020 because it was a pandemic, but the third was a lucky number.” Because of this, it means more to me.” He also added, “In Colorado, where I am staying, electricity is cut off due to heavy snowfall and strong winds.

He also said, “A great day for Viola,” in the official Grammy video. Viola, whose pitch range is between violin and cello, is an instrument that wasn’t usually the main character. One of the performers who won a Grammy for viola is Kim Cassikasian (69). O’Neill said that the composer’s power is great for being able to receive a Grammy for viola music. “The viola is treated as an orchestra instrument, or a chamber instrument with other instruments. But I think Grammy recognized the power of viola music written by Theophanidis.”

Theophanidis, a Greek-American, began writing concertos for violas and orchestras in 2001. However, due to the shock of the 9/11 terrorist attacks that year, I was unable to compose for a while. After revising the work several times, the last movement, the third movement, came to contain a memorial for the victims and a wish for interracial peace. O’Neill said, “The composer who finished revising the work in 2018 asked me to perform the first revised version.” At the end of that year, the album recorded live by playing this song with the Albany Symphony in Albany, New York, is the winner. O’Neill said, “Usually, viola music is dark and quiet, but this song is powerful and full of energy.”

The musicians who were nominated with O’Neill in this award-winning category were controversial. German pianist Igor Levitt, who has emerged as one of the world’s best musicians with all of Beethoven’s Sonatas, violinist Augustine Hadelich, who boasts outstanding craftsmanship, pianist Danil Triponov, the pride of Russia, and Thomas Ade, the most celebrated composer of the 21st century. O’Neill said, “It was an honor to be nominated with artists I like and respect the most.” The Albany Symphony, recorded with O’Neill, is also a regional orchestra in the United States, not a large orchestra known worldwide. He introduced it as “a band that continuously discovers and announces the music of existing composers, and that all performers should perform together.” He also said, “Even while large music groups canceled all performances during the pandemic, we made every effort to continue playing as much as the Albany Symphony.”

He also expressed regret for BTS’s failure to receive a Grammy award. “It’s not common for so many people across the continent to like it. In my opinion, they are already eligible for the award. As one of their fans, I believe that one day you will surely win. It is certainly.”

O’Neill performs every year in Korea. In December of last year, on the stage of’Richard Yongjae O’Neill’s Gift 2020′, he played music suitable for the end of the year. O’Neill said, “I am planning a visit to Korea with the Takachi Quartet this August, but the success is uncertain due to circumstances such as Corona 19 and self-isolation,” he said. “I dream of a day when I can freely play live music.”

Reporter Kim Ho-jeong [email protected]