For those not in the know, pianist Yeol Eum Son has signed with naive, A Believe label and the first album of this brilliant new collaboration is a 6-CD box set of Mozart’s complete piano sonatas. The stunning new recording will be available in stores and online on March 17th, 2023.

Poetic elegance, an innate feeling for expressive nuance and the power to project bold dramatic contrasts are among the arresting attributes of Yeol Eum Son’s pianism. Her refined artistry rises from breath-taking technical control and a profound empathy for the emotional temper of the works within her strikingly wide repertoire.

She is driven above all by her natural curiosity to explore a multitude of musical genres and styles and the desire to reveal what she describes as the “pure essence” of everything she performs.

Yeol Eum said, “I am beyond excited to begin a partnership with naive, the label I have adored for many years. Their belief, their passion, and their vision are so rare to find these days in this industry. It is even more special for me to start the collaboration with my complete Mozart Sonata album, a long-cherished project of mine.”

Disc 1:
Piano Sonata No. 1 in C major, K 279
1. Allegro
2. Andante
3. Allegro

Piano Sonata No. 2 in F major, K.280
4. Allegro assai
5. Adagio
6. Presto

Piano Sonata No. 3 in B flat major, K.281
7. Allegro
8. Andante amoroso
9. Rondeau. Allegro

Piano Sonata No. 4 in E flat major, K.282
10. Adagio
11. Menuetto I - Menuetto II
12. Allegro

The first disc, pianist Yeol Eum Son’s debut on Naïve, opens on the crispness of Allegro from Piano Sonata No. 1 in C major, K 279, and then gives us the delicate, yet forthrightly-sculptured Andante and the flourishing Allegro, before Piano Sonata No. 2 in F major, K.280 opens on the playfully determined Allegro assai, the delicate Adagio and the furtive Presto, the next being the felicitous Allegro from Piano Sonata No. 3 in B flat major, K.281, then comes the thoughtful Andante amoroso and the cheerfully hued Rondeau. Allegro, the disc rounding out on the dulcet Adagio of Piano Sonata No. 4 in E flat major, K.282, the melodically firm, but fair Menuetto I - Menuetto II and, finally, the frenetically-helmed Allegro.

Disc 2:
Piano Sonata No. 5 in G major, K.283
1. Allegro
2. Andante
3. Presto

Piano Sonata No. 6 in D major, K.284
4. Allegro 5. Rondeau en polonaise. Andante
6. Tema con variazione

Piano Sonata No. 7 in C major, K.309
7. Allegro con spirito
8. Andante un poco adagio
9. Rondeau. Allegretto grazioso

Having always been drawn to Mozart’s style, in her heart and in her fingers, the second disc opens on Piano Sonata No. 5 in G major, K.283 and the perky Allegro, the luxuriant Andante and the gently frenzied Presto, and then we get brought forth the strident Allegro of Piano Sonata No. 6 in D major, K.284, the pure gossamer of Rondeau en polonaise. Andante and the impish Tema con variazione, the disc rounding out on Piano Sonata No. 7 in C major, K.309; the sprightly Allegro con spirito, the pleasureable Andante un poco adagio, and the energetic Rondeau. Allegretto grazioso.

Disc 3:
Piano Sonata No. 8 in D major, K.311
1. Allegro con spirito
2. Andante con espressione
3. Rondeau. Allegro

Piano Sonata no. 9 in A minor, K.310
4. Allegro maestoso
5. Andante cantabile
6. Presto

Piano Sonata No. 10 in C major, K.330
7. Allegro moderato
8. Andante cantabile
9. Allegretto

The Korean pianist continues onward on the third disc with the chipper Allegro com spirito from Piano Sonata No. 8 in D major, K.311, then comes the beautiful Andante con espressione and the cultured Rondeau. Allegro, and then we get the pronounced Allegro maestoso from Piano Sonata no. 9 in A minor, K.310, the quietly unabashed Andante cantabile, and the animated Presto, the side rounding out on Piano Sonata No. 10 in C major, K.330; first the lively Allegro moderato, the veritably fibrous Andante cantabile, closing on the confidently amorous Allegretto.

Disc 4:
Piano Sonata No. 11 in A major, K.331
1. Tema con variazione. Andante grazioso
2. Menuetto
3. Alla Turca. Allegretto

Piano Sonata No. 12 in F major, K.332
4. Allegro
5. Adagio
6. Allegro assai

The pianist’s ninth album continues inward with the fourth disc, which opens on the dutifully structured Tema con variazione. Andante grazioso of Piano Sonata No. 11 in A major, K.331 and the brings us the rhythmic Menuetto and the amatory within Alla Turca. Allegretto, before rounding out on Piano Sonata No. 12 in F major, K.332, which opens on the sternly moving Allegro, the ariose Adagio, and the classical-pop-bounce, persay, of Allegro assai.

Disc 5:
Piano Sonata No. 13 in B flat major, K.333
1. Allegro
2. Andante cantabile
3. Allegretto grazioso

Piano Sonata No. 14 in C minor, K.457
4. Molto allegro
5. Adagio
6. Allegro assai

Liking to translate from this language, which she considers her mother tongue, the incredible ability to express different worlds, atmospheres and feeling, the fifth disc’s Piano Sonata No. 13 in B flat major, K.333 opens on the flourishing Allegro, the methodical Andante cantabile and the agreeable Allegretto grazioso, with the next part of the disc being the upbeat and joyous Molto allegro which opens Piano Sonata No. 14 in C minor, K.457, and continues onward with the languishing Adagio, closing on the gratifying Allegro assai.

Disc 6:
Piano Sonata No. 15 in F major, K.533/494
1. Allegro
2. Andante
3. Rondo. Allegretto

Piano Sonata No. 16 in C major, K.545
4. Allegro
5. Andante
6. Rondo. Allegretto

Piano Sonata No. 17 in B flat major, K.570
7. Allegro
8. Adagio
9. Allegretto

Piano Sonata No. 18 in D major, K.576
10. Allegro
11. Adagio
12. Allegretto

The sixth, and final disc, opens on the engaging Allegro from Piano Sonata No. 15 in F major, K.533/494 and continues on with the flowing beauty within Andante and the entertaining Rondo. Allegretto, and that is followed seamlessly by the captivating Allegro from Piano Sonata No. 16 in C major, K.545, and then comes the elegant Andante and the affecting Rondo. Allegretto, the next section being Piano Sonata No. 17 in B flat major’s glistening Allegro, the more contained Adagio and the thrilling Allegretto, the entire recording coming to a close on Piano Sonata No. 18 in D major, K.576; which opens on the abounding Allegro, the softly-sewn Adagio, and finally, the flirtatiously-hued Allegretto.

This colorful vision of the corpus of eighteen piano sonatas, imbued with all the necessary clarity and innocent state of mind, leads the listener cheerfully from a Turkish march to a peasant song, from a serenade for wind instruments to a wide range of variations.

Pierre-Antoine Devic, head of Classical & Jazz at Believe, said, “Yeol Eum Son’s art, the light she brings to the music of the great composers, and her way to cultivate a special link with her audience, have made us build a very special relationship, and we are so happy to welcome such a fantastic artist to the naive family. Welcome, Yeol Eum!”

www.yeoleumson.com