A Life in Song: A Musical Memoir

Details

Jihee Kim full profile / Soprano and piano / 2 musicians

Other players: Manuel Arellano

Full program notes

Program Note

Nuit d’étoiles is a musical memoir—a collection of songs that have accompanied me through different chapters of my life.

The works on tonight’s program span languages, countries, styles, and centuries, yet each holds a personal significance. Some were among the first pieces that inspired me to pursue music; others have remained faithful companions throughout my years of study, performance, and artistic growth. Together, they form a mosaic of memories, dreams, loves, challenges, and discoveries.

From the quiet wisdom of Hugo Wolf’s Auch kleine Dinge to the transcendent beauty of Bellini’s Casta Diva, from beloved operatic heroines to the nostalgic landscape of the Korean song Sanchon (Mountain Village), each piece reflects a place, a person, or a moment that has shaped my journey.

The title Nuit d’étoiles—“Night of Stars”—is borrowed from Debussy’s early masterpiece and evokes the wonder, longing, and imagination that connect these diverse works. Like stars in the night sky, each song shines with its own light while contributing to a larger constellation of memories.

I am grateful to share these stories with you tonight and hope that, through them, you may discover reflections of your own experiences and memories.

— Jihee Kim

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