Short bio Unsuk Chin
Full biography Unsuk Chin
Unsuk Chin is a South Korean classical composer widely known for her innovative and experimental music that blends different musical styles and cultures. Born in Seoul in 1961, Chin studied composition at the Seoul National University before moving to Germany in the 1980s. There she studied with Hans Werner Henze and later became his assistant.
Chin's musical style is characterized by its intricate and colorful orchestration, virtuosic solos, and unique blending of different musical elements. She is also well known for her interest in electro-acoustic and computer music, which she frequently incorporates into her compositions.
One of her most famous works is "Alice in Wonderland," an opera based on Lewis Carroll's book of the same name. This opera premiered at the Munich Opera Festival in 2007 and has since been performed all over the world, earning critical acclaim and establishing Chin as one of the leading contemporary composers.
In addition to her operatic works, Chin has composed numerous orchestral, chamber, and vocal pieces that have been performed by leading musicians and ensembles around the world, including the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, and the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
Chin's music has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards, including the Grawemeyer Award, Arnold Schoenberg Prize, and the Prince Pierre Foundation Music Award. She currently resides in Berlin and continues to compose groundbreaking works that challenge and expand the boundaries of classical music.
Compositions featuring Unsuk Chin
| # | Name | Duration | Genre | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chorós Chordón, for orchestra | 12:11 min | Orchestral | 2017 |
| 2 | Graffiti, for chamber orchestra | 22:29 min | Orchestral | 2012 |
| 3 | Cosmigimmicks, a pantomime for 7 players | 22:28 min | Chamber Music | 2011 |
| 4 | Su, for sheng & orchestra | 21:20 min | Concerto | 2009 |
| 5 | Cello Concerto | 28:07 min | Concerto | 2008 |
| 6 | Rocaná, for orchestra | 21:03 min | Orchestral | 2008 |
| 7 | Cantatrix Sopranica, for 2 voices & ensemble | 25:21 min | Vocal Music | 2004 |
| 8 | Double Concerto for piano, percussion & ensemble | 20:39 min | Concerto | 2002 |
| 9 | Violin Concerto | 27:02 min | Concerto | 2001 |
| 10 | Spectres-spéculaires, for violin & electonics | 22:16 min | Chamber Music | 1999 |
| 11 | Xi, for electronic ensemble | 23:00 min | Electronic/Computer Music | 1997 |
| 12 | Piano Concerto | 22:43 min | Concerto | 1996 |
| 13 | Études (6), for piano | 19:34 min | Keyboard | 1995 |
| 14 | Fantaisie mécanique, for 5 instrumentalists | 12:47 min | Chamber Music | 1994 |
| 15 | Akrostichon-Wortspiel, 7 scenes from fairy tales for soprano & orchestra | 15:53 min | Vocal Music | 1991 |
| 16 | El Aliento de la Sombra | 18:07 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | 1990 |
| 17 | ParaMetaString, for string quartet & tape | 21:00 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 18 | Alice in Wonderland, opera | Opera | - |
Albums featuring Unsuk Chin
| # | Сover | Name album | Year | Music label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Beethoven, Bridge, Chin, Esmé Quartet – To Be Loved(CD, Album) | 2020 | Alpha Classics |
| 2 |  |
Laura Farré Rozada - Jodlowski, Chin, Takemitsu, Guix, Ravel, Þorvaldsdóttir, Fujikura, Zhao – Nimbus(CD, Album) | 2020 | Seed (4) |
| 3 |  |
Unsuk Chin / Sunwook Kim, Alban Gerhardt, Wu Wei, Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, Myung-Whun Chung – 3 Concertos: Piano Concerto, Cello Concerto, Su for Sheng and Orchestra(CD, Album) | 2014 | Deutsche Grammophon |
| 4 |  |
Clare Hammond - Chin, Kapustin, Lyapunov, Szymanowski – Etude(SACD, Hybrid, Multichannel, Album) | 2014 | BIS |
| 5 |  |
Sun Ra ✕ Olga Neuwirth . Unsuk Chin — Ensemble Musikfabrik – Graffiti(CD, Album) | 2014 | WERGO |
| 6 |  |
Mei Yi Foo, Sofia Gubaidulina, Unsuk Chin, György Ligeti – Musical Toys: Musical Toys, Six Piano Études, Musica Ricercata(CD, Album) | 2012 | Odradek Records |
| 7 |  |
MusikFabrik - Jonathan Harvey | Beat Furrer | Georges Aperghis | Unsuk Chin – Sprechgesänge | Speech Songs(CD, ) | 2010 | Wergo |
| 8 |  |
Unsuk Chin, Orchestre Symphonique De Montréal, Kent Nagano, Viviane Hagner – Rocaná / Violin Concerto(CD, ) | 2009 | Analekta |
| 9 |  |
Unsuk Chin, Bayerische Staatsoper, Kent Nagano , Directed and designed by Achim Freyer – Alice In Wonderland | 2007 | Medici Arts |
| 10 |  |
Unsuk Chin - Ensemble Intercontemporain – Akrostichon - Wortspiel | 2005 | Deutsche Grammophon |
Videos featuring Unsuk Chin
[EuroArts 2072418] CHIN, Unsuk: Alice in Wonderland (Bavarian State Opera, 2007)
Sally Matthews, Piia Komsi, Julia Rempel, Dietrich Henschel, Gwyneth Jones, Andrew Watts; Directed and designed by Achim Freyer; Costume Design, Masks, Puppets by Nina Weitzner
Chor und Kinderchor der Bayerischen Staatsoper; Bayerisches Staatsorchester
Ke
Chin: Akrostichon-Wortspiel. Seven Scenes from Fairy-Tales - 1. Versteckspiel
Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group
Chin: Akrostichon-Wortspiel. Seven Scenes from Fairy-Tales - 1. Versteckspiel · Ensemble Intercontemporain
Chin: Double Concerto; Akrostichon; XI; Fantaisie mécanique
℗ 2005 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Ber
Chin: Akrostichon-Wortspiel. Seven Scenes from Fairy-Tales - 5. Domifare S
Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group
Chin: Akrostichon-Wortspiel. Seven Scenes from Fairy-Tales - 5. Domifare S · Ensemble Intercontemporain
Chin: Double Concerto; Akrostichon; XI; Fantaisie mécanique
℗ 2005 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
Chin: Akrostichon-Wortspiel. Seven Scenes from Fairy-Tales - 7. Aus der alten Zeit
Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group
Chin: Akrostichon-Wortspiel. Seven Scenes from Fairy-Tales - 7. Aus der alten Zeit · Ensemble Intercontemporain
Chin: Double Concerto; Akrostichon; XI; Fantaisie mécanique
℗ 2005 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH
Chin: Akrostichon-Wortspiel. Seven Scenes from Fairy-Tales - 4. Vier Jahreszeiten in fünf Strophen
Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group
Chin: Akrostichon-Wortspiel. Seven Scenes from Fairy-Tales - 4. Vier Jahreszeiten in fünf Strophen · Ensemble Intercontemporain
Chin: Double Concerto; Akrostichon; XI; Fantaisie mécanique
℗ 2005 Deutsch
Chin: Akrostichon-Wortspiel. Seven Scenes from Fairy-Tales - 6. Das Beliebigkeitsspiel
Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group
Chin: Akrostichon-Wortspiel. Seven Scenes from Fairy-Tales - 6. Das Beliebigkeitsspiel · Ensemble Intercontemporain
Chin: Double Concerto; Akrostichon; XI; Fantaisie mécanique
℗ 2005 Deutsche Grammophon
Chin: Akrostichon-Wortspiel. Seven Scenes from Fairy-Tales - 2. Das Rätsel von den drei...
Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group
Chin: Akrostichon-Wortspiel. Seven Scenes from Fairy-Tales - 2. Das Rätsel von den drei magsichen Toren · Ensemble Intercontemporain
Chin: Double Concerto; Akrostichon; XI; Fantaisie mécanique
℗ 2005 De
Chin: Akrostichon-Wortspiel. Seven Scenes from Fairy-Tales - 3. Die Spielregel - sträwkcür tieZ
Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group
Chin: Akrostichon-Wortspiel. Seven Scenes from Fairy-Tales - 3. Die Spielregel - sträwkcür tieZ · Ensemble Intercontemporain
Chin: Double Concerto; Akrostichon; XI; Fantaisie mécanique
℗ 2005 Deutsche
Chin: Xi, for Ensemble and Electronic
Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group
Chin: Xi, for Ensemble and Electronic · Ensemble Intercontemporain
Chin: Double Concerto; Akrostichon; XI; Fantaisie mécanique
℗ 2005 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
Released on: 2005-01-01
Composer:
Musical Toys (1969) : I Mechanical Accordion
Provided to YouTube by Entertainment One Distribution US
Musical Toys (1969) : I Mechanical Accordion · Mei Yi Foo
Musical Toys: Gubaidulina: Musical Toys - Chin: Six Piano Etudes (First Recording) - Ligeti: Musica Ricercata
℗ Odradek Records
Relea
Musical Toys (1969) : XII The Echo
Provided to YouTube by Entertainment One Distribution US
Musical Toys (1969) : XII The Echo · Mei Yi Foo
Musical Toys: Gubaidulina: Musical Toys - Chin: Six Piano Etudes (First Recording) - Ligeti: Musica Ricercata
℗ Odradek Records
Released on: 20
Musica Ricercata (1951-3) : X Vivace. Capriccioso
Provided to YouTube by Entertainment One Distribution US
Musica Ricercata (1951-3) : X Vivace. Capriccioso · Mei Yi Foo
Musical Toys: Gubaidulina: Musical Toys - Chin: Six Piano Etudes (First Recording) - Ligeti: Musica Ricercata
℗ Odradek Records
Rel
Musica Ricercata (1951-3) : II Mesto, rigido e cerimoniale
Provided to YouTube by Entertainment One Distribution US
Musica Ricercata (1951-3) : II Mesto, rigido e cerimoniale · Mei Yi Foo
Musical Toys: Gubaidulina: Musical Toys - Chin: Six Piano Etudes (First Recording) - Ligeti: Musica Ricercata
℗ Odradek Rec
Six Piano Études (First Recording) (1995 - 2003) : VI Grains
Provided to YouTube by Entertainment One Distribution US
Six Piano Études (First Recording) (1995 - 2003) : VI Grains · Mei Yi Foo
Musical Toys: Gubaidulina: Musical Toys - Chin: Six Piano Etudes (First Recording) - Ligeti: Musica Ricercata
℗ Odradek R
Six Piano Études (First Recording) (1995 - 2003) : II Sequenzen
Provided to YouTube by Entertainment One Distribution US
Six Piano Études (First Recording) (1995 - 2003) : II Sequenzen · Mei Yi Foo
Musical Toys: Gubaidulina: Musical Toys - Chin: Six Piano Etudes (First Recording) - Ligeti: Musica Ricercata
℗ Odrade
Six Piano Études (First Recording) (1995 - 2003) : I In C
Provided to YouTube by Entertainment One Distribution US
Six Piano Études (First Recording) (1995 - 2003) : I In C · Mei Yi Foo
Musical Toys: Gubaidulina: Musical Toys - Chin: Six Piano Etudes (First Recording) - Ligeti: Musica Ricercata
℗ Odradek Reco
Musica Ricercata (1951-3) : V Rubato. Lamentoso
Provided to YouTube by Entertainment One Distribution US
Musica Ricercata (1951-3) : V Rubato. Lamentoso · Mei Yi Foo
Musical Toys: Gubaidulina: Musical Toys - Chin: Six Piano Etudes (First Recording) - Ligeti: Musica Ricercata
℗ Odradek Records
Relea
Musica Ricercata (1951-3) : I Sostenuto - Misurato - Prestissimo
Provided to YouTube by Entertainment One Distribution US
Musica Ricercata (1951-3) : I Sostenuto - Misurato - Prestissimo · Mei Yi Foo
Musical Toys: Gubaidulina: Musical Toys - Chin: Six Piano Etudes (First Recording) - Ligeti: Musica Ricercata
℗ Odrad
Six Piano Études (First Recording) (1995 - 2003) : IV Scalen
Provided to YouTube by Entertainment One Distribution US
Six Piano Études (First Recording) (1995 - 2003) : IV Scalen · Mei Yi Foo
Musical Toys: Gubaidulina: Musical Toys - Chin: Six Piano Etudes (First Recording) - Ligeti: Musica Ricercata
℗ Odradek R
Musical Toys (1969) : IX The Woodpecker
Provided to YouTube by Entertainment One Distribution US
Musical Toys (1969) : IX The Woodpecker · Mei Yi Foo
Musical Toys: Gubaidulina: Musical Toys - Chin: Six Piano Etudes (First Recording) - Ligeti: Musica Ricercata
℗ Odradek Records
Released on:
Musica Ricercata (1951-3) : III Allegro con spirito
Provided to YouTube by Entertainment One Distribution US
Musica Ricercata (1951-3) : III Allegro con spirito · Mei Yi Foo
Musical Toys: Gubaidulina: Musical Toys - Chin: Six Piano Etudes (First Recording) - Ligeti: Musica Ricercata
℗ Odradek Records
R
Musical Toys (1969) : V April Day
Provided to YouTube by Entertainment One Distribution US
Musical Toys (1969) : V April Day · Mei Yi Foo
Musical Toys: Gubaidulina: Musical Toys - Chin: Six Piano Etudes (First Recording) - Ligeti: Musica Ricercata
℗ Odradek Records
Released on: 2013-0
Musical Toys (1969) : VI Song of the Fisherman
Provided to YouTube by Entertainment One Distribution US
Musical Toys (1969) : VI Song of the Fisherman · Mei Yi Foo
Musical Toys: Gubaidulina: Musical Toys - Chin: Six Piano Etudes (First Recording) - Ligeti: Musica Ricercata
℗ Odradek Records
Releas
Musical Toys (1969) : IV The Magic Smith
Provided to YouTube by Entertainment One Distribution US
Musical Toys (1969) : IV The Magic Smith · Mei Yi Foo
Musical Toys: Gubaidulina: Musical Toys - Chin: Six Piano Etudes (First Recording) - Ligeti: Musica Ricercata
℗ Odradek Records
Released on:
Musical Toys (1969) : XIII The Drummer
Provided to YouTube by Entertainment One Distribution US
Musical Toys (1969) : XIII The Drummer · Mei Yi Foo
Musical Toys: Gubaidulina: Musical Toys - Chin: Six Piano Etudes (First Recording) - Ligeti: Musica Ricercata
℗ Odradek Records
Released on: 2
Musical Toys (1969) : X The Elk Clearing
Provided to YouTube by Entertainment One Distribution US
Musical Toys (1969) : X The Elk Clearing · Mei Yi Foo
Musical Toys: Gubaidulina: Musical Toys - Chin: Six Piano Etudes (First Recording) - Ligeti: Musica Ricercata
℗ Odradek Records
Released on:
Musical Toys: VI. Song of the Fisherman
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Musical Toys: VI. Song of the Fisherman · Mei Yi Foo · Sofia Gubaidulina
Musical Toys
℗ 2011 Odradek Records
Released on: 2013-02-12
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Musical Toys (1969) : II Magic Roundabout
Provided to YouTube by Entertainment One Distribution US
Musical Toys (1969) : II Magic Roundabout · Mei Yi Foo
Musical Toys: Gubaidulina: Musical Toys - Chin: Six Piano Etudes (First Recording) - Ligeti: Musica Ricercata
℗ Odradek Records
Released on
Six Piano Études (First Recording) (1995 - 2003) : III Scherzo ad libitum
Provided to YouTube by Entertainment One Distribution US
Six Piano Études (First Recording) (1995 - 2003) : III Scherzo ad libitum · Mei Yi Foo
Musical Toys: Gubaidulina: Musical Toys - Chin: Six Piano Etudes (First Recording) - Ligeti: Musica Ricercata
Leave a Reply