French pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard, widely hailed as the guardian of modern piano compositions, will be performing for the first time in Korea at LG Arts Center in southern Seoul at 5 p.m. on Sunday.

A master of Gyrgy Ligeti, a well-known composer who was Aimard’s teacher, he is expected to woo his Korean audience into the world of modern music with his transparent and honest approach.

His program is filled with contemporary classical music: It includes Heinz Holliger’s “Elis: 3 Nocturnes for Piano” and Ligeti’s “Der Zauberlehrling,” “Galamb Borong,” “Cordes Vides,” “Fm,” “Automne Varsovie” and “L’Escalier du Diable.”

Those who are yet uninitiated in contemporary music can look forward to Schumann’s Symphonic tudes Op. 13. and Debussy’s six preludes “Hommage a Pickwick Esq P.P.M.P.C,” “Canope,” “Ondine,” “Feuilles mortes,” “Les Tierces alternes” and “Reux d’artifice.” Aimard’s interpretation of Debussy is expected to show the very essence of the French composer ― the pianist has just released an album of the Debussy preludes to honor the 150th anniversary of Debussy’s birth.

After debuting at age 16 by winning the Concours Olivier Messiaen, Aimard became the favorite of the composer Messiaen and premiered much of his music to sensational reception. He is also regarded as one of the most trusted pianists of Hungarian composer Ligeti and has recorded most of his work.

Music critic Park Jae-sung says Aimard will suggest a new type of piano playing to the Korean audience.

“He does not reflect subjectivity in his playing. He breaks down the piece note by note and assembles them without reflecting his interpretation. Therefore, his strokes are clear and sometimes dry, but probably deliver the original message the composers intended to convey,” he said.

“The world of Aimard is not easy for everyone. But it is because contemporary classical music is difficult, not because Aimard’s pianism is difficult. I think his recital will bring Koreans closer to contemporary classical music,” he added.

By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)