Japanese-German Pianist Alice Sara Ott to Perform in Seoul

Alice Sara Ott, a 37-year-old Japanese-German pianist known as the 'Barefoot Pianist,' is set to perform a solo concert at the Seoul Arts Center on July 8. In a recent video interview, she shared the story behind her unique nickname, which stems from her habit of performing barefoot instead of in high heels.

Ott explained that until her twenties, she wore high heels while playing. However, after an opportunity to perform on an older piano with lower keys, she found it uncomfortable to keep her knees below the keys while wearing shoes. Taking them off and playing barefoot felt incredibly comfortable, leading to a lifelong habit. She clarified, "I am not rebelling against classical music or seeking to be anti-establishment; I simply believe that there should be no restrictions on performance or interpretation."

Born to a German father and a Japanese mother, Ott began her piano studies at the age of four and entered the Salzburg Mozarteum at twelve as a gifted student. Since 2009, she has been releasing albums through the prestigious Deutsche Grammophon (DG) label. Her recent album features the complete nocturnes of composer John Field (1782–1837), who is often credited with creating the nocturne and is seen as a bridge between Beethoven's classical style and Chopin's romanticism. Ott noted, "John Field was composing nocturnes even when Chopin was a child, and you can feel Field's influence in Chopin's nocturnes."

Recording all 18 nocturnes is a rare achievement, with only a few pianists, including Kim Dae-jin, the president of the Korea National University of Arts, having done so. Ott humorously remarked that Field's name is not as widely recognized as his historical significance would suggest, leading some to mistakenly think he is a contemporary composer when she performs his works. She herself discovered Field's nocturnes only after the COVID-19 pandemic, stating, "I had hardly known his music before, but once I encountered his nocturnes, I became captivated and decided to record the complete set."

During her upcoming concert, Ott will perform three Beethoven piano sonatas interspersed with Field's nocturnes. She expressed, "His music evokes emotions like sadness, pain, and joy, along with various embellishments and improvisational elements. After performing, I always feel a sense of lightness, as if my heavy heart has been lifted." Ticket prices range from 50,000 to 110,000 KRW.