Yunchan Lim has been awarded the Diapason d’or de l’année for his recording Chopin: Etudes (Decca Classics). This prestigious honor is determined by a panel of critics from Diapason and France Musique. Diapason’s Bertrand Boissard praised Lim’s performance, stating, “For his first album, the youngest winner of the Van Cliburn Competition dazzles with his mastery and commitment, his singing and his fantasy. An enthralling Chopin, singularly alive.”
Yunchan shared his thoughts on what inspired him for this project:
“The pianists who played Chopin’s Études form a vast universe in my imagination. I have always dreamed of achieving the depth they possessed. These pieces have been a part of my journey since I first began playing the piano. The Études encompass so much—earthly agony, love letters, nostalgia, and freedom. Even when not actively practicing them, they continued to mature in my mind.
I vividly recall being 13 years old when I first encountered Ignaz Friedman’s recording—it left me frozen in awe. I had never experienced such creativity and freedom before. Listening to Cortot later, I grasped what legendary pianists meant when they said, ‘playing the piano comes from the imagination.’ Cortot’s interpretation is steeped in a unique blend of tempo and sonority, almost akin to bel canto singing, a quality rarely found among contemporary pianists.
Among the Études, Opus 25 No. 7 holds a special place for me—it feels like the emotional core of the set. It evokes the image of an elderly man weighed down by nostalgia for his youth. In his attempt to escape the pain by recalling his beloved, her image eludes him, leaving him to confront the void. This piece was both my greatest challenge and my source of immense joy. I spent seven hours perfecting its first two bars, pouring my own story into them. My interpretation is shaped by my imagination, which continues to evolve daily. Tomorrow, I might have entirely new ideas.”
Yunchan Lim’s 2025 schedule begins on 16 January, when he will perform Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18 with the Luzerner Sinfonieorchester under conductor Michael Sanderling as part of the Martha Argerich & Friends series.
Later in January, he will reprise the concerto with:
- Orf Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien conducted by Marin Alsop at the Wiener Konzerthaus (23 January).
- WDR Sinfonieorchester conducted by Cristian Măcelaru at Cologne Philharmonie (31 January and 1 February).
In February and March, Yunchan joins Sir Antonio Pappano and the London Symphony Orchestra for a U.S. tour, performing Rachmaninov’s concerto at:
- Renée & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa, CA (20 February).
- Jacobs Music Center in San Diego, CA (21 February).
- Carnegie Hall in New York City (6 March).
During his North American stay, Yunchan will also present Bach’s Goldberg Variations at:
- Herbst Theater in San Francisco, CA (25 February).
- Baker-Baum Concert Hall in La Jolla, CA, as part of his residency with the La Jolla Music Society (28 February).
- Orpheum Theatre in Vancouver, BC (2 March).
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