Yunchan Lim, piano

Symphony Hall

Wed. October 22, 8:00 PM

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With just one concert—his stunning final-round performance of Rachmaninoff’s Third Piano Concerto to clinch the 2022 Cliburn Competition—pianist Yunchan Lim captured the classical music world’s attention. He wowed Boston audiences in 2024 with sold-out appearances at the Boston Symphony Orchestra and with the Orchestre de Paris under Klaus Mäkelä on the Celebrity Series, both in Rachmaninoff concertos.

Lim returns for his Celebrity Series solo recital debut to make a very different artistic statement. Trading an orchestra’s might for a single piano at center stage, and late Romantic passion for Baroque clarity, Lim takes on a pinnacle of the keyboard repertoire that generations of pianists have used to define and hone their artistry: Bach’s Goldberg Variations.

In Bach keyboard works, Lim “weighted the counterpoints so perfectly, and deployed such a subtle metrical flexibility, that every inner detail seemed to be imbued with a character of its own” (The Times). Don’t miss Yunchan Lim’s Celebrity Series recital debut: be amazed by a young artist who can do it all.

“Lim is only 21 now, but he plays like an old soul...his astounding, featherlight touch intertwines a pair of heartbreaking melodies, one seemingly calling out from a distance.”
Tom Huizenga NPR's All Things Considered

“A one-in-a-million talent.”
Dallas Morning News

Program Details

This 2024 work for solo piano was commissioned by Yunchan Lim from Seoul-based composer Hanurij Lee (b. 2006).

Biography

Born in 2006 in Seoul, Lee Hanuri(j) graduated from Yewon School and is currently studying under composer Bae Dong-jin at the Korea National University of Arts.

His main interest lies not in expressing specific meanings or concepts through music but in exploring the inherent possibilities of instruments and the acoustic relationships between them through limited gestures.

His works have been performed (or are scheduled to be performed) by ensembles such as IEMA Ensemble(DE), Divertimento Ensemble(ITA), Ensemble Flex(DE), Ensemble Timf(KR), Project Ensemble 'O'(KR) and the Seoul Metropolitan Traditional Orchestra(KR).

Recently, he has expanded his scope of interest by collaborating with the Korean Academy of Film Arts (KAFA) on film music projects.

Aria
Variation 1
Variation 2
Variation 3. Canone all’unisono
Variation 4
Variation 5
Variation 6. Canone all seconda
Variation 7
Variation 8
Variation 9. Canone all terza
Variation 10. Fughetta
Variation 11
Variation 12. Canone alla quarta in moto contrario
Variation 13
Variation 14
Variation 15. Canone alla quinta
Variation 16. Ouverture
Variation 17
Variation 18. Canone alla sesta
Variation 19
Variation 20
Variation 21. Canone alla settima
Variation 22. Alla breve
Variation 23
Variation 24. Canone all’ottava
Variation 25. Adagio
Variation 26
Variation 27. Canone alla nona
Variation 28
Variation 29
Variation 30. Quodlibet
Aria da capo