Pianist Lim Dong-hyek talks about his recent Rachmaninov album

Pianist Lim Dong-hyek speaks during a press conference in Seoul, Friday. Courtesy of Warner Music Korea

'Happiness from music comes with pain'

By Anna J. Park

Lim Dong-hyek, one of Korea's most beloved and talented pianists, has released his fifth album on Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 2. It is his first album in nearly four years, following his previous recording of Chopin's 24 Preludes and other works released in late 2015. As the Chopin album received critical acclaim from Gramophone with a pick as “Editor's Choice,” his new album has garnered attention from classical fans around the world.

The new album is the 34-year-old pianist's first piano concert recording, and Lim said it had to be Rachmaninov.

“Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 2 exhibits all the elements of his musical greatness. It's so Russian; it's a feast of continuation of overwhelmingly beautiful and heart-throbbing melodies,” Lim told reporters at Warner Music Korea in southern Seoul, Friday.

“In playing the concerto, I didn't attempt any excessive interpretations. Some might say it could sound somewhat flat or lacking a marked personality. But this piece itself requires a lot of emotions and sentiments already, and trying to put too much into it might end up sounding too mushy. I don't like artificial attempts to be unique for the sake of individuality. That's why I didn't add any extreme interpretations,” Lim said of his album.

Lim spent a considerable amount of his youth in Russia. He moved to Moscow at the age of 10, and studied at the Moscow Central Music School and the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory. He continued his studies later in Hannover, Germany, and at the Julliard School in the U.S., but Rachmaninov's music always lingered within him.

“I grew up listening to Rachmaninov's music. To me, his works come natural to me, without any distances,” he said.

The piano concerto was recorded in London with the BBC Symphony Orchestra. The other works of the album, Rachmaninov's Symphonic Dances, were recorded in Berlin with legendary pianist Martha Argerich. The piano duo with Argerich, one of the greatest pianists of our time, was possible as Lim has maintained a close relationship with her for the past two decades. They first met in 1999 at a piano competition as a contestant and a juror, and since then Argerich has been Lim's supporter, mentor and friend on his music journey.

Earlier this month, the two pianists held a duo concert at the Seoul Arts Center in Seoul. They played the Symphonic Dances together, along with other works. Lim recounted Argerich showed great satisfaction and happiness after the concert.

“We had an amazing concert last year on the Rachmaninov's Symphonic Dances in Hamburg, Germany. Martha told me this Seoul performance felt better to her than the one in Hamburg. She told me she loved the performance, audiences and everything,” Lim said. “She is a very warm and considerate person. She cares a lot about people.”

It was because of that concert with Argerich in early May in Seoul, his newest album has been released exclusively in Korea this month. The album will be released internationally and digitally in September.

Lim only stayed in Korea for a few days during this visit. Now residing in Berlin, he has a series of upcoming concerts next month in Brussels and Hamburg. The busy pianist said he still gets the most comfort and happiness from music.

“There is obviously pain and suffering, which comes from music. But at the same time, I receive so much comfort and consolation from music all the time. It's a package; happiness from music comes with pain. You need to take care of the pain on your own,” Lim said.

For his next discography, Lim said he'd like to record Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 1 and No. 2 with the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra someday.

“There's my true self in Chopin's music. I played Chopin so many times, and I think I'd be so honored to record the zenith of Chopin with the Warsaw Philharmonic, whose members know Chopin's repertoires more than any other orchestra,” he said.

He also expressed a hope to create a music festival someday. “I wish to have my own music festival. I will gather all my favorite musician friends, and we will play and enjoy together. That will be so much fun,” he said with a big smile.

Pianist Lim Dong-hyek speaks during a press conference in Seoul, Friday. Courtesy of Warner Music Korea