Veteran pianist Paik Hae-sun reflects on Lim Yun-chan’s rise to stardom
Paik to perform Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 with Belgian National Orchestra on Sept. 24
Pianist Paik Hae-sun is seated on a piano bench during a press conference in Seoul, Monday. Korea Times photo by Kim Se-jeong
Renowned pianist Paik Hae-sun, 60, admitted Monday that sensational young pianist Lim Yun-chan possesses an indescribable energy on stage that captivates audiences and has elevated him to idol status.
“Lim Yun-chan is certainly an idol in classical music … Yun-chan is completely crazy about music,” Paik said during a press conference with local journalists in Seoul. “As some jokingly say, it feels like he has a connection with an alien (when he plays the piano).”
Lim studies at the New England Conservatory where Paik teaches piano — Lim studies under pianist Sohn Min-soo.
Lim rose to international fame in 2022 after winning the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in Texas. A video of his performance in the competition’s final round has since become one of the most-viewed classical music videos on YouTube.
The pianist recalled a friend telling her that Lim’s playing was so compelling it made her stop washing dishes while watching him on YouTube. Paik herself attended three of Lim’s recitals, trying to make sense of his energy.
Yet, Lim’s popularity reminds Paik of her own rise to fame in her younger years.
After winning the William Kapell Competition in 1989, placing fourth at the Queen Elisabeth Competition in 1991 and earning third prize at the International Tchaikovsky Competition in 1994, she found herself the first female Korean pianist to be thrust into the spotlight.
Her recitals in Korea sold out for years, and her performances were recorded on CD. In 1995, she became the youngest professor at Seoul National University’s College of Music — she served there for 10 years. Today, she serves as co-chair of the piano department at the New England Conservatory.
As an educator, Paik has trained many talented Korean pianists. Most recently, in March, her student Kim Sae-hyun won the first prize at the Long-Thibaud-Crespin Competition in Paris.
Paik is currently back in Korea, having performed in Busan earlier this month. She is scheduled to appear with the Belgian National Orchestra at the Seoul Arts Center on Sept. 24, where she will play Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 73, commonly known as the “Emperor.”
“This will be my first collaboration with the Belgian orchestra in 34 years,” Paik said, recalling her 1991 performance with the ensemble in the final round of the Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels.
Reflecting on her career spanning more than three decades, Paik said her perspective on music has deepened over the years. “Beyond simply reading the notes, I began to wonder about the circumstances under which a piece was created and how it came to be,” she said.
She also emphasized the importance of perseverance. “My life taught me to work hard at all times,” she said. “The pieces I felt most confident about often went poorly in performance, while those I didn’t feel good enough about turned out surprisingly well.”