For pianist Lim Yun-chan, Bach’s ‘Goldberg Variations’ are a lifelong journey

Pianist Lim Yun-chan performs Bach’s Goldberg Variations at Carnegie Hall in New York on April 25, 2025. Courtesy of Universal Music

Pianist Lim Yun-chan isn't sure whether his interpretation of Johann Sebastian Bach’s "Goldberg Variations" might change in the future.

“Well, I really can’t say at this moment. It’s entirely possible that I may never perform this piece again in my lifetime. The future is impossible to predict," the 22-year-old told the Hankook Ilbo in a written interview.

Lim's live album from a recital at New York’s Carnegie Hall last year is being released Friday.

Bach's "Goldberg Variations" is widely known for its intricate architecture and formidable interpretive demands, one that many pianists return to in the later stages of their careers. But in Lim’s response, no such prospect was evident.

It also suggests that Lim — a pianist focused solely on discovering sounds that resonate with him — poured everything into his recital at Carnegie Hall last year.

The upcoming album — a live recording of "Goldberg Variations" and his fourth release under Decca Classics — captures years of his musical reflection and interpretation surrounding the work. He was 8 years old when he first encountered the "Goldberg Variations" through Glenn Gould’s Bach box set.

“A journey through life written in music by Bach, and a spiritual experience,” Lim said of the experience. During middle school, he listened to performances by Konstantin Lifschitz, Peter Serkin and Sohn Min-soo.

“Hearing those performances made me think that playing a piece like this is why I pursue music,” he said in a video posted on his YouTube channel.

Pianist Lim Yun-chan performs Bach’s "Goldberg Variations" at Carnegie Hall in New York on April 25, 2025. Courtesy of Universal Music

Now, Lim presents his own interpretation of the piece. A story of life begins with the opening aria, unfolds through 30 deeply human variations and concludes with the final aria. His interpretation has drawn widespread praise from music critics worldwide.

“Lim’s youthful panache also serves Bach in another way, widening the sense of wonder that all great Goldberg performances need to convey,” The Times wrote of his performance.

The British audiophile magazine Hi-Fi Choice also praised the performance as rich in delicate detail and filled with individuality, noting that the young performer establishes his own distinct voice rather than being constrained by existing interpretations.

Lim Yun-chan / Courtesy of Universal Music

Cover of Lim Yun-chan’s live Carnegie Hall album of Bach’s "Goldberg Variations" / Courtesy of Universal Music

The man of the hour appeared rather placid upon the release of the album, which has drawn global attention. When asked for his reflections on the recording, he described it as part of the process rather than a completion.

“To me, being a musician means playing every day, discovering new music and sharing on stage what I’ve been living with. Then the next day, I go home and play again,” Lim said.

“The same goes for the album. It’s not the end of the path, but another part of an ongoing search.”

When asked what he enjoys outside music, Lim said he likes spending evenings talking with friends and mentors, discussing subjects ranging from sports and art to social issues.

The response sounds much like that of any ordinary person in his 20s. But when Lim sits at the piano, he approaches music with an intensity bordering on ascetic devotion. One cannot help but wonder what musical aspirations he holds next.

“There is so much, to the point that I can’t write it all down,” Lim said. He then alluded to a recent dream.

“I had a dream a few days ago where I was giving a recital,” he said. “In the first half, I played Schoenberg’s Three Piano Pieces, Op. 11 and Bach’s Partita No. 6, BWV 830. In the second half, I played Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations, Op. 120.”

Lim Yun-chan / Courtesy of Universal Music

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.