[On Stage] Im Yunchan "Changing for the Better After Winning the Van Cliburn"

New Album 'Chopin: Etudes' Released... Featuring 24 Tracks
"Feels Like Releasing Lava Stored for 10 Years"
Etude 25-9 'Butterfly' Re-recorded with Left Hand Note Changed
"Dreaming of Being a Musician with a Heart That Strikes the Heart"

"I am changing in a very positive way."

In June 2022, after becoming the youngest (18) winner of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in the United States, pianist Lim Yoon-chan (20) answered this way when asked how he thought he had changed. It was at an online press conference held on the 19th to commemorate the release of his new album, Chopin: Etudes. It seems he expressed satisfaction with his life as a pianist, having gained numerous performance opportunities since winning the competition. Before winning, he must have had vague anxieties about whether he could achieve his dream as a pianist.

Lim Yoon-chan said, "During the Van Cliburn Competition, I felt very confined within myself," adding, "Now, I try to think more positively than back then, and I have gained a bit of composure on stage."

Im Yunchan Online Press Conference [Photo by Universal Music]

Just as Cho Seong-jin said after winning the 2015 Chopin Competition that he was glad he no longer had to participate in competitions, Lim Yoon-chan, freed from the constraint of having to prove himself in competitions, is gradually showing the music he wants to play. This album is the result.

Lim Yoon-chan said, "At my current age, I really wanted to overcome this mountain called Chopin's Etudes," adding, "It feels like I am finally releasing the lava that had been inside me for 10 years."

Chopin began composing the Etudes in 1829 at the age of 19 and composed 27 Etudes over about 10 years. He published the initial 12 Etudes as Opus 10 in 1833. In 1837, he published another 12 Etudes as Opus 25. Then, in 1839, he composed three separate smaller Etudes. Lim Yoon-chan's new album contains the 24 Etudes published in 1833 and 1837.

Regarding Etude Op. 25 No. 9, "Butterfly," Lim Yoon-chan said there is a measure where he actually changed the left-hand notes for the recording. "Some people might think that shouldn't be done, but Ignacy Friedman (Polish pianist, 1882?1948) once played completely different notes with his left hand, and that performance was very captivating. So I tried playing it differently." Fortunately, producer John Fraser also recognized Lim Yoon-chan's unique interpretation. Lim Yoon-chan said, "Producer Fraser told me it was very attractive and special."

This album was released under the Decca label, a subsidiary of Universal Music. Previously, Lim Yoon-chan mentioned Alfred Cortot, Ignacy Friedman, Josef Levin, Mark Hambourg, and Sergio Fiorentino, who performed Chopin Etudes through Universal Music, expressing his desire to become a musician with a solid foundation like them.

Regarding the meaning of being a musician with a solid foundation, Lim Yoon-chan said, "I think it means someone who has a very deep belief in themselves, expresses without fear, is very sincere, and also has humor lightly thrown in at unpredictable timings." He emphasized that a musician with a solid foundation must be able to deliver performances that strike the heart. "There are performances that you can listen to with your ears and mind and think they are really good, but there are also pieces that hit your heart immediately without giving your ears time to listen. I think that kind of music that strikes the heart is fundamental. Only blessed geniuses can do that. For ordinary people like me, practicing every day and living sincerely is the most important thing."

Lim Yunchan 'Chopin: Etudes' Album
[Photo by Universal Music]

Lim Yoon-chan said he usually practices piano about six hours a day. However, when preparing for this album, he said he practiced about 12 hours a day.

Perhaps due to many performances and practice, he also experienced some issues. Lim Yoon-chan canceled scheduled performances from late last month to early this month due to strain on his hands. Regarding his hand injury, he said, "Thanks to resting for one to two weeks, I have fully recovered and have no problems playing the piano." However, he added, "If I overdo it, it could hurt again, so I am adjusting my practice."

Regarding his busy schedule, Lim Yoon-chan said, "When performing becomes too hard, I just accept that it is hard and continue performing." About having to learn many new pieces as performance opportunities increased, he said, "Learning new pieces is something I really enjoy, so it doesn't feel difficult."

After finishing performances in the United States at the end of this month, Lim Yoon-chan plans to perform in Germany, Switzerland, and Japan next month. After returning to Korea, he will hold a nationwide tour in June. Performances are scheduled in Seoul, Daegu, Bucheon, Tongyeong, and Cheonan. In Seoul, he will hold solo recitals at Lotte Concert Hall on June 7 and at the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall on June 22.