For a Korean high school student, Sunday is the one true day of rest. And so, I let myself sleep until the sun stood high, almost at its zenith. After a leisurely brunch, I took out my bike and rode along the neighborhood bicycle path.
Returning home, wind-chapped but light, I picked up a book I’d purchased the other day: “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” by Mark Haddon. As I opened its pages, I played Yunchan Lim’s mesmerizing recording of Chopin’s 12 Études in the background.
I have listened to many great pianists, Evgeny Kissin among them, interpret these pieces. Yet Lim’s performance was unlike anything I’d heard before. His technical command was dazzling, yes, but more than that, each note felt immediate, alive with emotion.
Maybe you’ve heard of him. In 2022, when he was only eighteen, Lim became the youngest person ever to win the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in Texas, which is one of the most famous piano contests in the world. His performance of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 was unbelievable. I actually had tears in my eyes watching it on YouTube. He didn’t just play the music — it felt like he was living inside it, letting his feelings lead every part of the piece.
His technique was perfect, even in the hardest sections, but what really made him stand out was how calm and controlled he was. Other pianists try to show off with big dramatic sounds, but Lim kept everything smooth and natural. Even during the loudest moments, he played with purpose, shaping every line. And in the quiet parts, it felt like time completely stopped.
Critics around the world have already hailed him as the greatest young pianist of his generation. At this moment, he is the BTS of classical music. His debut album of Chopin’s Études was named Recording of the Year by the BBC, and his concerts are selling out in minutes, each ending in thunderous ovations.
This past week had been overwhelming with schoolwork. But as Lim’s music flowed through me, each note settling like clean snow in the corners of my mind, I felt the week loosen its grip. I could finally exhale. With peace restored, I can now face another week in my ordinary but sometimes eventful life.