Pianist Lim Yunchan achieves triple wins at BBC awards for debut album
South Korean pianist Lim Yunchan has achieved a triple victory at the BBC Music Magazine Awards for his debut studio album, "Chopin: Etudes," the organization said on its website Thursday.
Lim secured the prestigious Recording of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, and the Instrumental Award, marking a historic moment as the first time a single album has garnered three awards in one year at the event.
Furthermore, he is the first artist ever to win both the Newcomer and Recording of the Year awards simultaneously.
"Given that 2024 saw the release of many outstanding albums, I did not expect this outcome at all, and I'm so grateful," he said according to the website. "I strive always to harmonize what my heart tells me with what my mind dictates."
Charlotte Smith, editor of BBC Music Magazine, said, "That the artist at the center of these three prestigious awards should just have celebrated his 21st birthday is downright astonishing. But Lim Yunchan is no ordinary artist."
Released in April last year, Lim's "Chopin: Etudes" has already earned widespread global acclaim. It previously won the Gramophone Classical Music Award in the piano category, where he was also named Young Artist of the Year. (Yonhap)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Korea Herald
2 days ago
- Korea Herald
BTS member Suga officially discharged from military service
K-pop group BTS member Suga was discharged from the South Korean military on Saturday, the seventh and final member to complete the country's mandatory national service amid expectations of the band's comeback from a hiatus. Suga finished his military tenure as a social service agent on Saturday with little fanfare as fans looked forward to his reunion with the rest of the band, a K-pop sensation since it started up in 2013. "We confirm that Suga effectively completed his alternative service on June 18 by using his remaining leave. His official discharge date is June 21," BTS' label, Big Hit Music, said in a statement. Unlike with his BTS bandmates, there was no public event planned to mark Suga's release because of overcrowding concerns. The seven members of the group put their global music careers on hold in 2022 to begin their military service, starting with Jin in December that year. South Korea's mandatory national service can be for terms of up to 18 months. Shortly after his official discharge, Suga posted a message on fan community platform Weverse, saying he was "sorry for the disappointment and concern caused by what happened last year", and also apologizing to his bandmates. Last year, Suga was fined 15 million won ($11,500) by a court for drunk driving while on an electric scooter. The group is expected to hold its largest-ever world tour in 2026, an NH Securities entertainment analyst said in a report.
Korea Herald
3 days ago
- Korea Herald
Lim Yunchan reimagines Tchaikovsky's 'The Seasons'
Lim's second album this year to be released Aug. 22 Celebrated pianist Lim Yunchan's recording of "June: Barcarolle" was released on major streaming services Friday, ahead of the release of his new album, 'Tchaikovsky: The Seasons," Decca Classics announced Friday. "June: Barcarolle" is the sixth track in the album scheduled to be released Aug. 22. The album will be Lim's second album this year, and was recorded at the Menuhin Hall in Surrey, England, on July 31 and Aug. 1, 2024. The recording presents a bold reinterpretation of the Russian composer's 12-piece piano cycle — not as a sequence of changing seasons, but as a meditation on the final year of a human life, according to Decca. Lim explained, 'Tchaikovsky's 'The Seasons' captures the final year of a human life. The first piece, 'By the Hearth,' depicts the dying fire in a stove. At first, you're swept up in a sorrow rooted in memories of the past, without knowing exactly why. Then, something new happens that gives you hope. You feel overwhelmed, drift into daydreams while watching cigarette smoke curl in the air, and cry yourself to sleep. Forgotten memories resurface, and you hesitate at the threshold of the past. Eventually, you return to the present, come to terms with everything and close the chapter on a day that will never come again, accompanied by the sound of a bell.' The album features artwork titled 'What Is the Weight of a Petal?' by Lim's friend, Korean artist Choi Ho-yeon. 'The cover art is a work by my dear friend Choi Ho-yeon, whose brush and words trace the still, fleeting memories of those tender ancient hours which this music recalls, and dares to resurrect as eternal reverie,' Lim wrote on his Instagram post. This is Lim's second release of the year, following the May release of the live recording of Rachmaninoff's 'Piano Concerto No. 3' from the 2022 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, where he won first prize at just 18. His 2024 studio album debut, 'Chopin: Etudes,' received widespread acclaim and swept three categories at the BBC Music Magazine Awards.
Korea Herald
4 days ago
- Korea Herald
Frontman may get 'Squid Game' spinoff, says Lee Byung-hun on 'The Tonight Show'
'Squid Game' star hints at future project on 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon' Lee Byung-hun, who plays the Frontman in Netflix's global sensation "Squid Game," appeared on the popular talk show "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" this week and hinted at a possible spinoff centered on his enigmatic character. During the interview, which aired Wednesday, Korean time, on NBC, the veteran South Korean actor discussed his initial reaction to reading the script for "Squid Game." He also shared lighthearted anecdotes regarding his family's surprise when his secret identity as the series' main villain was revealed in season 1. Reflecting on the show's overwhelming global reception, Lee also admitted he was taken aback by fans' reactions when he traveled to the US to promote the series. "I've been acting for more than 30 years, and I also participated in some Hollywood blockbuster projects. But 'Squid Game' is a Korean story made by a Korean director with Korean actors and Korean language. I'm so grateful and proud of ('Squid Game''s success)," said Lee, during the interview. The entire interview was conducted in English. During the interview, Lee also fielded fan questions about the future of the series, teasing light spoilers. Lee confirmed that more characters in the upcoming season will uncover the Frontman's identity — and he didn't rule out the possibility of a standalone project exploring his character's backstory. In the series, the Frontman, also known as Hwang In-ho, is the mastermind orchestrating the deadly games and a former winner of the Squid Game himself. Much of his backstory remains shrouded in mystery. "Squid Game" season 3 is set to premiere June 27 on Netflix. yoonseo.3348@
