91Èȱ¬

In 2022 Yunchan Lim became the youngest ever winner of the Van Cliburn Competition, America’s most distinguished contest for outstanding pianists. He makes his Proms debut tonight with the 91Èȱ¬ Symphony Orchestra under Paavo Järvi, performing Beethoven’s final piano concerto, the ‘Emperor’, a work of heroism and virtuosity in which the soloist brings order to a world of sound and fury. The dashing final chapter of Bruckner’s Symphony No. 1 proved enough to herald a major symphonic career, but the programme opens at an opposite extreme, with Estonian composer Erkki-Sven Tüür’s Aditus (‘entrance’ or ‘approach’), a sizzling opener of existential, expressionistic drama.

Broadcast live on 91Èȱ¬ Radio 3
Yunchan Lim © Richard Rodriguez