Young pianist Yunchan Lim has made a name for himself by tackling the intricate Goldberg Variations live at Carnegie Hall, drawing from a series of performances that showcased his skill in unraveling the complex threads of Bach's masterpiece. Those who attended his earlier concerts, including a pair at Wigmore Hall, will find themselves enjoying many of the same rewarding aspects on this recording.
However, it's notable that Lim's interpretation isn't set in stone and may vary depending on the context of each performance. For instance, some might perceive a more muscular approach in the New York show, while others might find certain hints of romanticism present only fleetingly in London's performances to be less pronounced here.
One aspect where the recording truly shines is in its faster variations, which sometimes verge on being overly mechanical yet remain impressively executed. There are also moments of lightheartedness – such as when Lim shifts to a higher octave and imbues the music with an airy quality reminiscent of helium. The slow variation halfway through is deeply felt, with the 25th variation delivered with tender care.
While it's clear that Lim's interpretation will continue to evolve over time, this recording serves as a strong starting point. Its thoughtful approach makes it well worth listening to and sets a promising tone for the pianist's future endeavors in tackling one of Bach's most daunting works.
However, it's notable that Lim's interpretation isn't set in stone and may vary depending on the context of each performance. For instance, some might perceive a more muscular approach in the New York show, while others might find certain hints of romanticism present only fleetingly in London's performances to be less pronounced here.
One aspect where the recording truly shines is in its faster variations, which sometimes verge on being overly mechanical yet remain impressively executed. There are also moments of lightheartedness – such as when Lim shifts to a higher octave and imbues the music with an airy quality reminiscent of helium. The slow variation halfway through is deeply felt, with the 25th variation delivered with tender care.
While it's clear that Lim's interpretation will continue to evolve over time, this recording serves as a strong starting point. Its thoughtful approach makes it well worth listening to and sets a promising tone for the pianist's future endeavors in tackling one of Bach's most daunting works.
. Listening to Yunchan Lim's rendition of Goldberg Variations got me thinking about how our experiences shape us, and how that shapes the way we experience art in return. I mean, what's 'more' romantic or 'muscular', right? Is it really about the interpretation, or is it just about being true to ourselves?
... like, he's really good or whatever? But then I started reading about him online and I was surprised to see how much work he puts into playing the Goldberg Variations live. Like, can you even do that?! 
I mean, I've played piano for years but it still sounds way too hard to me... maybe I'll stick to singing 
. Anyway, I'm glad someone is trying to make classical music cool again... or at least, not as boring as I thought it was 
.
The faster variations are actually kind of cheesy, like they're trying too hard to impress me. And don't even get me started on the slow variation - it's just a bit too polished for my taste. I mean, can't we get some imperfections in there to make it feel more human? 
This recording feels like it's been produced with all these fancy production tricks and not really from the heart.
. The mechanical moments in the faster variations kinda took me outta it for a sec. But on the bright side, his care in playing the slow variation halfway through is so beautiful 
. It feels like he's trying to coax something special out of the notes. Still, I'd love to see him perform live again and experience that musical chemistry firsthand 
I'm so impressed he finally got around to recording it... I mean, who needs live performances anymore? 
Still, I guess his unique take on the Goldberg Variations is kinda cool. The parts that really stand out are when he's like a robotic robot playing super fast and making it sound almost mechanical 
, but hey, at least he executed it flawlessly? Also, that one moment where he sounds like a helium balloon playing in the background 
But yeah, the slow variation in the middle is where it really gets emotional. Like, you can tell he's pouring his heart out on that one. 
All in all, though, this recording is solid gold (or should I say, solid piano?) – a great starting point for any Bach fan! 
! The guy's got skills for days, and that recording is a solid starting point. I mean, who needs a strict interpretation when you can just go with the flow... or in this case, the piano keys? His approach might be nuanced, but it's definitely not boring – there's even some helium-fueled fun in there! The 25th variation though? That's like the pianist is whispering sweet nothings to your soul 
! his take on Goldberg Variations is so unique, like you can tell he's still figuring things out but it works 
. the faster variations are insane 
and that helium feeling in one of them? 
. can't wait to see what he does next!