Yunchan Lim: "A Longtime Dream Fulfilled"... Live Album of Bach's Goldberg Variations Released

According to Financial News, the renowned classical label Decca Classics will release pianist Yunchan Lim’s new album, Goldberg Variations by Johann Sebastian Bach, on February 6, 2026. This album captures his live performance at Carnegie Hall in New York on April 25.
On the 21st, Universal Music Group (UMG) announced that the first track, Aria, was pre-released today.
The Goldberg Variations, composed 300 years ago, remains a masterpiece by Johann Sebastian Bach that pianists consider a formidable challenge due to its technical mastery and emotional depth. This album marks Yunchan Lim’s fourth release since signing an exclusive contract with Decca Classics in October 2023.
Regarding this work, Yunchan Lim stated, "I think of it as the journey of a human life told through music." He explained, "You open your eyes with the first Aria, journey through thirty deeply human variations, and close your eyes with the final Aria. I first heard this piece at the age of eight in Glenn Gould’s Bach box set. I was amazed by its grandeur and beauty, and since then, the Goldberg Variations have always been in my heart. Releasing a live album of the Goldberg Variations from Carnegie Hall has been my longtime dream." Interestingly, about 70 years ago, Glenn Gould also recorded this work in a studio just a few blocks from Carnegie Hall at the age of 22.
Sir Clive Gillinson, Executive and Artistic Director of Carnegie Hall, wrote in the album notes, "Right after witnessing Yunchan Lim’s performance at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, our artistic planning team made one of the easiest decisions ever: to invite him to give a solo recital on Carnegie Hall’s main stage. We realized we were witnessing the first steps of a truly special artist who will inspire audiences worldwide for years to come."

In 2022, Yunchan Lim became the youngest-ever winner of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition at the age of 18. His performance of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in the finals moved conductor Marin Alsop to tears and drew worldwide attention from the classical music community. Since then, he has sold out major venues around the world, establishing himself as a next-generation classical icon.
His studio debut album, Chopin: Études, swept three major categories at the BBC Music Awards, winning Album of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, and Instrumental Award. In Korea, the album achieved quadruple platinum status, and in France, he received the Diapason d'Or Young Musician of the Year award.
His second album released by Decca, Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 3, features his live performance from the 2022 competition finals. The recording surpassed 17 million views on YouTube, setting the record for the most-viewed live performance of the piece.
His third album, Tchaikovsky: The Seasons, released in August, was praised for its authenticity and musical vision. The Financial Times described it as "an album that sets a new standard," while Gramophone noted, "Few young pianists display such unwavering conviction as Yunchan Lim, especially in moments that challenge convention."
Currently, Yunchan Lim is at the forefront of the global classical stage, selling out performances at major venues such as Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall, and the Royal Albert Hall, including the BBC Proms 2024.
jashin@fnnews.com Shin Jin-ah Reporter