HJ Lim's piano recital debut in Korea

A woman dressed in all black from head to toe strides onto the stage, and sits at the grand piano in front. Then she starts banging on the piano keys fast enough for the viewers not to be able to catch the movement of her fingers.

The person whose fingers flew at the piano was Lim Hyeon-jeong whose YouTube video featuring her performing The Flight of Bumblebee by Russian composer Rimsky Korsakov created a sensation online. The very video then paved the way for a contract with Britain's major record label EMI Classics, leading to her first debut album, "HJ LIM, Beethoven Complete Piano Sonatas".

Her first album with EMI comprising of the complete Beethoven piano sonatas catapulted the Korean pianist into stardom in the global classical scene, as she topped the Billboard classical albums chart in June 2012.

Her first piano recital in her mother country, Korea, was held atSeoul Arts Centerin central Seoul on May 23.

Pianist Lim Hyeon-jeong performs at her Korean first piano recital held at Seoul Arts Center on May 23 (photo courtesy of Mast Media).

The 27-year-old pianist, who goes by HJ Lim as her stage name, demonstrated her own interpretations with classic favorites, starting with Valses nobles et sentimentales by French composer Joseph Maurice Ravel.

Polish composer Chopin's Ballades and German composer Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 29 Hammerklavier came to life at her fingertips when met with her delicate but passionate touch on the keys and powerful pedal-use, taking the audience's breath away.

The moment when she was showered with seemingly endless applause and acclamation was when she played seven encores all after the main performance.

Among the seven encore performances was her own variation on Miryang Arirang, a folk song of Miryang, Gyeongsangnam-do (South Gyeongsang Province), which sent the audience into rapture. The heartwarming, doleful tune of that song familiar with Korean audiences emanating from the piano sparked a series of standing ovations.

Her debut album comprising of the complete Beethoven's Sonatas topped the Billboard classical albums chart, a first for Korean pianists (photo courtesy of Mast Media).

"The fact that Lee as a Korean pianist joined the ranks of the world's top classical stars affiliated with EMI Classics is quite rare and meaningful", explained managerLee Sang-minof EMI Classics' Korean branch.

Korea.net had an interview with Lim Hyeon-jeong to hear more about her own music world.

< Interview with Lim Hyeon-jeong >

- What made you use YouTube as a means to bring your piano performances to more viewers?

As I was living in Europe, my parents had no chance to see me playing the piano. Actually this piano recital in Korea was the first time for them to see me on stage. So I started uploading some video clips of my piano playing at recitals held at my school for my parents in Korea. Among those posted videos, the one of the Flight of Bumblebee by Rimsky Korsakov I played as an encore after a recital held in Switzerland attracted many YouTube viewers. I think that the video-sharing website, for me, is a very useful tool to bring more people closer to my own music world.

- As a young pianist, it must have been a difficult job to cover the complete Beethoven's Sonatas for a debut album. What does the German composer mean to you?

I've tried to study and record every single piece of his work, feeling as if I were giving birth to a baby. I spent many years reading his biographies, letters, and other historical documents to fully understand the life of the composer. I recorded 30 of his Sonatas out of 32 for my debut album. All the recording experience helped me learn not only about his music world, but also more about my own life.

- Your first piano recital in Korea featured masterpieces by Beethoven, Ravel, and Chopin. It is quite dramatic to play works of composers from both the Classical period and the Romantic period at once. Could you tell us more about your choice?

I know many expected me to play the complete Beethoven's Sonatas for this recital. I had difficulties choosing only one composer among such great composers, Ravel, Chopin and Beethoven, all my favorites. They all have had a great influence on me as a pianist. So I decided to have some works of each composer for my first recital in Korea.

- What are your future plans?

I now reside in Switzerland. I will hold more recitals all throughout the world. So far, I've been active in Europe, but will have more shows in Asia and America, too. I hope to have more opportunities to play here in Korea so that my loving family and friends see me on stage more often.

- Who is in your mind as a theme for your next album?

I don't have any plan about the next album at this point, but what I want to do is to explore other great composers. I know that I could not navigate every great composer in my lifetime, but I have an endless wishlist: Johann Sebastian Bach, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Chopin, Ravel, and Johannes Brahms.

By Sohn Ji-ae
Korea.net Staff Writer
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