Yunchan Lim's 'Chopin Études' tops Billboard classical chart

The youngest-ever Van Cliburn International Piano Competition winner's first album under Decca Classics hit the top of Billboard's classical chart for the second week of May.

Pianist Yunchan Lim released his first album under Decca Classics, "Chopin Études," on April 19. [DECCA CLASSICS]

Pianist Yunchan Lim topped Billboard’s traditional classical music album chart with “Chopin Études,” his first album under Decca Classics.

The album landed at No. 1 on Billboard’s chart for the second week of May, as well as Official’s Specialist Classical Chart for April 26 to May 2. It is also the second most streamed album for a Korean artist on Apple Music. Domestically, over 10,000 copies of the album have been sold since its release on April 19. It has been the top-selling album on Yes24 since its release date to April 25, according to the Korean retailer.

“His Chopin is as flexible and feather-light as it is fluent and fiery, as compelling in its sense of structure as in its relishing of detail. The whole experience radiates joyful, youthful exuberance,” critic David Fanning wrote on Lim’s album for the London-based classical music magazine Gramophone.

Calling Lim’s Chopin Études a “triumph,” the critic also expressed his expectations for the pianist’s future endeavors.

Lim was also Gramophone’s cover star for the magazine’s May issue. He was described as an “exceptional musician” in possession of a “refreshing willingness to confound expectations.”

Lim became a sensation after becoming the youngest winner of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2022 at the age of 18. He signed an exclusive recording contract with Britain-based label Decca Classics in October last year.

BY KIM JU-YEON [kim.juyeon2@joongang.co.kr]