Is Rachmaninov the new rock music? Pianist Yunchan Lim has wowed audiences with his incredible talent. His success raises questions about prodigies, genius and musical genres.
Classical pianist, 19, wins pop star status
Is Rachmaninov the new rock music? Pianist Yunchan Lim has wowed audiences with his incredible talent. His success raises questions about prodigies, genius and musical genres.
In just 43 minutes and 22 seconds, Yunchan Lim's life changed forever.
The Korean pianist, then 18 years old, was a finalist in the prestigious Van Cilbern International Piano Competition. He was to play Sergei RachmaninovA Russian composer, pianist and conductor. 's Piano ConcertoA long piece of music for a solo instrument in an orchestra. No. 3 (1909): one of the most fiendishly difficult piano pieces of all time.
He succeeded spectacularly. Lim won first prize.1 Members of the jury said his version of the Concerto is the best ever.
Now 19, Lim claims he has little music talent. He cannot rewatch his own performance because he is disappointed in it.
Yet his star has kept rising. As The Independent's Jessica Duchen wrote: "His playing is so good you think you're dreaming." He has gained a huge online following.2 In Korea he has been described as "classical music's answer to K-popShort for Korean pop. Pop music originating from South Korea. ".
Yesterday he signed a record deal with legendary classical label Decca.3 All this - and he's still at college.
Classical music has always loved a child prodigyA child with exceptional skill or talent. . MozartAn 18th Century classical musician who composed more than 800 works. picked up piano aged three and composed 10 symphoniesLong pieces of music written for orchestras. before he was 12. BeethovenGerman composer (1770 - 1827) whose intense, dramatic work revolutionised classical music. gave his first concert performance aged seven. More recently, American violinist Anne Akiko Meyers debuted with the New York Philharmonic aged 12.4
The idea of the prodigy implies that some are born with a genius. But some think that they are created through training.
Lim began studying at age seven. Before his winning performance he practised for up to 20 hours a day. Beethoven was forced to play by his cruel, fame-hungry father.
Mozart and Beethoven were undoubtedly geniuses. But they might have achieved the same greatness had they come to composing later in life.
Some would argue that musicians like Lim do not qualify. Rachmaninov is a genius for composing his concertos. Lim is a merely talented musician skilfully following a score.
But whether or not Lim is a genius, his success suggests that classical music could become the new rock music.
It has been so before. Fellow prodigy Franz LisztA Hungarian composer, pianist and conductor, born in 1811. whipped audiences into such a frenzy that the poet Heinrich Heine coined the term "Lisztomania" to describe it.5
Yet the star power of Lim might not be enough to supplantBecome more important than or replace. rock star charisma. Pop songs are short, simple and catchy. Many people might not have time for Rachmaninov.
<h5 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper" id="question"><strong>Is Rachmaninov the new rock music?</strong></h5>
Yes: Classical music is far more exciting, moving, vibrant and surprising than rock. It has an intellectual and emotional depth that trumps pop. Add an electronic beat and you can even dance to it.
No: Rudyard KiplingAn English novelist who wrote The Jungle Book. wrote, "words are the most powerful drug used by mankind". Rock music wins because it has lyrics that we can understand and identify with. And sometimes simplicity beats complexity.
Or... Just as we read novels and poems differently, and do not view painting in the same way as sculpture, classical music and rock are separate genres entirely. They are both brilliant in distinct ways.
Sergei Rachmaninov - A Russian composer, pianist and conductor.
Concerto - A long piece of music for a solo instrument in an orchestra.
K-pop - Short for Korean pop. Pop music originating from South Korea.
Prodigy - A child with exceptional skill or talent.
Mozart - An 18th Century classical musician who composed more than 800 works.
Symphonies - Long pieces of music written for orchestras.
Beethoven - German composer (1770 - 1827) whose intense, dramatic work revolutionised classical music.
Franz Liszt - A Hungarian composer, pianist and conductor, born in 1811.
Supplant - Become more important than or replace.
Rudyard Kipling - An English novelist who wrote The Jungle Book.
Classical pianist, 19, wins pop star status

Glossary
Sergei Rachmaninov - A Russian composer, pianist and conductor.
Concerto - A long piece of music for a solo instrument in an orchestra.
K-pop - Short for Korean pop. Pop music originating from South Korea.
Prodigy - A child with exceptional skill or talent.
Mozart - An 18th Century classical musician who composed more than 800 works.
Symphonies - Long pieces of music written for orchestras.
Beethoven - German composer (1770 - 1827) whose intense, dramatic work revolutionised classical music.
Franz Liszt - A Hungarian composer, pianist and conductor, born in 1811.
Supplant - Become more important than or replace.
Rudyard Kipling - An English novelist who wrote The Jungle Book.