Lim Yunchan makes BBC awards history with Chopin etudes album

Pianist Lim Yunchan swept the three most prestigious categories at the BBC Music Magazine Awards in London -- recording of the year, newcomer of the year and the instrumental award -- all for his debut studio album “Chopin: Etudes,” released last year under the Decca Classics label, according to the organizer on Thursday.

It marked the first time since the award's inception in 2006 that a single album has claimed all three titles. Even more unprecedented: a first-time winner in the newcomer category also taking home recording of the year.

Charlotte Smith, editor of BBC Music Magazine, said, "That the artist at the center of these three prestigious awards should just have celebrated his 21st birthday is downright astonishing. But Lim Yunchan is no ordinary artist."

"Given that 2024 saw the release of many outstanding albums, I did not expect this outcome at all, and I'm so grateful. I strive always to harmonize what my heart tells me with what my mind dictates,” Lim said, according to the organizer’s website.

Released in April 2024, Lim’s “Chopin: Etudes” has achieved remarkable success globally, earning the Diapason d'Or in France and the Gramophone Classical Music Award in the piano category, where he was also named young artist of the year.

Alongside the awards, Decca announced Thursday the upcoming release of Lim’s live album from the final round of the 2022 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, where he stunned the world with his interpretation of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3. The live recording is scheduled for release May 1, and a preview track from the second movement was released Thursday.

Lim was just 18 when he became the youngest winner in Van Cliburn history. The final-round performance video has since garnered over 17 million views on YouTube -- the most-watched rendition of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3.

The young pianist’s performances continue to generate global attention. His BBC Proms debut in 2024 at London’s Royal Albert Hall sold out faster than any other concert of the season.

Lim is set to perform Bach's "Goldberg Variations" at Carnegie Hall on Friday.