20-Year-Old Pianist Yunchan Lim Tops Apple Music’s 2024 Most-Played List

The pianist Yunchan Lim’s 2024 recording of Chopin Études Op. 10 and Op. 25 was Apple Music’s most-played classical album of the year. Lim’s album marked his debut recording with Decca Classics.

What’s the buzz: Earlier this week, Apple Music announced its most-played albums of 2024. Topping the classical charts was pianist Yunchan Lim’s recording of Chopin Études, Op. 10 and Op. 25. Released in April with Decca Classics, Lim’s recording follows the 20-year-old South Korean pianist’s previous releases of his Van Cliburn-winning performance of Liszt’s Transcendental Études and his recording of Beethoven’s “Emperor” Piano Concerto No. 5. The album has received triple platinum status in South Korea.

Digging Deeper: Apple Music Classical listeners tend to favour piano music. Other albums listed in Apple Music’s top five classical albums of 2024 included releases from pianists Lang Lang, Gina Alice, and Mao Fujita. Perennial favourite Max Richter’s “Sleep” album also made the list, which is described by Richter as an 8-hour lullaby.

Yunchan Lim has been lauded for his ability to bring together prodigious technique and profound musicality. Born in 2004, Lim began playing the piano at age 7, a mere 13 years ago. The world has a lot more to look forward to from this transcendent artist.

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Sara Schabas

Sara Schabas is a Dora-nominated soprano, writer and yoga teacher. She has performed and created leading roles with companies including Vancouver Opera, Pacific Opera Victoria, the Dayton Opera, and Aspen Opera, and is a former member of Barbara Hannigan’s Equilibrium Young Artists. Currently based in Montreal, she is a doctoral student at McGill University — where she recently received the Wirth Vocal Prize — and editor of Art Song Canada magazine.