Review: Rachmaninoff - Piano Concerto No. 3

This live recording of Rachmaninoff’s third piano concerto captures the final round of the 2022 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, the performance that earned Yunchan Lim the Gold Medal.

Rachmaninoff – Yunchan Lim

Amazon

Presto

Apple

It’s easy to understand why this reading secured the top prize and quickly gained popularity on YouTube, where the video remains accessible in most regions. Beyond the technical prowess, there is a certain charm to Lim’s playing and a clear sense of the concerto’s large-scale structure—including the somewhat episodic nature of the Finale.

In reviewing Lim’s Chopin Etudes album, I noted that he particularly shines in slower pieces. That quality is evident here as well, with the slow movement emerging as the most convincing. It’s also where the coordination between soloist and the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra under Marin Alsop feels most cohesive.

The competitive atmosphere brings a sense of urgency, but also some compromises. In the first movement, the orchestra seems to lag slightly behind Lim’s tempo shifts; up until the appearance of the second theme at 2’52”, he remains slightly ahead. And around 9’00” in the second movement, the woodwinds sound faintly out of tune. Still, the preceding waltz section is both animated and bittersweet, with the strings offering a full, expressive tone throughout.

Decca has somewhat refined the original competition recording, though limitations remain in dynamic range and orchestral clarity. The qualities of the Steinway that Lim selected for the performance does come through well. The album includes only the concerto and the winner’s announcement, with no booklet provided in the digital release. Despite these drawbacks, a most enjoyable album that leaves one curious to hear what Lim will offer next.