Im Yunchan to play Rachmaninoff five nights straight; pianist invokes Cézanne amid overwork debate

Philadelphia Orchestra residency runs Nov. 5–9 with Marin Alsop conducting

Extra concert added two weeks before shows sparks fan backlash

'Decision made with joy,' pianist says, apologizing for worry caused

"Just as Cézanne painted Mont Sainte-Victoire from different angles and in different light each time, so will I."

Those were the words of pianist Im Yunchan, 22, after he found himself at the center of an "overwork" controversy for agreeing to perform Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3 — a notoriously demanding work with some 35,000 notes — on five consecutive nights. The painter Im invoked, Paul Cézanne, returned again and again to the mountain near his hometown of Aix-en-Provence, filling canvas after canvas; the same peak looked different each time the light or angle shifted.

"This appearance was decided with joy by myself, my conductor and the orchestra," Im wrote Monday on Instagram. "To those who feel worried or disappointed by the addition of this performance, I sincerely apologize."

The controversy began Wednesday through Im's fan community forums and online cafes, when his agency and concert producer Mok Production announced

that it was adding Im as a soloist to the Nov. 7 program of the Philadelphia Orchestra's Korea tour. The date had originally been an orchestra-only concert with no soloist. Stravinsky's "Firebird" Suite was dropped from the program and replaced with Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3.

Mok Production said the decision was made "on the strength of Im Yunchan's and Alsop's own wishes, in response to the strong support so many of you have shown." The agency also offered full refunds with no cancellation fee up until the day of the performance.

The concerts mark the Philadelphia Orchestra's 10th tour to Korea. Marin Alsop, who conducted Im at the 2022 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition final where he performed the same concerto, will share the stage with him again.

That performance was the overture to Im's emergence as a classical superstar. Im, then 18, won the competition as its youngest champion in history with that piece. A particularly memorable moment came when the music ended and thunderous applause filled the hall — cameras caught Alsop setting down her baton and wiping away tears. While the two musicians have performed together abroad since, this will be their first meeting on a Korean stage. For Korean audiences, it marks a reunion with the same concerto after four years, and anticipation among classical fans has been wide.

Im Yunchan's Instagram post addressing the controversy [Im Yunchan Instagram]

Im had originally been scheduled to perform with the orchestra four times — at Art Center Incheon on Nov. 5, at Seoul Arts Center on Nov. 6 and 8, and at Lotte Concert Hall on Nov. 9. The agency's decision to add Nov. 7 means he will now play the same concerto five nights in a row.

Fans have expressed deep concern, above all about Im's physical stamina. Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3 runs roughly 40 minutes and is considered one of the most technically demanding works in the repertoire. Before arriving in Korea, Im is set to perform the concerto with the same orchestra three times in Philadelphia from Thursday through Saturday. That schedule leaves him playing eight concerts in 12 days.

Adding to the unease, word that Im would appear on Nov. 7 had circulated in classical music communities even before any official announcement. The remaining seats for that date sold out quickly in the interim. Fans who had fought through a ticketing scramble for other dates voiced frustration, and suspicions surfaced that the decision was driven by a need to fill seats for the Nov. 7 show, which had seen weaker sales than the other dates. Some fans issued a statement calling for answers about the decision-making process, the appropriateness of the program change, and the fairness of the ticketing.

Im addressed the situation directly. "I respect both those who are concerned about my health and those who were looking forward to the originally announced orchestral program," he wrote.

"I understand well what it means to worry about back-to-back performances," he added. "Because this decision was made with full consideration of my condition and what I can handle, I will also make sure to get enough rest and take care of myself."

Aware of his fans' concerns, Im offered a candid reflection. "Rachmaninoff No. 3 is one of the pieces I have loved most in my life," he wrote. "Because I do not want to perform this piece amid confusion and worry, I wanted to share my honest feelings."

shee@heraldcorp.com