SEOUL, July 21 (Korea Bizwire) — Pianist Lim Yun-chan’s popularity is on the rise after clinching the gold in the finals of the 2022 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition.
Lim’s mention of Dante Alighieri’s narrative poem in a press release on June 30 has been gaining particular attention.
The 18-year-old student of the Korea National University of Arts has also been known as a book enthusiast.
Recalling his performance of Franz Liszt’s “Dante Sonata” two years ago, he talked about the importance of reading the Italian poet’s “The Divine Comedy” in order to understand Liszt’s music.
“I’ve basically memorized the book,” Lim said.
Kyobo Book Center, the No. 1 online and offline bookstore in South Korea, reported a 20.9 percent increase in sales of “The Divine Comedy” 19 days before and after Lim talked about the book.
Online bookstore Yes24 also reported a 63.5 percent increase in sales of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s albums in June after Lim won the Van Cliburn competition with the Russian composer’s Piano Concerto No.3.
Lim’s upcoming concert with the KBS Symphony Orchestra on August 20 is sold out.
Image Credit: Yonhap / Minumsa Publishing Group / photonews@koreabizwire.com
