Pianist Lim Yun-chan has addressed the controversy over his added appearance with the Philadelphia Orchestra during its Korea tour. As fan concerns mounted over his playing Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3 on five consecutive days, he said on social media that neither his health nor his performance schedule posed a problem. Some fans, however, have issued an open letter questioning the promoter's abrupt program change and what they call unfair ticketing practices, keeping the dispute alive.
"I want to apologize to those who felt worried or disappointed by this added performance," Lim wrote on Instagram on the 26th. "I respect both those who are concerned about my health and those who had been looking forward to the orchestral program announced at the outset."
He stressed that the additional appearance was his own decision. "The conductor, the orchestra and I all made this decision gladly," he said. "Since it was made considering my condition and what I can handle, I will also make sure to get enough rest and take care of myself."
He also expressed a particular attachment to the Rachmaninoff concerto. "Rachmaninoff's Third is one of the pieces I have loved most in my life," Lim said. "I did not want to play it amid confusion and worry, so I wanted to share my feelings honestly."
The dispute began when Lim was added as soloist to the Philadelphia Orchestra's performance at the Seoul Arts Center on the 7th of next month. The concert had originally been scheduled as an orchestra-only program led by conductor Marin Alsop, but promoter Mok Production announced on the 21st that Lim would join and that the program would change. Stravinsky's "The Firebird" was dropped and Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3 added.
Lim performed the same concerto with Alsop in the finals of the 2022 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, becoming the youngest winner in the competition's history. The concert drew wide attention as a reunion of the two musicians with the same work after four years. But the added date means Lim will play the technically demanding concerto on five consecutive days, from Nov. 5 to 9, prompting concerns about an overloaded schedule.
Despite his explanation, some fans continue to press their case. In their open letter, they are asking for an account of how the additional appearance was decided, whether the program change was appropriate and whether the ticketing process was equitable. Rumors of Lim's added appearance had circulated among classical music enthusiasts before the official announcement, making the source of that information another point of contention.
