Decca Classics Releases Yunchan Lim’s Live Carnegie Hall Recording of Bach’s Goldberg Variations

Written by Chantal Gapato  |  February 12, 2026

Decca Classics has released a new album by South Korean pianist Yunchan Lim featuring Johann Sebastian Bach’s Goldberg Variations, recorded live at Carnegie Hall. Titled Bach: Goldberg Variations “Live at Carnegie Hall”, the release marks Lim’s fourth album with the label since signing in October 2023. The full concert film is also available for streaming on STAGE+ and Carnegie Hall+.

The Goldberg Variations, composed nearly 300 years ago, is regarded as one of the most demanding and significant works in the solo keyboard repertoire. Lim’s live performance presents his interpretation of the work, which he has described as a musical reflection on the stages of life, beginning and ending with the Aria.

Lim first encountered the Goldberg Variations at the age of eight through recordings by Glenn Gould. He has since spoken of his long-held ambition to record the work live at Carnegie Hall, a goal realized with this release.

Sir Clive Gillinson, Executive and Artistic Director of Carnegie Hall, noted in the album’s liner notes that Lim was offered a solo recital in the main hall shortly after winning the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2022. Gillinson cited Lim’s performance at the competition as a decisive factor in recognizing him as an artist of exceptional promise.

Lim’s interpretation of the Goldberg Variations has been widely performed in major venues and has received critical attention. Reviews from international publications have highlighted his balance of technical control and interpretative maturity.

Since becoming the youngest-ever winner of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition at age 18, Lim has released several recordings with Decca Classics. His debut studio album, Chopin Études released in 2024, won three awards at the BBC Music Magazine Awards 2025 and achieved quadruple Platinum status in South Korea. His subsequent releases include a live recording of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 from the Cliburn Competition in 2025 and Tchaikovsky: The Seasons, also released in 2025.

Lim has appeared in sold-out performances at major venues including Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall, and the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, and continues to perform internationally.