The star pianist joins forces with his regular collaborator and ‘musical soulmate’ Santtu-Matias Rouvali, and the outstanding Philharmonia Orchestra. First comes Borodin’s atmospheric musical picture of a caravan of merchants and their camels crossing the steppe, with gorgeous moments in the spotlight for some of the Philharmonia’s woodwind principals. Then it’s time for Tchaikovsky’s First … [Read More]
Musician: Cho Seong-jin
Spotlight on Seong-Jin Cho at LSO St Luke’s
The second BBC lunchtime recital as part of Seong-Jin Cho’s season with the LSO: Frédéric Chopin Waltz in E minor Op posth Waltz No 4 in F major Op 34 No 3 Waltz No 6 in D-flat major Op 64 No 1, ‘Minute’ Waltz No 9 in A-flat major Op 69 No 1 Waltz No … [Read More]
Spotlight on Seong-Jin Cho at LSO St Luke’s
Two concerts featuring Seong-Jin Cho at LSO St Luke’s: BBC Radio 3 Lunchtime Concert, Friday 13 February 2026, 1pm Donghoon Shin: My Shadow Johannes Brahms: Piano Quartet in G minor Andrej Power violin Julián Gil Rodríguez violin Eivind Ringstad viola David Cohen cello Chris Richards clarinet Seong-Jin Cho piano The Concert Shadows, echoes and deep … [Read More]
Seongjin Cho plays Chopin at the Barbican
Bask in the Romantic flavours of Borodin’s folk-inspired Second Symphony, Stravinsky’s sublime neo-Classical homage to Tchaikovsky, and dazzling, deeply-felt Chopin. Programme Igor Stravinsky: Divertimento from ‘The Fairy’s Kiss’ (rev 1949) Frédéric Chopin: Piano Concerto No 2 Alexander Borodin: Symphony No 2 Performers London Symphony Orchestra Gianandrea Noseda: conductor Seong-Jin Cho: piano Inspired by a number … [Read More]
K-Music Festival 2025: an introduction
As October approaches, it’s time to start looking forward to what has become one of the mainstays of the Autumn cultural calendar: the K-Music Festival. LKL take a look at the acts that we’ll be seeing this October and November. [Read More]
Prokofiev & Beethoven at the Barbican, with Seong-Jin Cho
Beethoven’s defiant Symphony No 5 meets the sneering mockery of Shostakovich and Prokofiev in exhilarating mood. In 1945, Soviet authorities expected Shostakovich to use his Ninth Symphony to celebrate Soviet military might. What they got was a subversive, mischievous work that thumbed its nose at Stalin. Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No 2 is one of the … [Read More]
K-music 2025: Seong-Jin Cho – Artist Portrait. Part of LSO Futures
World premiere of a new piano concerto by Dong-hoon Shin, written for Seong-Jin Cho Following his sold-out Barbican recital in 2023, piano superstar Seong-Jin Cho returns to the Barbican for the world premiere of a piano concerto commissioned by the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) from Dong-hoon Shin—one of Korea’s most prominent contemporary composers—written especially for … [Read More]
Barbican 25/26 classical season to include Seong-Jin Cho artist portrait, plus Yeol Eum Son and Clara-Jumi Kang
For those keen to lock down their diary commitments well in advance, the Barbican has just announced its September 2025 – July 2026 classical music season. For Seong-jin Cho fans, you have four opportunities to see him – including two performances of Chopin’s 2nd piano concerto – in what is billed as an Artist Portrait. … [Read More]
Seong-Jin Cho: A Ravel-athon, at the Barbican
A sold-out hall greeted Seong-Jin Cho’s Barbican debut in 2023. His much-anticipated return navigates a scintillating all-Ravel programme, saluting the composer in his 150th anniversary year. Bookended by the early serenade and the last piano suite, which honours his inheritance, Ravel’s piano music is laid before us, from the wistful Pavane that made his name, … [Read More]
2024 in review part 1 – the cultural year in London
In the first of three articles – which have taken far longer than they should have done to write – we look back over the past year of Korean events in London and elsewhere. At this point in the year we always ask ourselves the question as to whether there is any sign of the Korean … [Read More]
Seong-Jin Cho Plays Ravel and Liszt in late-night Prom
Sir András Schiff, the advertised pianist for this evening’s recital, has had to withdraw owing to a broken leg. The BBC Proms is grateful to Seong-Jin Cho for appearing at short notice. Korean pianist Seong-Jin Cho, who dazzled Proms audiences earlier this season with Mozart’s ‘Jeunehomme’ Piano concerto, gives a recital of solo piano works … [Read More]
Korean performers at the 2024 Edinburgh Festival and Fringe
Seongjin Cho returns to the International Festival for a solo morning recital, while the Fringe contains a strong line-up of at least six Korean productions. Do try Black and White Tea Room – a really powerful play which we’ve seen a couple of times before and would unhesitatingly watch again. Also, while you’re in Edinburgh, … [Read More]
Seong-Jin Cho plays Beethoven 4
Seong-Jin Cho plays Beethoven’s poetic Fourth Piano Concerto. You can’t keep inspiration down. Michael Tippett heard the chugging of a steamboat on a Swiss lake, and his Second Symphony burst into vibrant, bustling life. Wagner wrestled with faith and philosophy, and created music that seems to hover, glowing, in mid-air. And Ludwig van Beethoven sat … [Read More]
Seong-Jin Cho plays Shostakovich
Seong-Jin Cho, winner of the 2015 Chopin Piano Competition, adds his ‘breathtaking nimbleness’ to the Philharmonia Orchestra in Shostakovich’s playful concerto. Cho has gone from strength to strength since winning the International Chopin Piano Competition in 2015. Performing with the Philharmonia at last year’s Edinburgh International Festival, he won praise from The Scotsman for his … [Read More]
Seong-Jin Cho plays the Barbican
Piano sensation Seong-Jin Cho brings his musical refinement to a solo programme of Baroque dance music and the Romantic composers inspired by it. Baroque music is closely intertwined with dance and Seong-Jin brings together works inspired by its energy and rhythmic drive. Handel supposedly describes the beats of a foundry in his Suite; years later, … [Read More]
Edinburgh 2022: the first weekend of Korean performances
LKL has a packed agenda at the first weekend of the Edinburgh International Festival and Fringe. Edinburgh performers have to put up with all forms of distractions in pursuit of their art. At Dance Base, the Korea National Contemporary Dance Company, whose performance opened in quietness to the sounds of Lee Ilwoo’s solo piri, had … [Read More]