Some of South Korea’s most celebrated classical musicians have teamed up with Apple Music to help launch and curate exclusive playlists for their new classical-focused app. Pianists Cho Seong-jin, Yunchan Lim, Son Yeol-eum, and composer Jung Jae-il have been appointed ambassadors for Apple Music Classical before its worldwide launch.
At a special event held at Apple’s flagship store in Seoul, 19-year-old pianist Yunchan Lim expressed his excitement about the partnership. Lim, who gained global acclaim after winning gold at the prestigious Van Cliburn competition, noted that Apple Music had been instrumental in helping him discover new works throughout his development as a musician. He was honored to now collaborate with the platform.
Lim performed a short recital to celebrate the app’s debut and unveiled his personally crafted playlist “The Golden Age of Piano.” The collection features 10 seminal works that left a deep impression on Lim’s artistry, including pieces by Ignaz Friedman, Art Tatum, and Sergei Rachmaninoff. Though difficult to encapsulate, Lim hoped listeners would find in the songs the same emotions of awe and inspiration he experienced.
In addition to playlists curated by the featured Korean artists, several major classical institutions based in Seoul will also host exclusive selections, such as the Seoul Arts Center and Lotte Concert Hall.
Apple Music Classical aims to be the most comprehensive resource for classical devotees worldwide. With its vast catalog containing over 5 million tracks and 50 million metadata points that continue expanding, the app strives to make even obscure works easily discoverable. Users can search by any parameter to locate exactly the recording they want. Beginners and aficionados alike will find simple navigation and countless recommended playlists to uncover beloved classics or new favorites.
The artists hailed the platform’s potential to elevate classical music’s reach on a global scale. For Cho Seong-jin, it provides performers a broader stage to engage music lovers everywhere. With support from Korea’s top talents, the new app hopes to bring the genre’s timeless treasures to ever wider audiences.
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