Jaehan Plays Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas Series III

Ludwig van Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 16, 17 & 18
 

Pianist Jaehan Lim presents the third stage of his ambitious journey through Beethoven's complete piano sonatas, a project he has been dedicated to since 2025. In this performance, he offers a matured and profound interpretation featuring the three sonatas of Op. 31, a definitive turning point in Beethoven's musical life, alongside his final work for solo piano, the 6 Bagatelles, Op. 126.

Completed just three years before the composer’s death, Op. 126 reveals Beethoven's hidden, meditative inner world beneath its modest title, "Bagatelles" (meaning 'trifles'). Following this, the three sonatas of Op. 31 showcase a vibrant spectrum of colors—ranging from witty humor and dramatic tension to radiant dynamism—all within a single opus. These works stand as a testament to Beethoven’s departure from the constraints of Classicism as he ventured toward the new horizons of Romanticism.

This concert invites the audience to witness Beethoven’s intense artistic struggles—at the culmination of the Classical era and the birth of the Romantic—brought to life through Jaehan Lim’s exquisite touch and deep musical insight.

 
*Program

 
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

 
6 Bagatelles, Op. 126 (1824)

1. Andante con moto

2. Allegro

3. Andante, Cantabile ed espressivo

4. Presto

5. Quasi allegretto

6. Presto–Andante amabile

 
Piano Sonata No. 16 in G Major, Op. 31 No. 1 (1802)

1. Allegro vivace

2. Adagio grazioso

3. Rondo: Allegro-Presto

 
- Intermission -

 
Piano Sonata No. 17 in D Minor, Op. 31 No. 2 ‘The Tempest’ (1802)

1. Largo-Allegro

2. Adagio

3. Allegretto

 
Piano Sonata No. 18 in Eb Major, Op. 31 No. 3 ‘The Hunt’ (1802)

1. Allegro

2. Scherzo: Allegretto vivace

3. Menuetto: Moderato e grazioso

4. Presto con fuoco

 
*Profile

Jaehan Lim | Piano

 
Jaehan Lim is a versatile pianist active across various stages as a soloist, chamber musician, and concerto soloist. He garnered significant international attention after winning 1st Prize in the "Conducting from the Piano" category at the Hans von Bülow International Piano Competition in Meiningen, Germany. His competitive success continued with 3rd Prize at the Dong-A Music Competition and 5th Prize at the Les Étoiles du Piano International Competition. He has also been recognized for his exceptional ensemble skills, winning 1st Prize at the Busan Maru International Music Festival Chamber Music Competition and top honors at the Dresden Chamber Music Competition.

Having demonstrated early talent by entering Sunhwa Arts High School at the top of his class, Lim graduated from the Korea National University of Arts. He then moved to Germany to complete his Master’s degree and Meisterschüler (Artist Diploma) at the Hochschule für Musik Carl Maria von Weber Dresden. He is currently a faculty member at the Inha University Continuing Education Center and Kyungpook National University.

Lim has performed with prestigious orchestras including the Daegu Symphony Orchestra, Collegium Musicum Werdau, Preußen Chamber Orchestra, and Meininger Hofkapelle. He maintains an active presence in major venues such as the Seoul Arts Center, Sejong Center, Kumho Art Hall Yonsei, and Ilshin Hall. Most recently, in November 2025, he performed Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 with the KNN Philharmonic Orchestra at the Busan Concert Hall.

Spanning a wide repertoire from Baroque and Classical to Romantic and Contemporary music, Jaehan Lim continues to engage audiences with diverse programming. Since 2025, he has been focusing on a major solo recital series dedicated to the complete Beethoven Piano Sonatas. This concert marks the third installment of the series, which will continue until all thirty-two sonatas are completed.