Now that one of the most talked-about 'live' performances in recent classical music history is finally being released on CD (and LP), all of you millions of people who've watched the YouTube video of Yunchan Lim's riveting interpretation of Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 3, recorded live at the 2022 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, when he was just 18 years old, can stop watching and listen attentively free of all the visual diversions.

I myself have watched the video and found it to be extremely distracting. First and foremost on the list of disturbances is conductor Marin Alsop's stiff, robotic gestures, completely disaffected to this work's expressive character. As well, more than half of the orchestra musicians wearing black surgical masks and looking as if they would rather be somewhere else, underpins the orchestra's uncommitted performance. A lackluster performance at best, including out-of-step with the pianist moments.

When listening to the CD without the visual imagery, these orchestral blunders fade into the background as you focus entirely on Yunchan Lim's brilliant playing. "Profound emotional maturity and technical exuberance" are but two of the qualities I pointed out in a previous review of Chopin's Etudes performed by Yunchan Lim. From ferocious intensity to sublime felicity are highlights of this performance of the Rach 3 as well.

As long as record label executives don't force Lim to conform to their plans, this fine musician is bound to become one of the finest the 21st century will have seen, or should I say heard.