[Review: Potato Index 90%] The Phenomenal Rise of Lim Yoon-chan in ‘Crescendo’
The birth of a genius. In June 2022, at the age of 18, Lim Yoon-chan won the Van Cliburn Competition, becoming the youngest winner in history and making a meteoric rise to fame.
Lim Yoon-chan has become a sensation in the classical music world, achieving sell-out performances wherever he goes since his triumph in the competition.
‘Crescendo’, set to be released on December 20, is a documentary film that chronicles the competition process of the 16th Van Cliburn Competition that brought Lim Yoon-chan to prominence.
The Van Cliburn Competition, established in honor of Van Cliburn, one of the greatest pianists in American music history, is a piano competition held every four years since 1962. It is a prestigious competition that serves as a gateway to the professional world and a starting point for careers and reputations. For young pianists, it is the ‘stage of dreams’.
‘Crescendo’, produced in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Van Cliburn Competition, captures the shining moments of youth through the competition challenges of young pianists.
Just like its title, which means ‘gradually increasing in volume’, the competition stage of ‘Crescendo’ becomes more intense and heated as the rounds progress. The competition starts with 30 finalists, goes through the semi-semi-finals with 18 contestants, the semi-finals with 12, and culminates in a breathless final where 6 contestants vie for gold, silver, and bronze medals. The process of these eccentric and unique artists racing towards the win offers suspense and thrill beyond any competition show.
Along with the competition, ‘Crescendo’ deeply captures the passion, effort, and concerns of young artists towards their dreams. The stress and pressure of the participants who have to perform flawlessly for 40 to 60 minutes while enduring stage fright are vividly conveyed.
Moreover, the sight of artists respecting and interacting with each other’s music, becoming one through music, even though they aim for the win, provides a touching moment.
The film goes a step further by focusing on participants from Ukraine and Russia, reflecting on the role and meaning of music in a divided era by shedding light on Van Cliburn, who melted people’s hearts with music during the Cold War.
The greatest charm of this film is the opportunity to enjoy Lim Yoon-chan’s performance on a big screen with a ‘booming’ sound. Even to the eyes of a classical music novice, one cannot help but be captivated by Lim Yoon-chan’s excellent interpretation of the music and his beautiful and dramatic expressions.
Despite knowing the outcome of the competition, one can’t help but feel anxious about whether Lim Yoon-chan’s name would not be called in each round. The fantastic performance of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 presented on the final stage and the moment his name is called last in the final result announcement captivates one with overwhelming emotions.
The ‘Crescendo’ to be released this time has been extended by 15 minutes from the version screened at the Jecheon International Music Film Festival last August. The added footage includes an interview with Lim Yoon-chan. You can meet the confident genius pianist on stage and the shy boy Lim Yoon-chan off stage.
Director: Heather Wilk / Starring: Lim Yoon-chan, Anna Geniushene, Dmitry Choni, Marin Alsop and others / Import · Distribution: Ode / Release: Exclusive release at CGV on December 20 / Rating: General Audience / Running time: 111 minutes
By. Max Movie
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