Yunchan Lim's "Goldberg Variations" Named Apple Music Classical's "Album of the Year"

“Chopin: Etudes” Named Most Popular Album of 2024

Yunchan Lim's "Goldberg Variations" Named Apple Music Classical's Album of the Year Yunchan Lim's live album of Bach's "Goldberg Variations" has been named Apple Music Classical's "2026 Classical Album of the Year."

Apple Music Classical announced on November 12 that "Bach: Goldberg Variations," an album featuring Lim's live performance at Carnegie Hall, was selected by its expert editors as Classical Album of the Year.

Released through Decca Classics in February, the album topped the Apple Music Classical Global Top 100 chart for 16 weeks and ranked in the top 10 for 39 weeks. Lim was also named Apple Music Classical's "Most Popular Album of the Year" in 2024 for his album "Chopin: Etudes."

Apple Music Classical called the performance "one of the finest interpretations to emerge in recent years," praising its "delicate expression, tempos that bring out the spirit of each variation, and a performance that seems to honor Bach's grand design."

The "Goldberg Variations" holds special significance for Lim. He said he first encountered the piece at age eight through a recording by legendary pianist Glenn Gould and was captivated by its grandeur and beauty.

Lim described the work as "a journey through life rendered in music, from the moment you open your eyes at the first aria, through 30 profoundly human variations, to the moment you quietly close your eyes at the final aria."

"I am truly honored to receive such a meaningful distinction from Apple Music Classical," Lim said. "Recording the 'Goldberg Variations' live at Carnegie Hall was a lifelong dream. Knowing that this performance has resonated with so many people is the greatest gift a musician could hope for."

Anjali Malhotra, global director of Apple Music Classical, said, "Yunchan Lim's recording of the 'Goldberg Variations' is a special work that brings together exceptional artistry and a deeply personal interpretation." She added that it is "an album that has captured the hearts of expert editors while deeply moving listeners around the world."

To mark the selection, Apple Music Classical will release an exclusive deluxe edition featuring Lim's commentary, a digital booklet, and additional audio and video content. A new Classical Session, recorded at Battersea Studios in London, England, is also scheduled to be released in early 2027.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.