Sunwook Kim opens the Hallé season

Sunwook Kim joins the Hallé Orchestra this week for the opening concerts of their 2015-16 season. Sunwook first met the orchestra and their Music Director Sir Mark Elder, during the final of the 2006 Leeds International Piano Competition when their performance of Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 1 led to him being awarded first prize. Sunwook has gone on to establish a highly successful relationship with both the orchestra and Sir Mark, and is delighted to be back with them for six performances of Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 3.

Later in the season, Sunwook and the Hallé will record the repertoire that began their collaboration; Brahms’ Piano Concerti,  for release on the Hallé’s own label. Ahead of this week’s concerts, Sunwook took time out of his busy schedule to speak to Nina Large about his relationship with the orchestra, pre-concert nerves and his musical influences.