Guildhall, Portsmout

Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Kirill Karabits
Friday 3 May 2013, Guildhall, Portsmouth

By Mike Allan, The News, Portsmouth

“Last season John Lill compellingly brought technical mastery and magisterial rigour to the second piano concerto by Brahms.

Now young Korean Sunwook Kim delivered all that and more.

Surely destined to be known as one of the greats to have emerged from the Leeds international piano competition, Kim was more expressive in tone and phrasing – impassioned and graceful, thrusting and rhapsodically introverted in turn.

He took the long view, like Lill, but also enjoyed the scenery on the way without compromising the overall line, achieving an ideal blend of classical and romantic styles.”