Piano Sonata No. 3 in F minor, Op. 5
Variations on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 35

A bold and daring choice for a debut recording, but South-Korean pianist Julian Jaeyoung Kim delivers forceful and incisive readings of these two intricately thorny works by Johannes Brahms (1833-1897). Throughout the first movement of the Piano Sonata No. 3 in F minor, Op. 5 Julian Jaeyoung Kim keeps a tight grip and focus on the main motif that snakes its way within the music from start to finish. His decisive accentuation of it makes it undeniably discernible every time it rises to the surface. And on the flip side of the coin, he just as readily delivers a truly and deeply expressive account of the following Andante espressivo, a sound and style that already points to the Op. 118 Brahms.

Any and all technical hurdles within the demanding Variations on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 35 are met with aplomb, and once again a clear compass on the Theme itself, although at times slight mechanical motions intrude on the music's progression and flow, which are easily forgiven and overlooked when compared to the masterful delivery by Julian Jaeyoung Kim of the myriad of intricacies and subtleties of this challenging work.

This young Bechstein artist has taken home many 1st and 2nd prize awards from many prestigious piano competitions and it shows in his assured musicianship. A bold and daring choice for a debut recording indeed which begs the question: what great achievements await him going forward.