Seong-Jin Cho, Klavier

Seong-Jin Cho is the pianist of the moment. The young South Korean enjoys pop star status in his homeland. But he is also the talk of the town here. He also has a large fan base in Frankfurt. So what makes him and his playing so special? Sir Simon Rattle describes him as the ‘poet at the piano’, which sums it up perfectly. Cho, who became the first Korean to win the famous Chopin Competition in 2015, is a virtuoso who appears completely relaxed, adding a sensual touch to his frenetic keyboard playing. The Berlin-based musician has worked hard and purposefully to develop this sensitivity to sound, as well as his success in general. 'Building a career here when you come from Korea is not that easy. The competition is incredibly fierce. And then there's the fact that classical music comes from here, too. You have to be very special.'