Seong-Jin Cho in Seattle: a flair for freedom at the keyboard

Seong-Jin Cho

By Thomas May, 22 January 2026

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“at times, he seems absorbed in timbre for its own sake; at others, acutely aware of dramatic effect”

Reviewed at Benaroya Hall, S Mark Taper Auditorium, Seattle on 20 January 2026

Liszt, Années de pèlerinage, Troisième année: Les jeux d'eaux à la villa d'Este, S 163 no. 4

Beethoven, Piano Sonata no. 15 in D major "Pastoral”, Op.28

Bartók, Out of Doors Suite (Szabadban), Sz 81

Chopin, 14 Waltzes

Seong-Jin Cho, Piano

Poetry and precision: Seong-Jin Cho returns to Carnegie Hall

Susan Stempleski, 12th April

A little over a year after his marathon all-Ravel recital at the Hall, the Korean pianist returns with an exquisitely performed program of Bach, Schoenberg, Robert Schumann and Chopin.

*****

Borodin steps into the symphonic limelight: Noseda and the LSO

Mark Pullinger, 15th February

Seong-Jin Cho continues his Artist Portrait series with the LSO by performing Chopin's poetic Second Piano Concerto.

****1

Seong-Jin Cho collaborates on double-handed LSO St Luke’s programme

Asher Rubenstein, 13th February

In a day of music among friends, superstar pianist Seong-Jin Cho displays his mettle in two demanding programmes of chamber music.

****1

Honeck and Pittsburgh Symphony make a strong Shostakovich statement

No’a L. bat Miri, 3rd December

Carnegie Hall's visit from the Steel City's Symphony demonstrates a thoughtful ensemble's ability to make music speak clearly, even without words.

*****

Maxime Pascal shows his mettle in Boulez and three world premieres

Peter Quantrill, 20th November

Seong-Jin Cho brings pianistic glamour to a bold programme of premieres in the LSO's Futures concert.

****1

A slow start for the Czech Philharmonic

Frank Kuznik, 25th September

Conductor Semyon Bychkov and soloist Seong-Jin Cho offer an underwhelming introduction to the new season at the Rudolfinum.

***11

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Thomas May

Thomas May is a writer and translator based in Seattle. His books include Decoding Wagner and The John Adams Reader, and he blogs about the arts at memeteria.com. He has written for The Washington Post, Gramophone, Listen, Symphony magazine, OPERA America, crosscut.com, and many other publications.