TalenTed and funny

IT’S funny how internationally renowned South Korean pianist-composer Yiruma still gets nervous in front of a new audience.

At his Sept 10 concert at the Plenary Hall, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, he tried to chat with the crowd but ended up rambling. Still, he was genuinely funny and it made the show more entertaining.

Piano-wise, Yiruma, 39, dazzled with his effortless playing, blowing everyone from his first song, .It features a fluttering of cheerful notes that he showcased with some quick fingerwork.

“Memories of your past will be evoked as you listen to my music. The songs I’ll be playing are personal, calm and relaxing. I’m sure some of you will fall asleep but I don’t really care,” he said jokingly.

For the concert, presented by Creon Asia, he mostly mashed up his songs.

For example, he fused

and for a blend of music that was just as beautiful.

According to Yiruma, the warm yet dramatic mashup of and was inspired by the South Korean island of Jeju.

“I came to Malaysia, saw the beauty of Nature and the people and ate great food. The mashup perfectly describes these things too.”

The next mashup comprised and

which he followed up with a more romantic lounge-like song,

One of my favourites, is a gorgeous and uplifting combination of notes that Yiruma performed slightly differently from its recorded version. It was just as brilliant.

Yiruma played while accompanied by South Korean violinist Kim Sangeun. It was originally played with the cello but the addition of the violin made the music more stunning.

Next up was the mellow mashup of

and that sounded grander, also thanks to the violin.

“I hope this next song is the one you really wanted to listen to. By the way, did it rain today?”

The crowd began cheering as it was a hint to one of Yiruma’s hit compositions,

The pianist revealed he initially didn’t want to record it as it was too “sappy and sweet”.

After the intermission, Yiruma earnestly thanked the crowd for returning to the show. “I don’t like intermissions. I’m worried if people might leave.”

He played a single off his upcoming album due to release next month, followed by and

The pianist then invited a lucky young fan on stage to “press three random notes”. Their interaction was hilarious!

Based on the three notes, Yiruma brilliantly improvised a whole new short song that was just ear-pleasing.

Up next were the beautiful and romantic

(“I had a yellow room once — my mother’s taste”) and

The song that everyone had been waiting for, was performed next. The presentation of wistful sounds and contemporary melody was made even more breathtaking with the addition of Kim’s violin.

The two different sounds blended gorgeously, tugging at one’s heartstrings and giving it an emotional touch.

Yiruma closed the show with the soft melancholic numbers and as well as the seemingly-complicated and upbeat number which was a refreshing change from his mostly contemporary compositions.

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