South Korean pianist whose right hand was paralysed now wows crowds with just his left
Inspired by his music teacher, South Korean pianist Lee Hun now plays left-hand music only after a stroke paralysed his entire right side
When a major stroke paralysed South Korean pianist Lee Hun’s right side in 2012, he first worried about whether he would ever walk again. Playing the piano was not even a consideration.
He returned to the piano only after a mentor told him about a large number of piano pieces for the left hand alone.
After exhaustive practice he made a comeback, playing recitals as South Korea’s only known professional left-hand-only pianist.
He is now preparing for a new challenge: his first joint performance with an orchestra at an international music festival next month.
“I’m so, so nervous I could die,” Lee, 54, says with a smile. “It’s just one concerto, but working with an orchestra has its own difficulties.”
In August 2012, Lee, then a doctorate candidate at the music school at the University of Cincinnati, in the US state of Ohio, abruptly collapsed at his home.