With over 800,000 social media followers, German pianist Justus Eichhorn spoke about the secret to his popularity, saying, "I suppose it’s because I show things just as they are," adding, "I simply show the music I make to the audience." Provided by Universal Music

For anyone who went to a piano academy in their childhood, "Czerny etudes" are unforgettable instructional pieces. Stiff and boring, yet essential milestones that people practiced while biting the bullet. Indeed, Austrian composer Carl Czerny (1791–1857) left behind numerous etudes designed to help students master the techniques required for piano performance step by step.

However, the Czerny found in German pianist Justus Eichhorn's (17) debut album, The Source, is quite different. Two different versions, arranged from Czerny's Etude Op. 740, No. 14, hold distinct charms. In the version that heightens a passionate feel by adding a left-hand accompaniment, one can experience the thrill of riding a racing horse, while in the slowed-down, lyrical version, one can taste a stillness reminiscent of the first movement of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata.

In a video interview on the 1st, Eichhorn said, "Czerny was a student of Beethoven and a teacher of Liszt, and he is a composer who has had a significant influence on me as well," adding, "When I changed the left-hand rhythm of Czerny's etudes, interesting music came out, so I ended up recording my own arranged versions."

Released last month, the album climbed to the top of the German classical music charts within three weeks of its release. Over the same period, his social media followers, who were around 500,000, surged to 800,000. Eichhorn expressed his delight, saying, "I was surprised because a large number of my followers are Korean," and adding, "I want to visit South Korea again soon to meet with the audience."

The album title, The Source, refers to his hometown of Weimar, which is Eichhorn's musical roots. By gathering works by composers associated with Weimar—such as Bach, Mendelssohn, Liszt, and Hindemith—he looked back at his own musical starting point. Eichhorn actively utilizes social media to lower the barrier to classical music. Starting with a performance video filmed in his living room three years ago, he has gained favorable responses by playing in various locations such as warehouses, museums, and fields. He explained, "The reason I played in various places was, above all, because it was fun," adding, "It is an effort to get closer to more people."

Born to violinist parents, Eichhorn began improvising on the piano at the age of three. He started learning the piano formally at age six and debuted at age ten, performing Haydn's Piano Concerto. Having won first place at the 2001 Berlin Carl Bechstein Competition and placing in several other international competitions, he currently studies under Grigory Gruzman at the University of Music Franz Liszt Weimar.

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