Ever since winning the 2015 International Chopin Piano Competition, pianist Seong-Jin Cho has captivated audiences with his poetic touch, razor-sharp technique, and quiet, yet convincing, charisma.

He’s especially popular on YouTube, where his performances garner millions and millions of views.

Seong-jin Cho (photo by Christoph Köstlin)

Today, we’re looking at his seven most popular videos, noting which moments from them viewers can’t get enough of (courtesy of the YouTube heatmap, which shows which parts of the videos viewers have returned to the most).

His top seven most-viewed videos as of 2025 are listed here in reverse order, with the most popular at the end.

Keep reading to find out what performance is his most popular, and how many views it got!

7. Chopin: Etude in C-major, Op. 10, No. 1

5.2 million views

Seong-Jin Cho’s seventh most popular video comes from the first round of the 2015 Chopin Competition.

The most replayed part of this performance starts at 1:35, toward the end of the etude, where Cho’s hand glides down the keyboard in a flurry of notes, showcasing his jaw-dropping finger flexibility.

It’s striking how transported Cho seems to be here, swept away by the awe he clearly feels at Chopin’s music – even in an unimaginably high-stakes situation like the Chopin Competition.

6. Chopin: Polonaise in A-flat-major

6.6 million views

Cho’s sixth most popular video is also a repertoire by Chopin: his defiant “Heroic” Polonaise in A-flat major.

After Chopin’s love interest George Sand heard the piece, she connected its character to the revolutionary spirit of 1789 and 1848, writing to Chopin:

“The inspiration! The force! The vigour! There is no doubt that such a spirit must be present in the French Revolution. From now on, this polonaise should be a symbol, a heroic symbol.”

Cho musters inspiration, force, and vigour in equal measure in this performance.

There are two especially popular spots in this video.

First, at 1:00, his transition before the first repetition of the theme is subdued…which in turn leads to a burst of confidence during the actual repetition itself.

The second popular spot is the final minute of the performance, from 6:00 on. Each phrase builds on the excitement and momentum of the previous one. Thrilling!

5a. Chopin: Nocturne, Op. 9, No. 2

7.1 million views

Unsurprisingly, the fifth most popular performance is another Chopin work: his Nocturne, Op. 9, No. 2.

This delicate nocturne is gorgeously played. Interestingly, the video’s heatmap indicates that listeners aren’t gravitating toward any one particular moment in this performance, which means most viewers are just letting the whole thing wash over them.

So let yourself listen…and enjoy.

5b. Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 8, Movement 2

7.1 million views

The first non-Chopin work on this list is the adagio from Beethoven’s Eighth Piano Sonata, also known as the Pathétique. Cho played it as an encore after a concerto in 2018.

This is one of Beethoven’s most intimate and personal slow movements, and Cho plays it beautifully.

In this performance, his ability to build connected phrases and interrelated lines truly shines: a trait that is, as we’ve already noted, a hallmark of his Chopin playing, too.

The best part of this performance is from around 3:50 to the end. The subtlety and Cho’s seemingly unconscious nods as he plays are magical to see and hear.

3a. Debussy: Clair de Lune

10 million views

Cho’s gift for subtlety is put to great use in this performance of Debussy’s Clair de Lune.

Given the ubiquity of this piece in pop culture, it can be difficult to craft an interpretation that stands out…but Cho delivers with his delicate touch and searing sincerity.

3b. Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2

10 million views

Cho’s “second” most popular video on YouTube is a performance of Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto.

He takes the opening to the work strikingly slow, making the famous opening chords especially haunting and unsettling.

That broad tempo continues into the main body of the concerto. The result is a sad wash of sound.

It’s an unusual approach, but striking, and it certainly highlights new aspects of the rich orchestral colour in Rachmaninoff’s score.

1. Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-minor

19 million views

Here is Seong-Jin Cho’s number one recording on YouTube, boasting a staggering 19 million views: his first-prize performance in the final round of the Chopin Competition.

According to the video’s heat map, there are a number of excerpts that stood out to viewers.

The first happens at Cho’s entrance at 5:00: assertive yet elegant, bold yet shy, embracing all the contradictions of Chopin’s character.

Another popular moment happens in an improvisatory-like passage starting around 18:20. It’s a joy to hear how Cho navigates it with his trademark elegance and subtlety.

The final favourite portion is in the third movement, around 32:45, where the soloist has to play flurries of notes. In Cho’s hands, each is articulated clearly and infused with purpose.

It’s sheer joy to watch him finish the concerto. It feels like he’s in his own little world of musicmaking, and we’ve been lucky enough to get to spy on it.

The audience’s immediate loud bravo! as soon as he finishes says it all!

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