Seong-Jin Cho performs at the Barbican on September 18 [Christoph Köstlin/Deutsche Grammophon]

YOU’LL know about the strange phenomenon of K-Pop: floppy-haired young men of staggering agility but sensitive demeanor who perform to screaming South Korean fans.

It isn’t quite my scene. But there’s a classical equivalent these days that’s turning young Korean pianists into something like it, floppy hair and all. Think Yunchan Lim who stormed the Proms this year. But also think of Seong-Jin Cho who’s spent 2025 touring the world with the complete solo piano works of Ravel in a single evening – and attracting the kind of adulation you’d find in rock concerts.

Back in the summer he mesmerised a packed-out Barbican with his Ravel marathon. And he’s there again on September 18 to launch a residency with the London Symphony Orchestra that encompasses a whole batch of concerts in London and elsewhere.

He’s just done something similar with the Berlin Philharmonic and told me recently that he feels drawn to projects like this. “Being a pianist can be solitary”, he said, “which I don’t mind – I’m quite introverted. But the chance to get to know an orchestra and make friends with the players is a welcome change.”

And as this new residency stretches through to April 2026, there will be plenty of opportunity for that. It starts with Seong-Jin playing Prokofiev’s 2nd concerto under Antonio Pappano. And it follows the launch of the LSO’s new autumn season on September 14 which features two big American symphonies from the mid-20th century: Bernstein’s 3rd and Copland’s 3rd. Full details: barbican.org.uk

• Meanwhile, there’s unfinished business at the Proms which close this weekend with two big events. September 12 sees the annual visit of John Wilson’s supercharged and meticulously prepared Sinfonia of London, playing more Bernstein, more Ravel.

But then, September 13, comes the Last Night – an event that’s always hard to sum up. It divides opinion: for some, an irritating ritual of proto-patriotic nonsense, for others a bit of harmless fun.

Personally, I sit on the fence; but it’s good to let off some steam after eight weeks at the Albert Hall. And the soloists here include star trumpeter Alison Balsom who has announced her intention to retire soon, so it’s worth catching her in action while you can. Details: www.bbc.co.uk/proms

And for those who can’t be there in person to burst balloons and play silly jokes, it’s all on TV and radio.

• Other events this week include violinist Daniel Hope at Wigmore Hall, September 15, playing Elgar and Walton (wigmore-hall.org.uk ); and emergent pianist Jacky Zhang launching a new series of concerts at the wondrous venue that is Leighton House, Holland Park, also September 16 (lisapeacock.co.uk ).

• But the most newsworthy happening will be the return of Russian soprano Anna Netrebko to Covent Garden for its new Tosca – in which she stars for four performances: Sept 11, 15, 18, 21.

Her alleged enthusiasm for the Putin regime has made her unemployable in many western opera houses, and there’s been pressure on the Royal Opera not to engage her. But as the paper goes to press it looks as though she’ll be on stage regardless.

And the controversy will sadly overshadow Jakub Hrusa’s presence in the pit, starting his tenure as Covent Garden’s new music director. rbo.org.uk