The Competition interpretations by Eric Lu released by Deutsche Grammophon

‘At the age of 27, Lu has the potential for a long and interesting career ahead of him, and he joins a roll call of illustrious past Chopin Competition winners, including Maurizio Pollini, Martha Argerich, Krystian Zimerman, Yulianna Avdeeva, Seong-Jin Cho and Bruce Liu’ (Presto Music).

The renowned music critic Jed Distler, reviewing Eric Lu’s performance in the third stage of this year’s Chopin Competition, wrote that the pianist, when playing the Barcarolle, demonstrated not only ‘technical mastery’ but also ‘conjured a rainbow of colours and poetic ardour from the Fazioli grand.’ The program of the same recital also included, among others, the Polonaise in B-flat major, Op. 71, No. 2 (‘scintillating pomp and a thousand shades of trills,’ Distler enthused) and the Mazurkas, Op. 56, in which the reviewer praised the ‘pianist’s prodigious palette of tone colours and cultivated phrasing.’ 

All these pieces, as well as the Waltz in C-sharp minor, Op. 64, the first of the Nocturnes, Op. 27, and the Sonata in B-flat minor, Op. 35, are included on a CD released today – precisely one month after the conclusion of the Competition – by Deutsche Grammophon. The renowned company (the oldest record label in the world, with traditions dating back to the late 19th century!) traditionally publishes an album with Competition performances by the winner of the Warsaw tournament.