Given the excitement surrounding Eric Lu\u2019s victory at the 2025 International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition on October 21, it came as no surprise that the Chinese-American\u2019s all-Chopin recital on December 7, presented by the HKU Muse Piano Laureate Series, sold out so quickly that an extra performance was added.<\/p>\n
The renowned music writer, composer and pianist Jed Distler described Lu as \u201ca pianist who knows exactly what he wants from his instrument and how to get it\u201d, while blogging on the quasi \u201cOlympics\u201d for rising pianists \u2013 and he was right on the money.<\/p>\n
With generous doses of sustain pedal and laser focus at the keys, Lu\u2019s concert opener, Chopin\u2019s Nocturne in C-sharp minor<\/em>, glistened like pristine stars on a clear night. The busyness in the midpoint agitation was detailed and measured, and the finesse and tenderness that Lu lent the nocturne\u2019s conclusion were impressive.<\/p>\n Belying its title, the following piece, the Barcarolle in F-sharp major<\/em>, is a whole lot more than just the clich\u00e9d rocking of Venetian gondolas \u2013 something that Chopin never set foot in. It was shaped by Lu into a colourful tone painting, depicting watery undulations by means of refined and discreet rubatos, then developing into immense, relentless swells by way of brilliant dynamic escalation and contrapuntal intensity.<\/p>\n Next came three successive polonaises, which proved a fascinating glimpse into the rich musical diversity found in Chopin\u2019s different expressions of this traditional Polish dance.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"Lu\u2019s](\"https:\/\/img.i-scmp.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/fit=contain,width=1024,format=auto\/sites\/default\/files\/d8\/images\/canvas\/2025\/12\/09\/9b292ec3-f0e6-412d-a5e7-ca7bc3d184ce_a2afb73a.jpg\" "\\"Lu\u2019s")
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