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Bruce Liu Photo by Darek Golik
Bruce Liu, who has just bagged the “Young Talent of the Year" OPUS KLASSIK award this year, will once again grace the stage of the Shenzhen Concert Hall this Saturday. He will perform Tchaikovsky’s “The Seasons,” Scriabin’s “Piano Sonata No. 4 in F-sharp Major, Op. 30,” and Prokofiev’s “Piano Sonata No.7 in B-flat Major, Op. 83,” among other pieces.
Local fans fondly recall Liu’s debut in Shenzhen last year, marveling at his virtuosity and genuine, eloquent interpretation of a well-curated repertoire. The young musician delighted his enthusiastic fans with as many as six encore pieces, leaving a lasting impression.
Liu rose to fame in 2021 when he clinched the International Chopin Competition title. Since then, his life has been a whirlwind of touring, media engagements, and occasional opportunities to blend music with his other passion, sports. Notably, he recorded the orchestral version of “Fire,” the official Euro 2024 song.
Despite the hectic schedule, the pianist said he was particularly attracted to the Tchaikovsky solo piano repertoire, not only because of its richly poetic idiom, but also because he found the process of learning the pieces helped him find moments of calm and took him into a new musical world.
While “The Seasons” is famed as Tchaikovsky’s most renowned solo piano work tailored for amateur pianists, its challenge lies not in technical complexity but in revealing its profound essence. “Because there are comparatively few notes, you have to care about every one of them,” Liu said. “Each note must really speak. The work is intimate, as if Tchaikovsky were speaking to himself during composition. It combines the folk element that inspired his ballets with the brilliance and flamboyance found in his concertos. More than that, it has a thoughtfulness and calmness at its core.”
Liu’s rendition of “The Seasons” will unfold in two parts across the four natural seasons, interwoven with works by other composers. Scriabin’s mystical and refined two-movement sonata and Prokofiev’s virtuosic 7th piano sonata, acclaimed as a masterwork, are also included in the evening’s program.
A protégé of Dang Thai Son, a Vietnamese pianist and past Chopin competition winner, Liu values the lesson that celebrates individuality as the most precious asset in music.
Having performed globally with esteemed orchestras like the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic, NHK Symphony Orchestra, and LA Philharmonic, Liu continues to captivate audiences worldwide with his exceptional talent and artistry.
Time: 8 p.m., Dec. 21
Tickets: 100-680 yuan
Venue: Shenzhen Concert Hall, Futian District (深圳音乐厅)
Metro: Line 3 or 4 to Children’s Palace Station (少年宫站), Exit D
