by Alessandro Tommasi
«What we all have in common is our difference»: this is, unsurprisingly, one of Bruce (Xiaoyu) Liu’s mottos. Born in Paris to Chinese parents, the young pianist was brought to the world’s attention in 2021 when he won the Chopin Competition in Warsaw. His life has been steeped in cultural diversity, which has shaped his differences in attitude, personality and character. He draws on various sources of inspiration for his art: European refinement, Chinese millennial tradition, North American dynamism and openness. He studied with Richard Raymond and is currently a student of Dang Thai Son. Globally demanded, he recently signed an exclusive contract with Deutsche Grammophon. His first album, featuring the winning performances from the Chopin Competition, already received international acclaim.
… A pianist evoking Shura Cherkassky and Georges Cziffra in a single breath.
Gramophone
JEAN-PHILIPPE RAMEAU
(Digione, 1683 – Parigi, 1764)
– Les Tendres Plaintes
– Les Cyclopes
– Menuets I et II
– Les Sauvages
– La Poule
– Gavotte et six doubles
FRYDERYK CHOPIN
(Zelazowa Wola, 1810 – Parigi, 1849)
Variazioni su «Là ci darem la mano» dal Don Giovanni di Mozart, op. 2
——
MAURICE RAVEL
(Ciboure, 1875 – Parigi, 1937)
Miroirs, op. 43
– Noctuelles. Très léger
– Oiseaux tristes. Très lent
– Une barque sur l’océan. D’un rythme souple
– Alborada del gracioso. Assez vif
– La Vallée des Cloches. Très lent
CHARLES VALENTIN ALKAN
(Parigi, 1813 – 1888)
Le festin d’Ésope, op. 39 n. 12