FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2024 · 7:30 PM

BRUCE LIU, piano

THE BAKER-BAUM CONCERT HALL
Prelude Lecture by Kristi Brown Montesano · 6:30 PM

“One of the hottest pianists on the planet right now.” — Pianist magazine

HAYDN
Piano Sonata in B Minor Hob.XVI:32

CHOPIN
Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat Minor Op. 35

KAPUSTIN
Variations, Op. 41

RAMEAU
Les Tendres Plaintes
  Les Cyclopes
  Menuets I et II
  Les Sauvages
  La Poule
  Gavotte et six doubles

PROKOFIEV
Piano Sonata No. 7

Born in Paris to Chinese parents, Bruce Liu grew up in Montreal, and took the classical music world by storm in 2021 when he won the First Prize at the 18th Chopin International Piano Competition in Warsaw. Performances around the globe followed, as well as an exclusive recording contract with Deutsche Grammophon.

Bruce Liu has performed at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in Paris, Royal Festival Hall with the Philharmonia Orchestra, Vienna Konzerthaus, BOZAR Brussels, Tokyo Opera City, and Sala São Paulo. Orchestral appearances also include the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, NHK Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg, and Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra.

In the 2022–23 season, Liu appeared in recital on the main stage of Carnegie Hall, and with the Montreal Symphony, Toronto Symphony, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and Wiener Symphoniker at the Musikverein. His festival appearances include la Roque d’Anthéron, Klavier-Festival Ruhr, Rheingau, Edinburgh, Chopin and his Europe, Duszniki, and Gstaad Menuhin. Past highlights include performance with the Cleveland Orchestra, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, and a tour of North America with the China NCPA Orchestra.

An exclusive recording artist with Deutsche Grammophon, Liu’s first album, featuring the winning performances from the Chopin Competition, won a Fryderyk Award and received international acclaim including both the Critics’ choice and Editor’s choice in Gramophone Magazine, which proclaimed his debut disc as “simply as one of the most distinguished Chopin recitals of recent years.” They also included it in the list of Best Classical Albums of 2021, and described Liu’s playing as “evoking Shura Cherkassky and Georges Cziffra in a single breath.” His LJMS debut brings us an exciting program showcasing his awe-inspiring technique.