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Bruce Liu

For the Hong Kong politician, see Bruce Liu (politician).
Bruce Liu
刘晓禹
Liu in 2022
Liu in 2022
Background information
Born (1997-05-08) May 8, 1997 (age 27)
Paris, France
GenresClassical
OccupationMusician
InstrumentPiano
Years active2012–present
LabelsDeutsche Grammophon
Websitebruce-liu.com
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese劉曉禹
Simplified Chinese刘晓禹
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinLiú Xiǎoyǔ

Bruce Liu (simplified Chinese: 刘晓禹; traditional Chinese: 劉曉禹; pinyin: Liú Xiǎoyǔ; born Xiaoyu Liu on May 8, 1997) is a Canadian pianist. Born in Paris and raised in Montreal, he began to play the piano at eight years old and was performing by the age of eleven.[1][2] In 2021, he rose to widespread renown after winning the XVIII International Chopin Piano Competition.[3]

Early life and education

Liu was born in Paris to Chinese parents from Beijing. When he was six, he moved to Montreal with his father.[4] He initially started piano studies on an electric keyboard but progressed to an upright piano once he became more serious.[5] He graduated from the Montreal Conservatory of Music in the piano class of Richard Raymond. He has since been studying with Đặng Thái Sơn at the Université de Montréal.[6][7]

Career

2012–2021: Early career

At the age of fifteen, Liu performed with the Cleveland Orchestra and Jahja Ling at Severance Hall.[8][9] In the following years, he also collaborated with many leading ensembles such as the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Montreal Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestra of the Americas.[10] He also toured North America with the NCPA Orchestra, and twice in China with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine and the Lviv National Philharmonic respectively.[11]

In 2012, Liu won the Grand Prize at the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal Standard Life Competition.[12] Recipient of the 2015 Prix d’Europe, he was awarded major prizes at the Thomas & Evon Cooper International Competition in 2012 and the Sendai International Music Competition in 2016.[13][14] He was also a finalist of the Montreal International Music Competition and the Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition in Tel Aviv.[15]

2021–present: Breakthrough and debut album

Liu at the Chopin and His Europe Festival in 2022

In 2021, Liu was named the winner of the XVIII International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw.[16][17][18] He scored the highest marks in the first three stages and was the only competitor to be unanimously selected by the jury to progress from each round.[19] He was also the clear audience favourite and received a prolonged standing ovation for his final round performance of Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra under Andrey Boreyko.[20][21]

Shortly after his success in Warsaw, Liu embarked on a world tour which included performances with the NHK Symphony Orchestra, Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg, NFM Wrocław Philharmonic and the Orquestra Sinfônica Brasileira.[22][23] In recital, he appeared at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in Paris, Wiener Konzerthaus, BOZAR in Brussels, Philharmonie Luxembourg, Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall, Sala São Paulo and The Orpheum in Vancouver.[24] Replacing Nobuyuki Tsujii, he made his London debut performing Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Philharmonia Orchestra at Royal Festival Hall.[25] He also returned to the National Philharmonic in Warsaw on Frédéric Chopin’s birthdate for two sold-out recitals, which he dedicated to the victims of the armed conflict in Ukraine.[26][27]

On World Piano Day in 2022, Liu signed an exclusive contract with Deutsche Grammophon.[28][29] Months prior, the label released a live album of his winning performances from the International Chopin Piano Competition.[30] The album was critically acclaimed and received praise from publications such as BBC Music Magazine and Gramophone.[31] For the latter, it was included in its list of best classical albums from 2021 and was described as “one of the most distinguished Chopin recitals of recent years, full of maturity, character and purpose.”[32][33]

Personal life

Liu can speak fluent French, English and Mandarin Chinese.[34]

Discography

Title Album details Certifications
Bruce Liu – Winner of the International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition 2021[35]
Chopin: Piano Concerto in E minor, Sonata in B flat minor, Ballade in F major, Rondo à la Mazur[37]
Waves: Music by Rameau · Ravel · Alkan[38]
  • Released: November 3, 2023
  • Label: Deutsche Grammophon
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming

Awards

References

  1. ^ "Montreal-trained Bruce (Xiaoyu) Liu wins prestigious Chopin piano competition in Warsaw". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  2. ^ "蕭邦國際鋼琴大賽 華裔鋼琴家劉曉禹獲首獎 | 文化 | 中央社 CNA". www.cna.com.tw (in Chinese). 21 October 2021. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  3. ^ "Biography Bruce Liu". All Music. Retrieved 2021-12-23.
  4. ^ "Bruce Liu: Chopin Gold". La Scena Musicale. 2021-11-15. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  5. ^ "Meet Bruce Xiaoyu Liu, the new grand master of Chopin". Retrieved 2021-11-28.
  6. ^ "XVIII Chopin Competition". chopin2020.pl. Retrieved 2021-10-18.
  7. ^ "Le Montréalais Xiaoyu Liu en finale du Concours Chopin". Le Devoir (in French). 18 October 2021. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  8. ^ "XIAOYU LIU". Orchestra of the Americas. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  9. ^ "Oberlin Cooper International Piano Competition: Winners Announced". Cleveland Classical. 28 July 2012. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  10. ^ "Bruce (Xiaoyu) Liu". NOSPR. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  11. ^ "2021 Oberlin-Como Fellows". Oberlin College and Conservatory. 2021-06-01. Retrieved 2021-10-18.
  12. ^ "Meet Bruce Xiaoyu Liu, the new grand master of Chopin". Archived from the original on 2021-11-21.
  13. ^ "Xiaoyu Liu, Winner of the Prix d'Europe". La Scena Musicale. 2015-10-01. Retrieved 2021-12-11.
  14. ^ "The 6th SIMC Piano Section". Sendai International Music Competition. 5 April 2017. Retrieved 2021-12-11.
  15. ^ "Xiaoyu Liu". LvivMozartArt. Retrieved 2021-10-18.
  16. ^ "The winner of the 18th Chopin Competition!". XVIII International Chopin Piano Competition. 2021-10-21. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  17. ^ "Bruce (Xiaoyu) Liu of Canada is the winner of the 18th Chopin international piano competition". ABC News. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  18. ^ Scislowska, Monika (2021-10-20). "Canadian Bruce Liu wins one of the world's most prestigious piano competitions". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  19. ^ "18th Chopin Competition – jurors' scoring". XVIII International Chopin Piano Competition. 2021-11-04. Retrieved 2021-12-22.
  20. ^ "Deutsche Grammophon Signs Bruce Liu on World Piano Day". Deutsche Grammophon. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
  21. ^ "Bruce (Xiaoyu) Liu – Piano Recital". The Chan Centre for Performing Arts. Retrieved 2021-12-22.
  22. ^ "The winner's world tour". XVIII Chopin Competition Warsaw. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  23. ^ "Bruce Liu – Biography". Deutsche Grammophon. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
  24. ^ "Chopin Society: Bruce Liu". Vancouver Civic Theatres. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  25. ^ "Chopin Competition winner Bruce Liu to appear at Southbank Centre". Pianist Magazine. 11 February 2022. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
  26. ^ "Concerts on the occasion of Fryderyk Chopin's birthday dedicated to victims of the war in Ukraine". The Fryderyk Chopin Institute. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
  27. ^ "I Dedicated the Concerts I Gave to the Victims of the War in Ukraine: An Interview with Bruce Liu". Culture.pl. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
  28. ^ "DG signs pianist Bruce Liu – plus, hear new e-single!". Gramophone Magazine. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
  29. ^ "Canadian pianist Bruce Liu signs for Deutsche Grammophon on World Piano Day". Pianist Magazine. 29 March 2022. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
  30. ^ "DG Set to Release Live Highlights from 18th International Chopin Piano Competition Winner Bruce Liu". Deutsche Grammophon. 2021-10-21. Retrieved 2021-10-25.
  31. ^ "Chopin: Piano Works (Liu)". BBC Music Magazine. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  32. ^ "The Best Classical Albums of 2021". Gramophone Magazine. 2021-12-31. Retrieved 2022-02-19.
  33. ^ "Bruce Liu: Chopin – Review -". Gramophone Magazine. 2021-12-04. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  34. ^ "Bruce Liu: Chopin Gold". La Scena Musicale. 2021-11-15. Retrieved 2021-12-23.
  35. ^ "Product Family | CHOPIN Bruce Liu". Deutsche Grammophon. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  36. ^ "Albums and singles certified Gold in 2022" (in Polish). ZPAV. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  37. ^ "CD by Chopin Competition winner!". The Fryderyk Chopin Institute Store. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
  38. ^ "WAVES Bruce Liu". Deutsche Grammophon. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
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