Pianist Eric Lu: "I always get very choked up when I play Chopin at concerts."
Penny Smith chats to Eric Lu about his album of Chopin Preludes released on Warner Classics.
Winner of the world-renowned Leeds International Piano Competition in 2018 and the Chopin Piano Competition in 2015, twenty-two year old Eric Lu's much-anticipated second album on Warner Classics is released today including Chopin's 24 Preludes, Schumann's Ghost Variations.
After some jaw-dropping performances at the Leeds (be sure to listen to the live performances of the first movement from Chopin Piano Sonata No.2 recorded at the competition), Lu went on to perform at various locations across the UK in 2018. Rian Evans in the Guardian described Lu as "a veritable poet at the keyboard".
Speaking to Penny Smith today on Scala Radio, Eric Lu calls in from Luxemburg to discuss his new release.
Discussing his love for Chopin’s music, Lu explained to Penny why he chose the music he did for the album.
“Chopin is one of the most extraordinary composers, his music is universal and so personal… He is one of those composers everyone loves. Everyone can relate to his music. It is personal and extremely beautiful.”
Joking about how we can all relate to the ‘Raindrop Prelude’ we played on-air, Penny asked Eric to describe to piece to the Scala Radio audience:
“It has its own story and own world within itself… this one is very complex. Emotionally it is one of the most touching of them all. I always get very choked up when I play it at concerts.”
This October Eric will perform as part of the International Piano Series at The Southbank and he will also take this album on a recital tour towards the end of 2020, coming to London on 7th December.
The new album, Eric Lu presents: Chopin, Brahms, Schumann is this week’s Scala Radio Album of the Week.
Listen back to Penny Smith standing in for Simon Mayo.