He definitely has a sense of humor! And there’s also a grain of truth to it, as for Bruce Liu, music primarily takes shape in his mind, not in his fingers. No matter how quickly his hands move across the keys, how precisely he strikes chords at breathtaking speed: every detail is always perfectly executed. Liu has complete control over all the colors and dynamic nuances, down to the last shading.

In 2021, this is also recognized by the jury of the prestigious Chopin Competition in Warsaw. However, Bruce Liu almost misses his triumph because after one of the early rounds, he is so frustrated that he considers packing his bags and leaving. Fortunately, he reconsiders and stays until the finale: in the end, Bruce Liu wins first prize at the Chopin Competition!

At that time, he is still a student, with no management, and completely unprepared for winning such a renowned competition. Overnight, the life of the then 24-year-old Bruce Liu changes completely, as agents and concert promoters begin to vie for the young pianist’s attention.

Home for him is Montreal, where he lives with his Chinese roots, but he is now almost constantly on tour. When there are rare gaps in his packed schedule, Bruce Liu enjoys unwinding with go-karting. The rush of speed in the mini-racer and the finesse required for steering: it’s not all that different from playing the piano!

One of the great advantages of traveling so much as a musician, according to the pianist, is the opportunity to explore culinary cultures around the world. He enjoys sampling local specialties and is not deterred even if something tastes particularly unusual. This openness and curiosity also reflect in his piano playing. At every performance, Bruce Liu seeks to discover new facets of a work, guided by his emotions and his mood at the time. He is equally open when it comes to getting to know a new orchestra: he once jokingly described it as “speed-dating” in an interview. For his concert at the Historic Stadthalle Wuppertal, Bruce Liu is on a “date” with the WDR Symphony Orchestra. Maurice Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G major ensures that the sparks fly, as it catapults both the young pianist and the orchestra into a glittering sea of sound right from the start: sometimes light and dance-like, sometimes jazzily groovy, and then again flowing and radiant. In any case, it is an adventurous journey full of thrilling sonic experiences!

Photo: Christopher Koestlin