(The CEN News / Reporter Nam Sa-woong) Pianist Eric Lu, whose playing blends poetic sensitivity with intense energy, will present a solo recital for Korean audiences at Seoul’s Lotte Concert Hall on Tuesday, May 12.
Lu won first prize at the 19th International Chopin Piano Competition in 2025, cementing his position at the top of the classical music world. Earlier, in 2018, he captured the Leeds International Piano Competition title at age 20, drawing international attention.
Now an exclusive artist with Warner Classics, he has appeared with leading orchestras such as the London Symphony and the Chicago Symphony. Critics consider him one of today’s most distinctive pianists.
He will open the first half with Robert Schumann’s Waldszenen (Forest Scenes), Op. 82, a cycle of lyrical miniatures that intertwine nature and human feeling—an ideal vehicle for his finely nuanced tone.
He will follow with Chopin’s Polonaise No. 2 and Ballade No. 4. In these pieces—where Polish character meets sophisticated compositional craft—he is expected to present dense phrasing and well-calibrated emotional expression.
The second half begins with Schubert’s Impromptu No. 1, deepening the program’s mood of quiet reflection and lyric intimacy. The recital will close with Chopin’s Piano Sonata No. 3.
That large-scale masterpiece demands dramatic contrasts and sustained pacing; through it, Eric Lu plans to clarify his musical outlook, one that fuses classical form with Romantic vigor.
A concert official said, \"This recital will clearly show why Eric Lu has drawn attention on the international stage through his major competition wins. It will be a valuable opportunity to experience firsthand the musical achievements he has built and the depth he brings today.\"
Lu has earned acclaim with recitals on major international stages, including Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, and Leipzig’s Gewandhaus.
This visit promises to reaffirm for Korean audiences his singular musical voice, which skillfully balances structure and emotion.
Photo: Courtesy of Lotte Concert Hall
(The CEN News) Reporter Nam Sa-woong press@mhns.co.kr
