Bruce Liu Signs To Deutsche Grammophon On World Piano Day

Bruce Liu celebrated World Piano Day by signing to Deutsche Grammophon. In October 2021 the 24-year-old pianist shot “from near obscurity to rock-star status in the classical music world” (The Globe and Mail) after winning the 18th International Chopin Piano Competition, and became the first Canadian ever to take first prize in the prestigious competition. His performances not only convinced the jury but have since been winning over critics and audiences worldwide. The Financial Times noted, “This is a pianist with a captivating musical personality,” and The Classic Review observed, “With this much musicianship already, there is no doubt that he has a very bright future ahead of him.”

“One of the most distinguished Chopin recitals of recent years”

Deutsche Grammophon, in partnership with the Fryderyk Chopin Institute, released an album of Bruce Liu’s live recordings, captured during the various stages of the Chopin Competition, in November 2021 which was described by Gramophone as “one of the most distinguished Chopin recitals of recent years, full of maturity, character and purpose”.

To mark Bruce Liu’s signing Deutsche Grammophon will release his recording of Chopin’s Nocturne in C sharp minor (No. 20) as an e-single on 1 April. Further e-singles will follow throughout 2022 and the pianist is also now planning to release two future albums. One will focus on French music, including repertoire by Chopin and Rameau, reflecting Liu’s desire to explore the music of his birthplace, and the second will feature works by Tchaikovsky including his Piano Concerto No.2.

“I’m thrilled to be joining DG”

“I’m thrilled to be joining DG – I love its sense of family!” said Bruce Liu. “I hope becoming part of that family will give me plenty of opportunities to collaborate with some very talented artists from different musical fields and backgrounds, as well as working with the great team who produced my Chopin Competition album. I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

“We’re very excited to welcome Bruce to the Yellow Label,” added Dr Clemens Trautmann, President Deutsche Grammophon. “The Chopin Competition and all the concerts he has given since have shown the world an intelligent and dynamic young artist whose pianism, imagination and spontaneity are simply electrifying. He joins fellow Canadian artists Emily D’Angelo, Jan Lisiecki and Yannick Nézet-Séguin here at DG – proof, if such were needed, that Canada today is clearly a hotbed of musical talent.”

Bruce Liu was born to Chinese parents in Paris in 1997 and moved with his father to Montreal at the age of six. He grew up surrounded by Chinese culture but was also influenced by his Canadian upbringing as well as European musical history. Bruce Liu studied with Richard Raymond at the Montreal Conservatoire, during which time he won the grand prize at the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal Competition aged just 15, and he is currently a student of Dang Thai Son who won the Chopin Competition in 1980. Bruce Liu balances his practice time with his many other hobbies and interests including swimming, chess, karting, cinema, jazz and history. He explained, “It’s really the balance between all my hobbies that drives me to make music in a fresher way.”

Stream or download Bruce Liu’s new single, Chopin’s Nocturne in C sharp minor (No. 20), here.

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