Winner of Chopin 2021 in a different repertoire

HT

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Oct 23, 2021, 3:59:25 PM10/23/21

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Liu didn't do well in the Rubinstein 2017, despite performances like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqtsvbyOtLA

Henk

JohnGavin

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Oct 24, 2021, 7:27:44 AM10/24/21

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He was 19 or 20 for this Rubinstein Competition. The Kapustin is frankly lacking any spark, and his playing in the Faure Piano Quartet also shows little identification with the composer.

But great talents are highly teachable, and he has come a long way in 4 years.

Graham

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Oct 24, 2021, 7:10:56 PM10/24/21

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Read Janina Fialkowska's comments on Slipped Disc:

https://slippedisc.com/2021/10/ive-been-listening-to-bruce-liu-since-2013/

Herman

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Oct 24, 2021, 10:52:58 PM10/24/21

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Right from the start Liu's performances in the competition said: winner. Not necessarily because of the musicality he brought to the table in substantially better ways than Sorita or Gadjiev.
He didn't. Looks and demeanor had a lot to do with it, too.
A certain kind of determination that will pay off when he's going to give a lot of concerts in the next few years.
Do I expect a vastly interesting recording from him soon? Not really.
I cannot help noticing the "Canada Best" tone in Fialkowska's comments coming out of the woodworks.

JohnGavin

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Oct 25, 2021, 6:43:37 AM10/25/21

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On Sunday, October 24, 2021 at 10:52:58 PM UTC-4, Herman wrote:
> Right from the start Liu's performances in the competition said: winner. Not necessarily because of the musicality he brought to the table in substantially better ways than Sorita or Gadjiev.
> He didn't. Looks and demeanor had a lot to do with it, too.

So the esteemed judges, most who were pianists, and some who took top prizes in the past decided they liked his looks and demeanor, even though his musicality was not much better than those who came in second.
How do you know his looks had “a lot to do with it”?? Where could you possibly deduce this except from your own inner universe? The average age of the judges looked to be around 70-75. Their votes would be swayed by his looks?

My take on it is that Bruce Liu, probably with the help of his teacher knew better than the others how to capitalize on his strengths and not showcase his weaknesses. I came away from this competition with the feeling that simplicity is a vastly underrated virtue among the artsy crowd. Compare Sorita’s Rondo a la Mazur to Liu’s. Sorita’s in comparison was heavy handed, with too many unnecessary punctuations. It turned a simple, charming and glittery virtuoso showpiece into something that completely missed the point. Bruce got the point and hit it squarely in the bull’s-eye. That’s part of the reason he won first prize IMO. If Bruce had chosen the Polonaise-Fantasy he might not have been ready for the interpretive difficulties, so he wisely chose the Andante Spianato and Grand Polonaise which was a perfect choice for his gifts. I thought his Mazurkas were excellent. That is far more likely the reason that he took first prize then some future cover on Gentlemans Quarterly magazine.

Herman

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Oct 25, 2021, 6:56:39 AM10/25/21

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With 'looks and demeanor' I meant: he looked completely ready to become a stage performer, confident, appealing (which, sorry, is part of why people will buy two tix for your recital) and pleased to look the audience in the eye, before and after playing.
These are ingredients for a good start to a career.
I did not mean 'hot' model looks. I understand one needs to explain this in a time when people were calling the Russian girl in the finals a 'babe' just because she happens to be blonde.