Pianist Eric Lu has solidified his reputation as a formidable classical talent with a profound new album. His latest release for Warner Classics features a complete recording of Franz Schubert's eight Impromptus, Op. 90, delivering a performance critics are calling mature and mesmerising.
From Competition Success to Artistic Depth
The album arrives on the heels of Lu's significant competition victories, which have placed him firmly in the international spotlight. In October, he was named the winner of the prestigious International Chopin Piano Competition, a decision that sparked some debate. This win came seven years after his earlier triumph at the Leeds International Piano Competition, leading some to question how many such springboards a single artist needs.
Nevertheless, this new Schubert recording, following his 2022 album of the composer's late sonatas, powerfully justifies the attention. It reveals an artist moving beyond the competition circuit into deeper, more reflective musical territory.
A Masterful Approach to Schubert's Architecture
Lu's interpretation is distinguished by its un-egotistical and rewardingly mature approach. He demonstrates a keen sensitivity to the large-scale structures Schubert builds within these seemingly spontaneous pieces. The pianist conjures a hypnotic sense of stillness, all while maintaining intricate detail bubbling beneath the surface.
In several of the Impromptus, Lu's control is so complete that time itself appears to suspend. This effect is established from the lonely, opening bars of Op. 90 No. 1, where he immediately draws the listener in with the expansive scope of his phrasing.
Weight, Line, and Dramatic Integrity
While his touch can be weightier than some interpreters, Lu is remarkable for the endless, singing quality of his melodic lines. They flow seamlessly into the distance, with corners turned smoothly and without abruptness. Dramatic passages feel organic and inevitable, growing naturally out of the preceding music rather than being imposed upon it.
This cohesive and thoughtful musicianship provides compelling evidence for the Chopin competition judges' verdict. While the field of recorded Schubert Impromptus is crowded with legendary names, Lu's version stands as a serious and persuasive entry. It may not yet be the definitive top choice for all listeners, but it unquestionably marks Eric Lu as a serious and evolving talent, one whose artistic journey is well worth following.
