City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra / Bruce Liu / Kazuki Yamada

Multicultural Piano Playing

Pianist Bruce Liu is full of surprises. He chose his stage name in honour of a famous look-alike martial arts film star and enjoys go-karting in his spare time. His incredible piano playing can be just as surprising. Its lightness, spontaneity and elegance have catapulted him firmly into the Champions League of classical music. Born in Paris to Chinese parents, Bruce grew up in Canada. He embraces his Asian roots. »I feel as if the history of China with Confucianism and Taoism is in my blood. Nevertheless, my work as a musician gives me a strong connection to European culture.« Liu’s elegant and light touch certainly has something very French about it. However, it comes with an undercurrent of powerful emotional tension which is just perfect for Tchaikovsky’s dramatic first piano concerto as it takes us on a romantic rollercoaster ride through every imaginable emotional state from quiet, intimate tenderness to tumultuous outbursts of passion.