Chongqing- On October 6, Chicago Symphony Orchestra was met with a sweeping standing ovation after a commanding performance of Ravel's orchestration of Mussorgsky's Pictures from an Exhibition, a beloved staple in the Orchestra's repertoire. 24-year-old talented Chinese American pianist Eric Lu made a riveting debut with the CSO in Mozart's dark-hued final piano concerto, conducted by Riccardo Muti.
Eric Lu in the piano performance. (Photo provided to iChongqing)
Lu won first prize at the Leeds International Piano Competition in 2018 at 20. The Guardian called Lu "a veritable poet of the keyboard" and regarded him as one of the most exciting prospects in a long time.
Eric Lu at the curtain call. (Photo provided to iChongqing)
The following year, he signed an exclusive contract with Warner Classics and was a recipient of the Avery Fisher Career Grant in 2021. Since winning the Leeds, Lu has embarked on a world-class career, appearing with some of the world's most prestigious orchestras, such as the Los Angeles, Oslo, Helsinki, and BBC Philharmonic, and the Detroit, Seattle, Singapore, and Finnish Radio Symphony orchestras.
The performance of Mussorgsky's Pictures from an Exhibition by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. (Photo provided to iChongqing)
Born in Massachusetts, Lu entered the Curtis Institute of Music when he was 15. "No one was a musician in the family, but my dad loved classical music. We had lots of records in the house," he said. His older sister studied the piano. "I became intrigued by her lessons. Fortunately, we had a good local teacher. I was also drawn to listening to music."
The late Classical- and Romantic-era composers, especially Schubert, remain his favorites. "I put quality first, and in recitals, I perform what I like," Lu said. "I want to play Schubert for the rest of my life."