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«Meet the artist» Bruce Liu

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Published: 22/07/2025

Der Pianist Bruce Liu, Gewinner des Warschauer Chopin-Wettbewerbs 2021, tritt bei seinem Grafenegg-Debüt am 23. August 2025 mit Sergei Rachmaninows «Paganini-Variationen» den Beweis dafür an, wie sich idealerweise hohe Virtuosität mit unbestechlichem musikalischem Empfinden vereinen kann. Im Interview unserer Blog-Serie «Meet the artist» lernen Sie den jungen Künstler näher kennen!

«I'm really looking forward to making my debut there. What fascinates me is how it blends brilliance and elegance so effortlessly. It has an incredibly virtuosity, almost like a magician‘s act, but beneath the surface there's also so much width, charm and emotional depth.»

Bruce Liu über sein Debüt mit Rachmaninows «Paganini-Variationen» in Grafenegg

After your remarkable success at the 2021 Chopin Competition, you gained international recognition.

How has this achievement influenced your artistic development and your approach to new repertoire?

Winning the Chopin was definitely a turning point – not just turning me towards career opportunities, but also in how I think about music.

It gave me like a platform, but also came with a sense of responsibility to keep growing, stay curious, and always respect the music deeply – and to artistically push me to explore beyond Chopin. To dive into a new repertoire with the same intensity and honesty, I’ve learned to be more patient with the process – to let the music unfold naturally and to find my own voice within different styles of composers, which for me becomes a very crucial aspect, especially in today‘s world of social media.

That's finding your personality, because it comes even more original through the intensity of being honest to the music. Each new piece is like a new conversation and I'm constantly learning from the scores, the orchestra, and the audience that I meet along the way.

Looking back on your musical journey so far – is there a particular moment or experience that has had a lasting impact on you? If so, which one and why?

There‘ve been many, many, many meaningful moments, but the one that I still remember a lot is my first major tour after the competition.

Because suddenly I was playing in cities I had only dreamed of, meeting audiences from all around the world and really feeling like I was living the music and this incredible connection. The life that I'd only thought of before it came to reality and it really gave me this feeling of how universal music really is. I could play the same piece in Tokyo, Paris, Brazil, Buenos Aires, Germany and each time it sparked something new, both for me and the audience.

The realization that music is a living dialogue has a lasting impact on how I approach performance and just reminds me that beyond technique, it's ultimately about sharing something.

Apart from the stage, what role does music play in your private life?

Are there certain rituals or habits that help you to find a balance?

Offstage music is still a big part of my life, but in a much more personal and relaxed way. Whatever helps me to unwind and sparks information, inspiration in a different direction.

I try to keep a sense of balance by stepping away from the piano too. To be honest, I also really value silence after an intense rehearsal, a concert. Just doing something simple - walking, reading or spending time on something else - helps me recharge.

I don't really have very strict rituals, but I try to keep a healthy rhythm between all that because I think being a good musician also means being a balanced human and this actually helps me come back to the music with fresh ears and a clearer perspective.

On August 23, you will make your debut in Grafenegg performing Rachmaninow’s «Paganini Variations».

What fascinates you most about this work?

I'm really looking forward to making my debut there. What fascinates me is how it blends brilliance and elegance so effortlessly. It has an incredibly virtuosity, almost like a magician‘s act, but beneath the surface there's also so much width, charm and emotional depth.

The famous 18th variation is always a highlight, but I really enjoy how each variation brings a very different color, a different character from playful to demonic, from lyrical to thunderous. It's like a roller coaster, but one that's crafted with such an intelligent heart. Performing it always feels like storytelling through sound and the very picturesque piece of course giving us an image of all the violin’s technique.

Playing the piano for me is always interesting because we‘re imitating so many possibilities and this is a very interesting horizon to discover music through a different instrument.