Leeds winner, 24, jumps in for stricken Pollini
NewsEver since Maurizio Pollini cancelled his US tour two weeks ago, following a cardiac incident, the search has been on for a suitable sub.
The Chicago Symphony has settled on the young American Eric Lu, winner of the 2018 Leeds Competition.
He will play Mozart Piano Concerto No.27 under Riccardo Muti on 6, 7 and 8 October.
No pressure, then.
Jumping in for Pollini on Mozart is absolutely no pressure. Pollini is not even mediocre in his Mozart. Stiff, unsensitive sound and phrasing. All the best for the young American.
I think I’ll have a refund thank you!
Ah, so you’ve never heard Eric Lu. Pity.
But I have read Norman’s 2* review of his album, and the Guardian 2* review of his London recital.
Translation: Yes, that’s correct, I’ve never heard him play.
Again: pity.
Not as pitiful as those aforementioned reviews.
Imagine forming an opinion based solely on someone else’s opinion. And then trying to defend it. Yikes.
Anyways, I’m done wasting my time here. Sorry I couldn’t convince you to take 2 minutes out of your day to go on YouTube and listen to one of the great up and coming pianists of our time. Be well!
Well, I’ve certainly heard of Eric Liu and have had the pleasure of hearing him play.
Who’s Eric ‘Liu’?
Wow, you need help, man. Just keep listening to Matsuev and all the other clowns and con artists I know you probably enjoy
Pretty sure Trifonov and Levit and Cho are not con artists.
Eric Lu is a great artist and such a superb replacement. Very happy about this news.
Bravo Eric!
Oh, he’s American.
So he will not get from Muti the “Myung-whun Chung treatment”, I guess?
No point winning major or otherwise competitions if you then can’t deliver the career or do the job. Congrats to him. Eric will do a great job, and is also so nice with it.
Ita vero. Indeed, the pressure must be immense.
Mr. Lu is after all facing a giant of culture and intelligence who, with age, has soared to the summit of human thought, to rescue us all from the mediocrity that we, unknowingly, had plunged into. We should treasure and meditate on this jewel that Muti has recently bestowed on an American newspaper (not in Latin):
“It is scientifically proven that when the cows listen to the music of Mozart, they make very good milk. When they listen to contemporary music or avant-garde music, they make acid milk. Or maybe ricotta, I don’t know.”
https://www.chicagomag.com/chicago-magazine/september-2022/riccardo-muti/
It’s scientifically proven that, as an outcome of the Muti era, the CSO can’t sell tickets anymore. Thielemann concerts are half unsold: https://cso.org/performances/22-23/cso-classical/thielemann-conducts-bruckner-8/
Let’s wish him well. Personally I didn’t find Mr. Lu to be the caliber of previous Leeds winners – but he’s been given a chance to prove himself.