Bruce Liu, piano

Bruce Liu plays a solo recital at the Cullen Theater in the Wortham Theater Center on Thursday, October 22, at 7:30 PM. It's part of the Admiral Transfer Music Series.

The program is a long one, running from the early 19th century through the 20th. He opens with Ligeti's Étude No. 4 ('Fanfares'), then moves into the heavy hitters: Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor ('Moonlight') and Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major ('Waldstein'). Chopin's Two Nocturnes, Op. 27 and Debussy's Rêverie provide the quieter moments, while Ravel's Alborada del gracioso from Miroirs brings the energy back up. The second half leans into the Spanish influence: Mompou's Glossa sobre 'Au clair de lune', Albéniz's El Puerto from Iberia, and Liszt's Rhapsodie espagnole, S. 254.

Liu is a name that's come up a lot in the piano world since 2021, when he won First Prize at the 18th International Chopin Piano Competition. Born in Paris and raised in Montréal, he studied with Richard Raymond and Dang Thai Son—who himself won that same Chopin competition back in 1980. The critics have been on board, too: The New York Times wrote about his "nimble versatility," and BBC Music Magazine described his playing as "of breathtaking beauty."

Tickets start at $49. If you're a member, parking is free and you never pay booking fees, with membership running $60 a year. One thing to keep in mind: the Wortham operates as a cashless venue for concessions and merchandise, so leave the cash at home if you're planning on grabbing something during the break. The show starts at 7:30 PM.