On Tuesday, American pianist Eric Lu ascended to the pinnacle of pianistic glory, taking home the coveted top prize at the prestigious International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw. The announcement, after hours of meticulous deliberation by a 17-member international jury led by American pianist Garrick Ohlsson, was met with a thunderous applause from the assembled crowd.
"I am beyond grateful for this honor," Lu exclaimed to reporters in the early hours of Tuesday, visibly overwhelmed by the achievement. "I am grateful to all the Chopin lovers around the world who watched online and to the audience here in Warsaw. I am equally grateful to the jury for bestowing this honor upon me. This is a dream come true."
In the final round, Lu performed Chopin's Polonaise-Fantasy in A-flat major, Op. 61, and the Piano Concerto in F minor, Op. 21, with a mastery that left no doubt about his victory.
"We worked very hard, and we had numerous difficult discussions involving our opinions about artistic matters," jury chair Ohlsson said before announcing the winner. "I think we have a fine decision for this year's competition."
The 27-year-old Lu, a graduate of the Curtis Institute, had previously won the Leeds International Piano Competition in 2018 and has performed with the Boston, London, and Chicago symphony orchestras, among others. His two albums on the Warner Classics label, featuring works by Schubert, Chopin, Schumann, and Brahms, have garnered critical acclaim.
The second prize went to Canadian Kevin Chen, while Chinese contestant Zitong Wang claimed the third spot. This year's competition saw 84 participants, all born between 1995 and 2009, with the majority hailing from China, Poland, and Japan. Eleven contestants reached the finals.
The nearly 100-year-old event, inspired by the Olympic Games and named after the famed Polish composer Frederic Chopin, is held every five years in Warsaw around October 17, the anniversary of Chopin's death. It is a testament to the enduring legacy of one of the greatest pianists of all time.
