A Worthy Winner

It seems that the dust is finally starting to settle after the announcement of the results of the 19^th International Chopin Competition. Being in the audience for many of the sessions of the competition has always been a great musical experience. That said, observing the competition and its aftermath has reminded me of the frailties of human nature, as well as the reality of the music “business” – oh, what a hated word to use in association with music!

 

First of all, I would say right now that I am overjoyed that Eric Lu received the gold medal. 

 

I arrived in Warsaw before Stage 3 of the competition, and so I heard Lu’s recital, which was ravishing from beginning to end. From the gently swaying waves of the Barcarolle in F-sharp Major, Op. 60, to the epic proportions of the Sonata in B minor, Op. 58, Lu played not as one who is trying to impress, but like a true artist, looking deep inside the music to reveal all its beauty and emotions. In the Sonata in B minor, the transition from one section to another, and from one movement to the next, was so perfectly gauged under Lu’s hands.

 

In the past, there have been Chopin Competition winners who have been incredible technicians, or colourful showmen, but Eric Lu is not one of them – this is not to say that he does not possess a stupendous technique, which he does – he does not set out to wow the audience (or the jurors) with the brilliance of his great technique, but invites us to journey with him into the core of the music and reveals to us its beauty.

 

That said, when the music requires brilliance or showmanship, as in his performance of the Polonaise in B-flat Major, Op. 71, No. 2, Lu was and can be as impressive as any 16-year-old whippersnapper. 

 

And Eric Lu is now the second person to win the gold medal of the Chopin Competition playing the composers Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21, the first, coincidentally being Lu’s teacher Dang Thai Son. Lu’s performance of the concerto, both during the final round as well as at the winners’ concert, was beauty personified, from beginning to end. 

 

One highlight for me was the encore he performed at the end of the winners’ concert, a heartbreaking, achingly beautiful performance of the Waltz in C-sharp minor, Op. 64, No. 2. Lu’s playing of this masterwork of Chopin has been haunting my memory since then. 

 

What shocked and saddened me has been the cruel and malicious remarks “music lovers” have been writing on the internet. Perhaps the complete anonymity afforded by social media seemed to have remove any consideration of remaining within the bounds of good taste, charity, decency or just simple courtesy. 

 

Any pianist who qualifies for this prestigious competition is already a highly accomplished musician that is worthy of hearing. Needless to say, we all have artists whose interpretations we prefer over another. What is sorely lacking on social media sites is respect for the artist as human beings with feelings. I cannot help but be reminded of Glenn Gould’s scathing statement of the “gladiatorial aspect” of the concert hell. If we like someone, we cheer him or her on, and if we don’t, we express our disapproval just as vehemently. Listening to a musical performance, at least on line, has certainly become a blood sport, certainly in this latest edition of the Chopin Competition.

 

Eric Lu is well deserving of the gold medal of this edition of the Chopin Competition. He will never be a musician who would create funny videos on the internet, or create social media content to increase his or her profile. What he will offer us, time and again, are performances that touches the soul and move our hearts. 

 

Let us please all allow Eric to be the musician and artist he deserves to be.