For Eric Lu, Chopin has been part of his international musical journey since he first made his mark in Warsaw as a teenager.
When Eric Lu sits down at the piano at Filharmonia Kraków on 26 September, Chopin will once again be at the centre of his programme.
The American pianist first attracted international attention in 2015, when, aged 17, he became a laureate of the International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw. A decade later, he returned to the competition and won its 19th edition in 2025, adding another significant chapter to a career that has developed across major concert halls and international stages.
His Kraków recital brings together three composers closely associated with the piano repertoire: Johannes Brahms, Franz Schubert and Fryderyk Chopin.
From Warsaw to the International Stage
Lu's early success in Warsaw was followed by another major competition achievement in 2018, when, aged 20, he won first prize at the International Piano Competition in Leeds.
Since then, he has performed with orchestras including the London Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra and Los Angeles Philharmonic, as well as major ensembles in Europe and Asia. His solo appearances have taken him to venues including Amsterdam's Concertgebouw, London's Wigmore Hall, Leipzig Gewandhaus and Hamburg's Elbphilharmonie.
His career has also developed through recordings. As a Warner Classics artist, Lu has released four albums. His recordings include music by Schubert, Brahms, Chopin and Schumann, connecting directly with composers featured in his Kraków programme.
His 2022 album Schubert received the BBC Music Magazine Instrumental Choice award, while his fourth album, featuring Schubert's two sets of Impromptus, was released in January 2026.
Brahms, Schubert and Chopin in Kraków
The programme at Filharmonia Kraków begins with Brahms's Theme and Variations in D minor, Op. 18b, followed by three of Schubert's Impromptus, Op. 142.
The second half turns towards Chopin, with the Polonaise in B flat major, Op. 71 No. 2 and the Sonata in B minor, Op. 58.
The selection brings together repertoire that has featured prominently in Lu's recent recording career with works by Chopin, the composer whose music has accompanied several defining moments in his own career.
For Kraków, there is an additional local connection. Chopin's music remains an important part of Poland's cultural identity, and the city continues to host performances and events dedicated to the country's most internationally recognised composer.
Lu's recital offers a chance to hear that repertoire alongside the contrasting musical languages of Brahms and Schubert, placing three major figures of the piano tradition within a single evening.
A Young Pianist with an Established Career
Although Lu's international career began remarkably early, his development has extended well beyond competition success.
He studied at the Curtis Institute of Music with Robert McDonald and Jonathan Biss, and also studied with Dang Thai Son. His mentors have included Mitsuko Uchida and Imogen Cooper. Between 2019 and 2022, he was a BBC New Generation Artist, while other distinctions have included the International German Piano Award and the Avery Fisher Career Grant.
His artistic path has therefore combined competition recognition, study, orchestral collaborations, solo recitals and an expanding recording catalogue.
On Saturday, 26 September, that journey arrives at Filharmonia Kraków. For audiences in the city, the evening offers not simply a programme of celebrated piano works, but an opportunity to hear a pianist whose career has been closely connected with Chopin from its earliest international chapter.
Visitor Information
Event: Recital Mistrzowski - Eric Lu
Date: Saturday, 26 September 2026
Time: 18:00
Venue: Sala Koncertowa im. prof. Jerzego Katlewicza, Filharmonia Kraków
Address: ul. Zwierzyniecka 1, Kraków
