Eric Lu: Winner of the 19th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition Warsaw 2025 CD

The Chopin Competition confirms the timelessness of the music of the brilliant Polish composer, from the very beginning it is far more than just a music tournament of the highest level. Attracting a growing number of pianistic talents from all over the world (452 entries in 2015, more than 650 in 2025!), it draws the attention of not only the international music community and music lovers, but also those who have little contact with classical music on a daily basis. In Poland it is a kind of national holiday, a headline event; on a global scale it is one of the most important music events.

The names of the subsequent winners, like their predecessors, belong to the pantheon of world pianism: Maurizio Pollini, Martha Argerich, Garrick Ohlsson, Krystian Zimerman, Stanislav Bunin, Dang Thai Son, Kevin Kenner, Philippe Giusiano, Yundi Li, Rafał Blechacz, Yulianna Avdeeva, Seong-Jin Cho and the winner of the last Competition – Bruce Liu.

The 19th International Frederic Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw, which just started in early October 2025, has 84 participants from 19 countries after preliminaries, with China, Japan, and Poland having the most representation.

1. Waltz No. 7 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 64 No. 2
2. Nocturne No. 7 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 27 No. 1
3. Mazurka No. 33 in B Major, Op. 56 No. 1
4. Mazurka No. 34 in C Major, Op. 56 No. 2
5. Mazurka No. 35 in C Minor, Op. 56 No. 3
6. Barcarolle in F-Sharp Major, Op. 60
7. Polonaise No. 9 in B-Flat Major, Op. 71 No. 2
8. I. Grave – Doppio movimento
9. II. Scherzo – Più lento
10. III. Marche funèbre. Lento
11. IV. Finale. Presto