Ryan Zhu at Wigmore Hall
REVIEW BY HIP PATRON PAUL EKINS
It was good to see that the recital given by Ryan Zhu as part of the First Prize of the 2026 Hastings International Piano Competition at the Wigmore Hall on 6 May, was well attended. Ryan is already a pianist of distinction, with considerable performing experience, including the winning of several significant competitions worldwide.
He began with the piece which had been commissioned for all second-round pianists to play at the 2026 Hastings competition, Metropolis, by Sir Stephen Hough. This is a successful piece of music and it was good to hear it again, particularly as Ryan had developed a much clearer understanding of how he was now playing it. After the Hough, as a considerable contrast, we heard the Italian Concerto by J S Bach. I very much like to hear Bach played on the piano, although I felt that perhaps on this occasion it was a little heavy handed. I imagine that in the future Ryan will find it possible to balance Bach with Prokofiev more successfully.
There is no doubt that Ryan has a fine and versatile technique which he displays to its full advantage in the 20th Century repertoire. The refined nuances of the phrasing at the opening of the Scriabin Valse were beautifully set out and the later phrases developed into a well-judged climax enabled by a splendid octave technique.
The Prokofiev Sonata, No7 in B-Flat Major was given a tremendous performance. Its many changes of tempo and dynamic were excitingly portrayed.
For his first encore a more popular and contrasting piece could not have been chosen. Traumerei by Robert Schumann was exquisitely played. The second encore, which may have been Ligeti was given a dazzling performance. This was a stunning end to a fine concert by an exceptional pianist. I look forward to hearing him again.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Paul Ekins studied at the Royal College of Music and soon after leaving, began a piano teaching career in London, which included the Junior Department of the Royal College of Music. After some time, he took up the post of head of Music at Westminster Cathedral Choir School where he remained for thirty years. Since retiring in 2009 he has lived on the South Coast at St Leonards-on-Sea, enjoying the wide range of excellent music there is to be heard there and of course the Hastings International Piano Competition.
