31 August 2025, former piano prodigy Niu Niu gave a long-awaited Singapore debut at the Victoria Concert Hall that was noting short of spellbinding. Performing on a magnificent C. Bechstein D282, he brought the instrument to life with a program that journeyed from sparkling playfulness to towering drama, all while holding the audience in full attention. The evening opened with Mendelssohn’s Rondo Capriccioso, with its shifts of character perfectly matched to Niu Niu’s lightness of touch and natural sense of play. The music seemed to dance across his hands with infectious joy, his enjoyment evident in the smile on his face, as though a favorite recording had suddenly sprung into vibrant life.   Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 in Liszt’s transcription followed, commanding the room with its sheer presence. In the brief pause after the first movement, the silence was so absolute one could hear a pin drop, the audience suspended in awe. The scherzo’s fugal counterpoint unfolded with pristine clarity, every line shaped with control and intelligence. Beethoven’s themes returned with inexorable force, as if fate itself were knocking at the door. It was a moment of grandeur, raw energy, and inevitability.   After such intensity, Brahms’ Intermezzo in A major offered a soothing re-entry. Its lilting harmonies and flowing lines carried a timeless intimacy, yet in Niu Niu’s hands it felt fresh and modern, as though it was written just yesterday. After another pin-drop pause, came Liszt’s Sonata in B Minor. Here, the Bechstein was pushed to its absolute limits, its shimmering treble and resonant bass fully unleashed under Niu Niu’s command. The Sonata’s vast structure, equal parts drama, poetry, and transcendence, found a masterful interpreter in him. Rarely has the D282 sung with such brilliance, power, and depth; it felt as though the instrument itself had been waiting for this encounter, a moment that echoed the very origins of C. Bechstein, founded to create a piano capable of withstanding Liszt’s formidable prowess.
The evening closed to a rapturous ovation, with two encores that revealed a more personal facet of Niu Niu’s artistry. First came Sunny Day, a piece he composed after being frustrated by gloomy weather he was experiencing on tour; he shared with the audience that, almost magically, whenever he plays it, the sun re-emerges—a charming detail that matches the piece’s radiant, bossa nova-infused jazzy cheer. Finally, his Classical Firework Medley compressed nine iconic classical works into five exhilarating minutes, making it a “very convenient”, in Niu Niu’s own words, for the tight encore slot. The concert hall was set alight with his virtuosity, humour and wit, wrapping up the evening on a cheerful note.
Niu Niu’s Singapore debut recital was a communion between artist, instrument, and audience. The evening left no doubt that Singapore had just witnessed one of the most remarkable voices in today’s piano world, one that balances playfulness with profundity, and precision with passion.   Be sure to follow Bechstein Music World and True Music Singapore on their socials for more updates on concerts like this one. We certainly look forward to the next event in their 2025 lineup!