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Praises from Critics:
"We have waited for years for such a giant talent and here she is. Ching-Yun Hu, the amazing Taiwanese, is not just a great pianist, she is first of all a human being playing music; so human in every sound she produces. She plays, talks, prays and what not. A phenomenon of Nature. She plays Beethoven's Concerto No. 1 - and it was a very stylized and real, sincere one. Full of drama and poetry at the same time. This young woman brings with her the secret, the mystery ,and the style. She has the suspense of Brendal, Perahia's lyricism and Barenboin's depth. Are we witnessing the birth of a new Martha Argerich?"
Chanoch Ron, Yediot Acharonot, Israel
"Listen to the dramatic thunder storm of the Rachmaninoff Sonata No. 2, and energitic keywork of the Leighton Fantasia, Hu's playing is especially shown when she played two well known Mozart works. Her playing expands from strength to the most deeply felt moments of almost inaudibility; to the soul and pianistic bliss. It is like the way of scultures. Her way of music is to find the essential at the core of the composition's fullness."
Der Western, Klavier Festival Ruhr, Germany
"The strangely fantastical sense of freedom of Ching-Yun Hu, identify[ies] her as a player willing to stand outside of the box with a distinctive resolve. Her accurate musical phrasing of Chopin's A minor Study would put most performers to shame."
Michael Dervan, Irish Times
"Ching-Yun Hu reveals a deeply original and imaginative personality, supported by a technique of hell."
Martine D. Mergeay, Libre Belgigue
"Ching-Yun Hu conveyed fervor and excellence thrust along with the touching moments of lyricism in the Rachmaninoff Sonata No. 2. Chopin Study in A minor was played with almost indecent airbourne ease. Her account made me think of one by the young Vladimir Ashkenazy - high praise indeed".
Harris Goldsmith, Harris Goldsmith, New York Concert Review
"Ching-Yun Hu's sound is one of the most exquisite sounds one can hear. She succeeded in bringing out the special radiance of her touch and performed a very poetical Rachmaninov [Concerto No. 2] without being over sentimental. In short, a delight to the listner's ears."
Hagai Hitron, Haaretz
"Ching-Yun Hu gave an overwhelming impression as she changed drastically from Eusebius and Florence in the Schumann Kreisleriana. The interpretation was beautifully done."
Arts Magazine, Taipei
"Judging from Tuesday night's semi-finals, the Rubinstein Piano Master Competition already has a winner. It is Taiwanese Hu Ching Yun, the only semifinalist with a real "spark," that elusive superstar quality that everybody looks for... Musical, energetic and full of flair, she gushed through Beethoven's Concerto No. 1 and drove some of the audience to give her a standing ovation."
Omer Shomrony, The Jerusalem Post
"Ching-Yun Hu literally brought down the house with the tremendous ovation she received."
Alice Kennelly Roberts, Cincinnati Post
"Ching-Yun Hu possesses the soul of Chopin."
Chopin International Festival, Duszniki-Dzroj, Poland (After an All-Chopin Recital)
"Highlights included a wonderful performance of Kenneth Leighton's Fantasia contrapuntistica by Ching-Yun Hu, whose movement between dynamic ranges was imperceptible yet superbly effective."
The Herald, United Kingdom
"The Chopin Rondo in E-Flat, Op. 16 was played with elegance and flabbergasting fingerwork. Speaking in terms of sheer technical brilliance, I don't recall being as amazed even by Horowitz's performance of the same work."
Rorianne Schrade, New York Concert Review, Winter, 2007
"Ching-Yun Hu is a pianist of power, poetry, color, and virtuosity. She lives within the music, so does her audience. Don't miss her!"
David Dubal
Radio host of WQXR "The World of Piano", New York Classical Radio Station
Radio host of WQXR "The World of Piano", New York Classical Radio Station
*In describing the result of the 2008 Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition, the Israeli critics wrote:
"A wrong has been done to the Taiwanese competitor. She was the greatest talent of the competition. Nothing can contradict it. She was the pianist whose creativity and imagination are pouring out of the piano... even playing Concerto No. 3 of Prokofiev, which is very virtuosic; she had bits of beautiful poetry... [the other silver medalist] had the basic colors of the piano, but the Taiwanese painted the world with pastel colors. It's a pity that the jury did not have the courage to give the first prize to whom it really deserved. Despite of the jury's [decision], I can only write one more thing- I would like to hear the Taiwanese HU in every concert."
Chanoch Ron
Yediot Acharono
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