X I A O Y A L I U | P I A N I S T
"An exceptional pianist […] the level of finesse, power and expressiveness that she displays in these recordings is phenomenal."
"The words ‘workmanship’ and ‘consistency’ readily apply to Xiaoya Liu’s rock-solid technical mastery and natural affinity for Vine’s idiom…Highly recommended."
"Xiaoya Liu’s strong and delineated performances capture the works’ energetic momentum and highlight their extremes of dynamic and mood. First rate."
"Xiaoya Liu’s exciting recording captures the formal ambition and virtuosic momentum of these powerful works."
"Xiaoya Liu [...] provides the strongest possible advocacy for these dark yet compelling works [...] it’s hard to think that anyone could match Liu’s powerful and nuanced performances."
"For the complete journey, this is it. And what a ride it is."
– Limelight (Editor’s Choice)
"The young Chinese pianist Xiaoya Liu is the ideal exponent of this fiercely challenging music. Her tone is powerful and penetrating, and she plays with jaw-dropping precision…"
"Xiaoya Liu gives each one a searching, thoughtful interpretation. And the sound quality is excellent throughout the recording. I give it a very strong recommendation."
– Fanfare
"This great music needs a great interpreter and the young Chinese pianist Xiaoya Liu is it, with a great technique and precision… An exceptional disc."
– Scherzo (Exceptional Award)
"... just the final movement of the Piano Sonata No. 4 subtitled ‘Fury’ would be enough to bring any pianist to its knees."
"Liu’s performances are an excellent advocate for each of these sonatas."
"I have a hard time imagining a better reading of these gems. [...] Xiaoya Liu is a voice of our time, a most impressive dynamo, an extraordinary brilliance, a thrilling presence."
– Classical-Modern Music Review
"A superb pianist who really gets into the heart of this music […] This is, then, not only an important release due to its being the first made of Vine’s sonatas but also a super rendition of them."
"Mostly dense, exuberant, extrovert writing, with some more restrained passages, they are brought to life in these committed performances from Xiaoya Liu."