Albert Tiu Concert Review

By Dr. Francis Tan

APPRECIATION

Where in a world could you hear classical music played on a Steinway Grand in a hundred year old heritage mansion, by an internationaly acclaimed pianist who also happens to be head of piano performance at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, Singapore?

At HOMESTEAD, Penang

On 24th May 2025

When Professor ALBERT TIU gave a masterclass performance of three piano concertos:

BACH : CONCERTO IN THE ITALIAN STYLE BWV 971

SCHUMANN : PIANO SONATO NO. 3, IN F MINOR, OP 14 (Concerto without Orchestra)

RACHMANINOFF : CONCERTO NO. 2, IN C MINOR, OP.18

The music spanned across three centuries from Baroque Bach to Romantic Schuman to early modern Rachmaninoff, at the turn of 1900.

The arrangement of Rachmaninoff Second Concerto, for solo piano, was specially composed by Professor Tiu himself during the lock-down period of the Covid pandemic, when, as he puts it, "there was nothing much else to do".

It was a unique way to appreciate the beautiful sounds emanating from PPO’s prized Steinway without the distractions of other orchestral instruments, at least for one special evening.

Albert is not only a friend, but he is part of the family of Penang Philharmonic Orchestra PPO.

He has probably played the most hours on our piano, for he been been a frequent visitor of our shores.

He always comes with new ideas, and this raises the standard of music locally.

PPO is proud and grateful for our association with Professor Tiu.

To borrow a well known line from the classic movie Casablanca :

"Play it, Albert. For old times’ sake"

FRANCIS TAN