In tune with the times

Asked about the reason why he didn't play Chopin's works on his debut studio album, Liu says that he doesn't want to be limited.

Of course, the career-making Chopin competition propelled him to stardom, but Liu says that he still wants to play the works of as many composers as possible.

"I started to play Chopin when I was 20, so it's late compared to many other people who learn to play the instrument," he says.

"I played works by lots of composers of various styles before the competition. It's natural for me to go back to those composers after the competition."

"I want to stay in touch with a vast repertoire, a rich seam of creativity," he adds.

Liu started to play piano as a hobby, because as a boy, he was also interested in sports, especially swimming. Playing piano was a way to keep him "calm" and stop him from getting restless.

"It's also a good excuse to tell my teachers that I didn't finish my homework because I had to practice playing piano for the school's gala, or something," Liu laughs.