“This is my first encounter with the Philippines-born, Juilliard-trained, and Singapore-based pianist Albert Tiu, and it is a memorable one. The rapids that comprise much of both sonatas’ outer movements present no difficulty for Tiu and receive an appropriately virtuosic, take-no-prisoners approach that is certain to make even the most jaded of listeners sit up and take notice. What’s more, Tiu finds a way to impose some logic to these undisciplined, swashbuckling scores, and, by itself, that is a remarkable achievement. All in all, Tiu delivers a superlative recording of both works, which in toto stands up to the very best in the catalog: Richter and Shura Cherkassky in Tchaikovsky, and Alexis Weissenberg, Sergio Fiorentino and Zlata Chochieva in Rachmaninoff. The quality of the engineering is excellent, and Tiu’s concert grand deserves a special commendation for staying in tune throughout the recital.”
– Fanfare, May/June 2019
“The four Berio pieces, Erdenklavier, Luftklavier, Wasserklavier and Feuerklavier form the spine of the recital, performed with high intellect and superb technique. But what really grips is the juxtaposition of the familiar (Debussy Preludes) with lesser-known offerings (Griffes’ The Night Winds, charmingly Impressionist, or Ibert’s Le vent dans les ruines). For Fire, the surprise is Brassin’s wonderful transcription of Wagner’s ‘Feuerzauber’. Superb, and well recorded.”
– International Piano, September/October 2018
“Centaur has produced, in my opinion, one of the all-time great piano recordings… Urgently recommended.”
– Fanfare (November/December 2011)
“Titled Nocturnal Fantasies, this is one of the most inventive recital programs I have ever seen or heard… Chopin and Scriabin work so well together that I’m surprised that I rarely see them combined on one disc – and never as well as this.”
“All would be for naught if Tiu didn’t supply world class performances. He has the heart and soul of a true romantic pianist, as well as an abundance of technical skills. He can float a delicate melody one moment and rise to an impressive and exciting climax the next… His writing, based on superb program notes, supports his program-building ability quite nicely. He is a pianist I would go out of my way to hear in concert, and I will look for his future recordings.”
– American Record Guide (May/June 2011)
“He is sensitive and musicianly… and wittily alive… his subtlety and poetic commitment make you listen with new ears.”
– Gramophone (September 2011)
“Above all his playing exudes a golden tone that sounds as if it was made for 19th century Russia. Add an uncanny sense of timing, supple fingers that seem to be everywhere at once, pedalling that constantly enriches, and penetrating understanding into what makes Russian romantics tick, and you have an authentic mix for spectacular success.”
– The Advertiser, Adelaide, Australia (May 2011)
