“I have recently met the young Chinese conductor, Yu Lu, and was very impressed by his devotion to music. Having watched a DVD of him conducting various works, it was apparent that this is a genuinely talented musician, with an excellent control of an orchestra and clear interpretative ideas.”
— Semyon Bychkov
Entrepreneurial qualities
At the end of 2020, on the occasion of Beethoven’s 250th birthday, Yu Lu initiated a challenge of “performing Beethoven’s nine symphonies in 5 consecutive days”, working together with Bilibili.com (one of China’s biggest video-sharing sites) and Ningbo Symphony Orchestra. The online live performance was a great success and has captured great attention both at home and abroad. Such a performance arrangement was an innovation in China’s music history. Yu Lu, with undisputed talent and courage, completed the entire 5-day performance, which made him the first conductor in China’s music history.
During his early years
Born in 1989, Yu Lu began to show his extraordinary talent in music at a very young age by learning to play the violin and the piano. Ranked the first place, he was admitted to the affiliated middle school of the China Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing at the age of 15 and enrolled at China Central Conservatory of Music with the top score in the admission exam at 18. In 2012, Yu Lu received his bachelor degree from the Conducting Department of China Central Conservatory of Music with the highest score in history, where he was waived admission exams to continue his study as a masters student.
At the age of 19, Yu Lu won a contest held by conductor Seiji Ozawa and became his student and assistant conductor.
In the same year, he performed successfully with Seiji Ozawa Music Academy Orchestra in the Kyoto Concert Hall and was praised by Ongaku no Tomo (Japan ’ s most preeminent magazine) as “ the role model of all young Japanese conductors ”. Yu Lu received continuous positive feedback from the Japanese audience by conducting Madama Butterfly, which was his first time to conduct an opera. When he was 22, recommended by masters in conducting such as Seiji Ozawa and Semyon Bychkov, Yu Lu was selected and invited by Maestro Mariss Jansons to participate in conducting masterclass, and conduct the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Holland.
One of the top
Yu Lu also recorded with one of the top ensembles in the world - the Camerata RCO with members of the Concertgebouw Orchestra, and the CD was released worldwide. In China, Yu Lu is often invited to conduct China's leading professional orchestras. He also led the China Youth Symphony Orchestra in a performance of Mahler's Symphony No. 1 at the opening concert of the 60th anniversary of the High School Affiliated to the Central Conservatory of Music. This historic performance was highly praised inside and outside the industry, and a live recording was released. In 2022, the Shanghai Opera House appointed Yu Lu as its first-ever Principal guest conductor.
Yu Lu is a conductor of great potential. He has been thinking about conducting all his life and has enormous commitment and enthusiasm. He has a sound technique, and a pleasant manner. I hope and believe he will go far.
– Sir Roger Norrington
