{"id":7723,"date":"2015-10-20T21:23:56","date_gmt":"2015-10-20T21:23:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.pianostreet.com\/blog\/?p=7723"},"modified":"2015-10-25T16:46:12","modified_gmt":"2015-10-25T16:46:12","slug":"warsaw-the-most-influential-piano-competition-enters-its-grand-finale","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pianostreet.com\/blog\/piano-news\/warsaw-the-most-influential-piano-competition-enters-its-grand-finale-7723\/","title":{"rendered":"Warsaw: The Most Influential Piano Competition Enters Its Grand Finale"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Protecting and Expanding Chopin’s Legacy<\/h2>\n

Every five years the whole pianistic world moves to Warsaw and the International Chopin Piano Competition. Since the first which took place during the winter of 1927, the Competition now presented its 17th edition which highlights the grand Polish composer\u2019s works and rewards its best interpreters. The legendary Polish initiative has helped to discover such great prize winning artists as Lev Oborin (first winner), Bella Davidovich, Adam Harasiewicz, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Maurizio Pollini, Martha Argerich, Garrick Ohlsson, Mitsuko Uchida, Krystian Zimerman, Yundi, Rafa\u0142 Blechacz, Yulianna Avdeeva, Ingolf Wunder and Daniil Trifonov but also famous non-laureates such as Ivo Pogorelich. <\/p>\n

Measuring Excellence<\/h2>\n

What stands clear, beginning with the 1955 competition, is its immense influence on piano playing worldwide. Winners and Prize-Winners are in most cases able to perceive important international careers, on the concert circuit and as recording artists. Their pianistic influences often become a contemporary map of stylistic excellence and cannot be overrated. Beginning this year, pianists aged 16 (uptil 30) were allowed to the competition. This resulted in 445 applicants. The preliminary elimination round took place this spring and 84 pianists qualified for the First Stage which started on October 3rd. <\/p>\n

A Most Prestigious Jury<\/h2>\n

Eventually twenty competitors participated in the Third Stage of the Competition and ten of them made it to the Grand Finale, which started on October 18 and the finalists performing one (of the two) Chopin piano concertos with The Warsaw Philharmonics. Following the last day of the Grand Finale on October 20, the Prizes will be awarded. The winners are chosen by an international jury comprising great pianists all of whom are Prize-Winners from previous Competitions and teachers, pedagogues and specialists in Chopin\u2019s music. <\/p>\n

List of the participants of the finals:
\nMr Seong-Jin Cho (South Korea)
\nMr Aljo\u0161a Jurini\u0107 (Croatia)
\nMs Aimi Kobayashi (Japan)
\nMs Kate Liu (United States)
\nMr Eric Lu (United States)
\nMr Szymon Nehring (Poland)
\nMr Georgijs Osokins (Latvia)
\nMr Charles Richard-Hamelin (Canada)
\nMr Dmitry Shishkin (Russia)
\nMr Yike (Tony) Yang (Canada)<\/p>\n

You can follow the Grand Finale (until October 20th) and the Prize-Winners\u2019 Concert (October 21) of the 17th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition live and discover the piano stars of tomorrow.<\/p>\n

Video, Grand Finale October 18, all finalists playing Piano Concerto in E minor, Op. 11:
\nSeong-Jin Cho (South Korea)
\nAljo\u0161a Jurini\u0107 (Croatia)
\nAimi Kobayashi (Japan)
\nKate Liu (United States)<\/p>\n