conspicuous by its absence

[ibbar]

I was just glancing through the planned reps for the 2006 piano-e-competition.  Not a single competitor that I looked over (perhaps I missed one) was playing the Beethoven op. 106.  This sonata is held by common wisdom to be the most difficult and one of the greatest sonatas by Beethoven.  These credentials would ordinarily serve to make it a tempting choice for competitors-observe pieces such as Gaspard, Liszt B minor, and Islamey, which hold similar places in their composers' respective output.

I realize that op. 106 is long, but they are given up to 75 minutes to work with in this competition.  A 40-45 minute performance of Hammerklavier would still leave 25-30 minutes for other pieces, plenty to fit in several solid selections from the Romantic, baroque, and modern eras (especially considering that most of their modern selections tend to be shorter, etude like pieces).

Why the neglect?

[I Love Xenakis]

Because

A- an effective performance of this piece requires complete perfection, which is intimidating.

and

B- i'm sure that most competitors feel that it is too much of a focus on one type of playing for a competition with only one recital round.

[I Love Xenakis]

HOLY sh*t I HAVE NEVER SEEN SO MUCH BACH AND SCRIABIN IN MY LIFE


Korshin-Skaya will win btw.



anyways, look at how fat these guys have gotten since they competed last time!!


Serhii Morozov:

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Edisher Savitski:

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