Queen Elizabeth Piano Competition: we have a winner

[gert]

Is anybody else taking in some of the Queen Elisabeth competition in Brussels? I admit I haven't heard all 24 candidates play (I do have a life), but one particular musician just blew me away last night. In the recital section of the semi-finals, Tae-Hyung Kim started with Mozart's KV 333, an early sonata and for that reason alone a daring choice in a competition, where many candidates tend to play Lisztian behemoths to show off their technique. His wonderful musicianship was obvious from the first notes: such wonderful touch and balance, there was something to catch your attention (in the most positive sense), in every phrase. The audience hung on every note. He ended the recital (which also included the competition's compulsory piece) with Fantasiestucke by Robert Schumann, also a very uncommon choice and the only Schumann played at this stage in the competition. Although the Fantasiestucke provide the opportunity to show a wide variety of piantistic talent, they're tricky because they can sound like an incoherent set of pieces that have little to do with each other, in the hands of a lesser pianist. But Tae-Hyung Kim had a command of the complete landscape that was almost Richter-like: once again, wonderful things happened in each individual section, but you had that sense of being in the hands of someone who would give you ample opportunity to take in the work as a whole, as well. This didn't feel like a competition performance at all (I'm not a big fan of music competitions in general); this was simply an evening with a great musician I hope to hear much more from in the future.

The video of his performance should be available at the competition's "video on demand" section today:

https://www.cmireb.be/en/
https://video.cmireb.be/vod

[pianisten1989]

You think? I think Bozhanov is the best so far.I though he should (at least) get a medal in Van Cliburn... Instead they gave the gold to a blind guy. They have to be politically correct, eh?

[alessandro]

Is anybody else taking in some of the Queen Elisabeth competition in Brussels?

Yes ! I am actually looking right now on internet !

If you're interested I also started a topic in "Miscellanous"  

For me it is also the charisma of Bozhanov that makes a difference.   Of course it is a little soon to make final bets; he plays very intensely, I hope he will not lose energy and reserve for his Rachmaninov next week.   But I think, musically and originallity-wise, I'm also a fan of Chetan Tierra (though he's probably more like a 'chamber'-musician and I also like the dark-greyness of Petrova.  But again, it's really a cliché to say so, what a bunch of talented musicians.  I wish them all great strength to get to the end of the finals and thank them already for the joy they gave me.

Kindly

Kindly.

[gert]

Yes, Bozhanov played very well too, but he should think about performing in the dark: his facial expressions are worse than Lang Lang's, and that's saying something. You might argue that what a performer looks like when he's playing shouldn't distract us from the music, but that works the other way around as well: he might consider not pulling faces like that, so we can get a chance to listen without bursting out in laughter. He probably thinks he's being 'expressive' (I hope he's not actually doing it on purpose for that reason), but it's beyond ludicrous, frankly.

 If you don't believe me, take a look:

 https://video.cmireb.be/vod#

In all fairness, though, Bozhanov obviously deserves to be in the final and I'll try to keep my eyes closed during his next recital (he's playing Mozart and Chopin).

[pianisten1989]

I had that exact discussion with my teacher today.. Or well, not exact. It was about the swedish soloist-competition.
And there was this obviously very famous actress (never heard of her though, and don't even remember her name). And she said something like that "Oooh, her expression when she waited for the orchestra to 'let her into the concerto'. And I loved the way she shook her arms to get the blood in the fingertips" I've never felt so ashamed for music my whole life. Nowadays nothing is good enough. Either you look too stiff, and people say that you "don't Show any expression". Or you make too much expression and people call you a clown or actor instead or musician.

Is it really that difficult to listen to the music?

[gert]

In response to pianisten 1989, I guess what I don't like is pianists (or any musicians) trying to choreograph the interpretation for you, as though the audience needs to be alerted to every single emotion or meaningful passage. First of all, those interpretations are personal and different for everyone anyway, and secondly I prefer musicians who let the music itself communicate whatever they want it to. Of course, that in itself is a question of personal preference as well: my dad, for one, prefers to watch musicians who wear every emotion on their sleeve.

[alessandro]

Yes, Bozhanov played very well too, but he should think about performing in the dark: his facial expressions are worse than Lang Lang's, and that's saying something. You might argue that what a performer looks like when he's playing shouldn't distract us from the music, but that works the other way around as well: he might consider not pulling faces like that, so we can get a chance to listen without bursting out in laughter. He probably thinks he's being 'expressive' (I hope he's not actually doing it on purpose for that reason), but it's beyond ludicrous, frankly.

 If you don't believe me, take a look:

 https://video.cmireb.be/vod#

In all fairness, though, Bozhanov obviously deserves to be in the final and I'll try to keep my eyes closed during his next recital (he's playing Mozart and Chopin).

Bozhanov's recital of yesterday was really a thrill.  What a unique performer, I like him a lot.   A true shaper of sounds, a sculptor of music, wonderful colours and moods, never boring or dull, absolutely original, not a second boring and...  I really believe that (I'm besides not a fan of Lang Lang, but that has nothing to do with his facial expressions) that grimacing, pulling faces (and in the case of Bozhanov it is really his whole body that is moving and balancing, torso, feet, legs, mouth etcetera...) makes integrally part of the process of producing his truly unique sound.   It is no secret, I speak for myself, that I perform better if I'm totally concentrated and that my whole body, from head to toe, is "implicated", is an actor.   Playing is for a part cerebral, but also for a great deal physical, and when you 'give everything in the game' (I believe 'throwing your body into something" is also an expression) that those movements, and facial expression are side-effects.   And it is also possible that it is impossible for him to play without these 'show', it is a performance isn't it.  And yes, it is finally the music, the ears and the heart that should be touched and yes, close your eyes, and you will hear a unique and wonderful musician.
Looking forward to the recital of Sean Kennard tonight.
Kindly.

[gert]

I just heard Bozhanov's recital in the video on demand section: a great performance, I agree. The Chopin Nocturne and sonata were absolutely brilliant and often very moving. Incidentally, I minimized the window on my laptop, so I could listen without any 'visual distractions'.

https://video.cmireb.be/vod#

The final should be exciting, although the competition element might start weighing down the music at that stage.

[nearenough]

Bozhanov is already a master, so what's he doing in a competition? The Mozart was actually interesting for a change. He shaped it, modulated it, made it into an adventure that drew you in to the composer's mind and world like very few performers, even the top ones do. Maybe I am impressed with the hand movements and facials, but I think I actually heard a thinker with his intense discourse he was putting out with careful attention to detail and insightful encounters along his trip though this landscape. Throughly interesting and can be returned to for further enoyable traveling.

[septentryon]

Hello everybody,

For those who are interrested to the CMIREB, here is the link where you can get the mp3 recording of all the candidates from selection to the final...

https://podcasting.rtbf.be/montre/index.htm?key=M3-LIVE&chaine=musiq3
or here
https://www.musiq3.be/podcast/index.htm

Cheers !

[septentryon]

By the way,

I really enjoy Kim da Sol, I ve remarked him since the selection...

[nearenough]

I've been watching the performances, about 2/3 so far. It's unbelievable how many fine pianists there are in the world. Every time you turn around there's another genius who can play, say, all of Chopin's Etudes with ease!. There was a "Kim" (one of 3 or 4) who played Gaspard de la Nuit with remarkable prowess and confidence. Amazing.

What hope is there for anyone contemplating a career in pianism? How much room is there for performers in or close to the top tier?

[carrot_cake]

Anyone been watching the finals?

It really is amazing the sheer volume of playing each candidate has to play. Have to say I really enjoyed Yury Favorin’s rendition of the liszt concerto, especially the finale.

Only 4 performances to watch atm so do have a look before the sheer quantity of feeds becomes too daunting. Just about to get to Sunwoo and the rach 3…

[pwla]

i hope Denis Kozukhin will win the 1st prize.his rendition of the Prokofiev's second piano concerto was amazing

[gert]

I missed Denis Kozukhin's performance, so I can't express any opinion about his playing, but I must say I'm disappointed Tae-Hyung Kim didn't win: his Brahms concerto was deeply moving and I still can't get the Schumann he played in the semi-finals out of my mind. His playing made the entire notion of a competition irrelevant, and I hope to hear much more from this wonderful musician in the future.   

[pianisten1989]

I don't even think Denis Kozukhin should make it to the semi...

Bozhanov was the best.. by far, imo.

[septentryon]

Did you notice that the last tow finalists have more chance to be on the top ?

[septentryon]

Anyway, my favorite is still Anna Vinnitskaya...