14th Van Cliburn Competition!

[virtuoso80]

The lack of Alkan and Medtner disturbs me.

If I recall, someone did have Alkan's Symphony for Solo Piano programmed but never got a chance to play it.

[austinarg]

If I recall, someone did have Alkan's Symphony for Solo Piano programmed but never got a chance to play it.

And one guy at the Amateur leg played the Concerto.

Still, it baffles me how finals arrive and the same pieces from every year are played. Who will be the first one to have the balls to play, let's say, Medtner's 3rd? It's always Rach, Prok and Tchaikovsky.

[kevinatcausa]

That catch is that it's not just you playing the piece.  The Orchestra is performing 12 concertos over 4 days, with only a couple days notice even what pieces they're going to perform.  Springing an unfamiliar concerto on them is flirting with disaster. 

Sean Chen actually planned on playing a Bartok concerto in the final, then (apparently) switched to the Rach 3 after someone with the orchestra expressed concern about this. 

[austinarg]

"What? I shouldn't play Bartok because the orchestra might screw up? Nevermind, I'll just play Rach 3!"

I wonder what Horowitz or Richter might have said if they heard someone say this...

[j_menz]

"What? I shouldn't play Bartok because the orchestra might screw up? Nevermind, I'll just play Rach 3!"

I wonder what Horowitz or Richter might have said if they heard someone say this...

Neither of them, I think, entered competitions.

The ability of the orchestra to give a decent performance of the work is important. A soloist isn't going to shine if the orchestra is awful.

[austinarg]

Neither of them, I think, entered competitions.

The ability of the orchestra to give a decent performance of the work is important. A soloist isn't going to shine if the orchestra is awful.

I mean, if they heard someone in his early twenties saying he would go from Bartok to Rach 3 like I change my shoes 

[j_menz]

I mean, if they heard someone in his early twenties saying he would go from Bartok to Rach 3 like I change my shoes 

Richter never performed the Rach 3, and I can't recall that Horowitz ever did the Bartok so both  may have thought it odd that anyone would have both these particular concerti in their repertoire.

[austinarg]

Richter never performed the Rach 3, and I can't recall that Horowitz ever did the Bartok so both  may have thought it odd that anyone would have both these particular concerti in their repertoire.

...and you are a professional pianist.

[j_menz]

...and you are a professional pianist.

Only in the same way you are President of Argentina. 

[austinarg]

Only in the same way you are President of Argentina. 

If I indeed was the President of Argentina, my reply to your incessant mockery would have reached you by means other than this forum... and it would be a little bit more damaging than a simple insult 

[awesom_o]

Come on let's all get along! 

Seriously though, I think Richter and Horowitz would have plenty to say to Sean Chen. I don't think either of them would be gobsmacked simply by the fact that a young pianist could play two difficult concerti.

Richter and Horowitz both had considerable artistic accomplishments under their belts at this age.