Cliburn Competition, 2025

[dizzyfingers]

Anyone watching the Van Cliburn Competition?

I watched the semi-finals live last night on YT.
Eye (and ear) popping pianism by:

Aristo Sham from Hong Kong. 
I only heard that last few etudes-tableaux, this was his program:
BACH–RACHMANINOV Suite from Violin Partita in E Major, BWV 1006
SCRIABIN Sonata No. 10, op. 70
RACHMANINOV Études-tableaux, op. 39

I also heard Elia Cecino from Italy play the last two pieces of this set:
TCHAIKOVSKY Nocturne in F Major, op. 10, no. 1
SCHUMANN Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp Minor, op. 11
GUBAIDULINA Toccata-troncata
PROKOFIEV Sonata No. 7 in B-flat Major, op. 83

What's interesting about the broadcast is the commentary after the performances by Greg Anderson.
It's a very well-organized competition, including the website.  It kind of puts the Chopin competition to shame, in this regard.

https://cliburn.org/

[essence]

Lots of good stuff. But isn;t his Hammerklavier slow movement a bit pedestrian?

i=0ZII1GoMEBqydfeP

[essence]

I found his semi final performance here.

https://cliburn.medici.tv/en/replays/semifinal-round-recital-aristo-sham/

Impressed. Particularly liked the Scriabin 10th (been hacking my way through that since 1976).