Yulianna Avdeeva, 2010 Chopin Competition Laureate. Photo: Fryderyk Chopin Institute / Napo Images
The 16th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition has drawn to an end. Yulianna Avdeeva from Russia has been named the winner of the Competition. The second ex aequo prize went to Wunder and Russian/Lithuanian pianist Lukas Geniušas
The
International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition is one of the oldest and most prestigious music contests in the world, organised by the Fryderyk Chopin Institute. During its 80 years of existence the competition has evolved and improved, and created its own rich tradition. The initiator of the Fryderyk Chopin Piano Contest was Professor Jerzy Żurawlew (1887-1980), an eminent Polish pianist, pedagogue and composer.
The finalists of this year's competition were: Yulianna Avdeeva (Russia), Evgeni Bozhanov (Bulgaria), Francois Dumant (France), Lukas Geniušas (Russia/Lithuania), Nikolay Khozyainov (Russia), Miroslav Kultyshev (Russia), Daniil Trifonov (Russia), Hélene Tysman (France), Paweł Wakarecy (Poland) and Ingolf Wunder (Austria).
See the
results of the 16th Chopin CompetitionThe very first edition of the Chopin Competition took place between January 23-30, 1927 at the
Warsaw Philharmonic. It is also where, every five years, another Chopin contest would take place in 1932 and 1937, until 1942 when the II World War made it impossible. Since 1955 the Chopin Competition has taken place in Warsaw every five years, without interruption. It is one of the few competitions devoted entirely to the oeuvre of a single composer.
Preliminary auditions took place last April. Now, throughout most of October, stage auditions take place, accompanied by special concerts by acclaimed musicians in honour of the 200th anniversary of
Chopin's birth.
Antoni Wit, musical and artistic director of the Warsaw Philharmonic, conducts two major historical works on the opening night of the new season. Solemnis Coronationis Missa C major op. 51 by
Józef Elsner and Symphonie Fantastique op. 14 by Hector Berlioz shall be performed by the
Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra and
Choir, featuring soloists: Monika Mych (soprano), Agnieszka Rehlis (mezzo soprano), Arnold Rutkowski (tenor) and Artur Ruciński (baritone) .
October 1 featured a piano recital by Mitsuko Uchida, performed renowned works from Beethoven, Schumann and Chopin. On October 2, the Philharmonic hosted a special recital of works from Mozart, Schubert, Brahms and Béla Bartók, featuring Martha Argerich and Nelson Freire on piano, and Stanisław Skoczyński and Pavel Giunter on drums.
Stage auditions began on October 3 and last through October 16. On October 17 and 18, the Orchestre des Champs-Élysées, conducted by Philippe Herreweghe, perform Mozart's requiem, first at the Church of the Holy Cross in Warsaw and the following day at the Witold Lutosławski Polish Radio Concert Studio. Final auditions take place on October 18-20. Winners will be announced late in the evening on October 20.
In April, 81 competitors were chosen from among 209 candidates from 38 countries. Poland will be represented by: Syrian-born Fares Marek Basmadij, Marek Bracha from Warsaw, Jacek Kortus from Poznań, Marcin Koziak from Kraków, Joanna Różewska from Warsaw, Gracjan Szymczak from Wrocław and Paweł Wakarecy from Toruń.
The greatest proportion of competitors are from Japan (16 competitors), followed by China (13 competitors, including 7 from the People's Republic of China, 5 from Taiwan and 1 from Hong Kong) and Russia (13 competitors). There are 6 pianists from the USA, 4 from France and South Korea, 3 from Israel and Italy and 2 from Australia and Ukraine. Other countries represented include: Armenia, Austria, Bulgaira, Croatia, Georgia, Spain, Canada, Germany and Switzerland.
Programme of Prizes and Winning Performances:
- Prize winners' concert
October 21, 20:00
The Grand Theatre - Polish National Opera, Moniuszko Auditorium
- Ceremony of presenting extra-statutory prizes
October 22, 12:00
Warsaw Philharmonic - Chamber Hall
- Repetition of the prize winners' concert
October 22, 19:30
Warsaw Philharmonic - Concert Hall
- Second repetition of the prize winners' concert
October 23, 19:30 p.m.
Warsaw Philharmonic - Concert Hall
For the duration of the competition, the Adam Mickiewicz Institute and "Gramophone" magazine have come out with the Chopin Express official competition gazette. Between October 1 and 23, Chopin Express reports daily on all the latest news from the competition stage, along with essays from top music experts and critics from around the world and competitor profiles. Emma Baker, Editor-in-Chief of "Gramophone" is in Warsaw this month to oversee production of the publication of all 23 issues. The bilingual (Polish-English) gazette has a 10,000 issue circulation, available at the competition venue, the Warsaw Philharmonic, and most press shops.
View the audition recitals online at
chopin2010.pl/en/competitions/xvith-chopins-competition.html.
The Adam Mickiewicz Institute is hosting a contest for readers and fans of the competition. For details, see:
Name the Five Finalists.
Source:
konkurs.chopin.pl