Established in 1940 as the National College of Music and merged with several music educational institutions in 1949, the Central Conservatory of Music (CCOM) is a specialized Chinese institution of higher education for nurturing high level music professionals. The CCOM is a magnet for music talents from all over the world.
The CCOM Opera & Concert Hall is a high-level venue for concert performances. To meet the acoustic standards, the stall seat area is designed in the shape of a bell to fit the functionality of a concert hall, while the balcony seat area has the shape of a horseshoe.
It is important to notice that the final competition was under the conduction of Ms. Chen Lin, one of the most talented Chinese conductors, and accompanied by the Ningbo Symphony Orchestra.
The Competition Director was Mr Li Min (China) – a pianist, vice-chairperson of the Chinese Music Association.
The Jury President was Mrs Katarzyna Popowa-Zydroń (Poland). She is known in Poland and all over the world as a fabulous piano educator. She obtained an honourable mention at the 1975 Fryderyk Chopin International Piano Competition and was also the prize-winner of the International Piano Competition in Terni (Italy) in the same year and of the ARD Piano Competition in Munich in 1978. She has students all over the world, who were often the prize-winners in International Piano Competitions. One significant example is Rafał Blechacz, the winner of the 15th Fryderyk Chopin International Piano Competition in 2005.
The other members of the Jury were: Andrzej Jasiński (Poland), Cyprien Katsaris (France), Dan Zhaoyi (China), Dina Yoffe (Latvia), John O'Conor (Ireland), Marta Sosińska-Janczewska (Poland), Mikhail Voskresensky (Russia), Piotr Paleczny (Poland).
Repertoire for Main Competition
Junior group
First Round
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Two etudes by Chopin (except Op.10 No.3, Op.10 No.6 and Op.25 No.7)
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One polonaise by Chopin (except Op.22, Op.44, Op.53 and Op.61)
Semi-Final
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One waltz by Chopin
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One of the following pieces by Chopin: Impromptus (including Fantaisie-Impromptu), Nocturnes and Lullaby
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One of the following pieces by Chopin: Ballades (except Op.52), Scherzos (except Op.54), Rondos, Bolero and Variations
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One Chinese piece (designated Chinese piece, about five minutes: Wang Lisan, Jue Mode in G: Folk Toy)
Final
One of the following pieces for piano and orchestra by Chopin:
- Variations Op.2: sur La ci darem la mano de Don Juan de Mozart
- Fantasie Op.13: sur des airs nationaux polonais
- Krakowiak Op.14: Grand Rondeau de Concert
Senior group
First Round
- Two etudes by Chopin (except Op.10 No.3, Op.10 No.6 and Op.25 No.7)
- One of the following Polonaises by Chopin:
- Op.22: Andante spianato et Grande polonaise brillante
- Op.44: Polonaise in f-sharp minor
- Op.53: Polonaise in A-flat major
- Op.61: Polonaise-Fantaisie
Semi-Final
- One of the following sonatas by Chopin: Op.35 and Op.58
- A full set of mazurkas by Chopin (mazurkas shall be played in the order they are numbered in the opus)
- One of the following pieces by Chopin: Ballade (Op.52), Scherzo (Op.54), Barcarolle, Fantasies, and a set of six consecutive Preludes
- One Chinese piece (designated Chinese piece, about five minutes: Xiaogang Ye, Namucuo Op. 53)
Final
One of the following concertos by Chopin:
- Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor Op. 11
- Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor Op. 21
The contest is supported by the Ministry of Culture of the People’s Republic of China, the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Poland.
The event is organized by the Oriental Music (Beijing) Co. Ltd., co-organized by the Beijing 21st Century China-Poland Culture & Arts Exchange Center, the Fryderyk Chopin Institute and the Beijing YUEYI ZHONGYIN Culture & Art Co. Ltd and co-supported by Culture.pl, the Polish Institute – Culture Service of The Polish Embassy in Beijing and the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music.
More information at: www.chopin.com.cn
Sources: www.chopin.com.cn, promotional materials (program), editted by: OW, MJ