Young Musician 2018 Grand Final

[Barbirollians]

I thought that the cellist and saxophonist were both good . My hair stood on end when I saw that the 16 year old pianist Lauren Zhang had chosen Prokofiev 2 . So far more than so good - she is sensational not just technically brilliant but completely inside the music and its lyric heart .

[Bryn]

I thought that the cellist and saxophonist were both good . My hair stood on end when I saw that the 16 year old pianist Lauren Zhang had chosen Prokofiev 2 . So far more than so good - she is sensational not just technically brilliant but completely inside the music and its lyric heart .

Really? I found her performance generally somewhat prosaic, a lack of the much of the fire and ice this, the finest and most challenging of the composer's concertante works, calls for. It had its moments but not, I feel in the running for the crown.

[Barbirollians]

I am amazed by your response. So many Prokofiev 2 performances are crash bang wallop and this had fire ,ice and emotion in spades.

[Mary Chambers]

The cellist for me, going by which one I’d be keenest to see live.

[Barbirollians]

Far from sure that the Elgar is yet Sheku Kanneh Mason's piece . One minute brusque the next trying to outdo Du Pre in emotion.

Great player though.

[Bryn]

Well, I am more than a little taken aback. I too thought Maxim Claver far more in touch with the work he played. With Lauren Zhang, all the notes were very much there, and in the right order, but played with far too little variation in touch or feel for phrasing, to my ears. Ah well, as she said, there were things she could have played better.

[Bryn]

Far from sure that the Elgar is yet Sheku Kanneh Mason's piece . One minute brusque the next trying to outdo Du Pre in emotion.

Great player though.

Quite so, on all three counts.

[LMcD]

Radio 3 hasn't reached the announcement of the winner yet!
I would like the saxophonist to have won, because he identified so completely with his instrument.

[Barbirollians]

Then I won't tell you .

[LMcD]

Then I won't tell you .

I already knew the result, having watched the competition on BBC4. I'd tuned to Radio 3 to see what 'filler' they'd chosen to take us up to 10.00 p.m. (It's just started - Brahms's Variations on the Saint Anthony Chorale, which I'm always happy to hear).

[kernelbogey]

I thought Lauren Zhang a worthy winner, alhough I also thought from time to time that the cellist might have 'won'. The Prokovief was not known to me - and I thought her performance quite extraordinary. She seemed to pick up some negativity about her very controlled facial expression, which I thought most unfair. I had her card marked from the semi-final, on the basis of her superb Scarlatti.

I am sorry to say that I found the telvision presentation nauseatingly naff.

[Lordgeous]

Seconded on all points. Nice to see 'Humph' again though.

[Barbirollians]

You won't be surprised to know I think that Lauren Zhang was a worthy winner.

[Rolmill]

I am sorry to say that I found the telvision presentation nauseatingly naff.

Couldn't agree more. When the on-stage interviewer thrust her microphone at the newly crowned winner (a cringe-worthy idea anyway) I muttered to my wife 'if she says "how does it feel" I'll throw something at her'; two seconds later it was fortunate the nearest object to hand was only a cushion . What an embarrassment, God knows what Humphrey Burton thought of it.

I too thought the pianist was a deserving winner, but all three were excellent in their various ways and should have promising futures.

[ardcarp]

I have lots to say about the presentation of the programme...but later. I'd personally backed Lauren ages ago and I'm so pleased she won. It was a staggering performance, and NO it was not just getting the notes right (as someone suggested). It's a deep, dark work and for me Lauren brought out all those qualites and more. Bravo.

Among all the gushing, I'd have liked more of it directed to the CBSO and especially to Mark W. who had a pretty daunting task and acquitted himself brilliantly.