Leeds International Piano Competition 2024

[edashtav]

So hoow long has the Leeds competition been running ? Have fingers/whatever changed? No.

It is simply the fact that diversity overrules ability which is abhorrent to me.

Your analysis is excellent , Anastasius.

[mopsus]

I doubt that the rule about ensuring a quota of women goes back to Fanny Waterman's day. From what I've heard about her (she taught a relative of mine) she was pretty uncompromising about standards (and incidentally had tiny hands!) and would not have approved

[smittims]

'diversity overrules ability'.

This seems to be the case with the composers chosen for broadcast on Radio 3.

However, disagreeing with the judges is a perennial feature of all competition programmes. My father use to fume about the arias sung by the singers who won the Cardiff competition against those he admired . 'I've come to the conclusion you must sing Mozart and you must not sing Puccini'.
I tried to tell him that Mozart's arias are the more severe test of a singer.

[Nick Armstrong]

Perhaps the BBC isn't too keen on reminding us of what are now its limited rights to broadcast material from this competition. It looks as though only the results and prize ceremony will be broadcast live by the BBC, on Radio 3.

As so often (particularly since Covid) YouTube proves itself a preferable broadcast channel to any of the terrestrial options: just the music, none of the presentational flim-flam

https://youtube.com/@leedspiano?si=TCLDpVvh-52LdhdP

[edashtav]

10 Semi Finalists
Triennial:400 entrants this year

The Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective joined in Chamber music pieces
Session 1: September 15th, 7pm

Khanh Nhi Luong
Ludwig van Beethoven Sonata No.31 in A-flat major, Op.110
Kate Whitley Five Piano Pieces
Gabriel Fauré Violin Sonata No.1 in A major, Op.13

Tomoharu Ushida(Japan)
Kate Whitley Five Piano Pieces
We heard the 5th.
Franz Schubert Sonata No.21 in B-flat major, D.960
Spell-binding and poetical
Amy Beach Piano Quintet in F-sharp minor, Op.67

Jaeden Izik-Dzurko(Hungarian/Canadian
Ludwig van Beethoven Trio in D major, Op.70 No.1 ‘The Ghost’
György Ligeti Selection from Études: 5. Arc-en-ciel;
6. Automne à Varsovie
Sergei Rachmaninov Sonata No.1 in D minor, Op.28
Well performed but the interpretation failed to grip me.

Elizaveta Kliuchereva
Semi finalist last Leeds Competion
Modest Mussorgsky Pictures at an Exhibition
György Ligeti Selection from Études: 6. Automne à Varsovie; 13. L’escalier du diable
Johannes Brahms Piano Quartet in C minor, Op.60 Full of Warmth and generosity of spirit. Real chamber music , full of 'give and take'.1

Kai-Min Chang
Sofia Gubaidulina Chaconne
Johannes Brahms Sonata No.3 in F minor, Op.5
We heard the andante, raptly performed.
Gabriel Fauré Violin Sonata No.1 in A major, Op.13/1 a dynamic and colourful performance which was very engaging. It was so youthful, passionate and full of vigour. A real duo!


Callum Mclachlan (G.B.)
Dmitri Shostakovich Piano Quintet in G minor, Op.57
(Cello broke bow!)
Thomas Adès Three Mazurkas, Op.27
George Frideric Handel Suite No.5 in E major, HWV 430
Pert, lively music-making with a smile on its face: including a graceful Blacksmith with dashing fingers.

Johannes Brahms Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel, Op.24

Ryan Zhu
György Ligeti Selection from Études: 4. Fanfares; 14. Coloana infinită; 5. Arc-En-Ciel; 6. Automne à Varsovie
Domenico Scarlatti Sonata in G minor, K.8
Domenico Scarlatti Sonata in G major, K.547
Robert Schumann Carnaval, Op.9 some of this poetical performance, I have heard twice : it was charming and so romantic on both occasions. For me the stand-outperformance.
Johannes Brahms Cello Sonata in E minor, Op.38

Xuehong Chen
György Ligeti Selection from Études: 4. Fanfares: compelling virtuosity a veritable compressed cornucopia of fanfares, Cordes à vide; 10. Der Zauberlehrling
Frédéric Chopin Selection from Préludes, Op.28: 13. Lento; 14. Allegro; 15. Sostenuto; 16. Presto con fuoco; 17. Allegretto; 18.
Allegro molto;19. Vivace; 20. Largo; 21. Cantabile; 22. Molto agitato; 23. Moderato; 24. Allegro appassionato : some unevenness of interpretation in this extended sequence of Chopin's preludes but it all ended splendid.
Dmitri Shostakovich Piano Quintet in G minor, Op.57

Junyan Chen (China & London)
Unsuk Chin Selection from Études: 1.In C:wonderfully played, precise quite distinct from Messaien!
4. Scalen, 6. Grains
Harrison Birtwistle Oockooing Bird:
Harrison Birtwistle Sad Song
Marvellous pp passages
Franz Liszt Piano Sonata in B ⁹lminor, S.178 played with rare precision and clarity. An eye opening performance: thrilling!
Maurice Ravel Trio in A minor, M.67

Julian Trevelyan
György Ligeti Selection from Études: 1.Désordre
Claude Debussy Ondine (no. 8 from Préludes Book II)

Ludwig van Beethoven Sonata in C minor, Op. 111
Thoughtfully played with plenty of dynamic variety and expression. Clearly , one Julian's favourite pieces.
György Ligeti Selection from Études: 6. Automne à Varsovie, 10.Der Zauberlehrling
Amy Beach Quintet in F sharp minor, op. 67
We heard the finale crisply projected .

THE FIVE FINALISTS

Kai-Min Chang (Taiwan)
Junyan Chen (China)
Jaeden Izik-Dzurko (Canada)
Khanh Nhi Luong (Vietnam)
Julian Trevelyan (United Kingdom)
These competitors will perform concertos with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra under their Chief Conductor Domingo Hindoyan

SOME OF THESE CHOICES SURPRISED ME.

[LMcD]

I didn't realize that Petroc was co-hosting medici.tv's live coverage of the competition.

[gradus]

I've heard a handful of these pianists on R3 and have enjoyed every performance, there is some exceptional pianistic talent coming from the conservatories nowadays.

[Pulcinella]

Much enjoying the broadcast.
Bartok PC3 a great favourite here.

[LMcD]

Much enjoying the broadcast.
Bartok PC3 a great favourite here.

The jury are deliberating .....

[pastoralguy]

Putting aside the wonderful pianism on display for a moment, the playing of the RLPO has been exceptional on what was probably extremely limited rehearsal time. The conducting was absolutely exemplary.

Bravo to everyone involved.

[Alison]

On the one hand a very high standard of playing throughout the final and on the other a rather underwhelming Brahms 2 from the winner.

I even wonder whether the Bartok wasn’t the most complete performance!

[Pulcinella]

On the one hand a very high standard of playing throughout the final and on the other a rather underwhelming Brahms 2 from the winner.

I even wonder whether the Bartok wasn’t the most complete performance!

You're not alone!

[Alison]

Lucy a companionable guide while sitting comfortably on the fence.

[mikealdren]

I heard most of the Beethoven and Rachmaninoff in the car while travelling between a rehearsal and concert. The Beethoven sounded very poor. Very garbled passage work as though he was playing it faster than he could, sounded inexperienced, first time playing with an orchestra? Certainly not up to the standard I would have expected at the Leeds. Then Lucy told me how wonderful he was!
The Rachmaninoff seemed better but it was just on the car radio and I didn't hear it all.

[Nick Armstrong]

I didn't realize that Petroc was co-hosting medici.tv's live coverage of the competition.

Which also seems to be the Competition’s official feed via YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/live/lNaU58S7GqQ?si=DY6C-gezcNvicvyC