Leeds Piano Competition 2018

[BBMmk2]

The jury members did seem to make an effort to seek the other two out at the end of the presentation. One does not know how much is on the surface but taken at face value, it does seem that have a genuine sense of pastoral care. Paul Lewis did say in an earlier interview that he had given his number to those eliminated in the second round and the semi final if they wanted to call at any time.

Andrew McGregor and Lucy Parham were talking about the pastoral care in his competition, in comparison with others. They were saying how good it was.

[gradus]

Happened to hear semi-finalist Berezovsky's much criticised Beethoven sonata (6) performance. Talk about volatile and exciting playing, it was off the scale and not much liked by the judges, but wow, she's one to watch.

[ardcarp]

Is Ms Berezovsky related to Boris (no not that one) or is it a common E. European surname?

Balls OTOH is a very English name:

https://www.newsflare.com/video/238389/celebrity/ed-balls-plays-piano-at-leeds-station

[zola]

Is Ms Berezovsky related to Boris (no not that one) or is it a common E. European surname?

Evelyne is Boris's daughter. Here they are playing Mozart concerto for two pianos a few years back.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Z5ybk85du0

[ardcarp]

Gosh, doesn't she look young and innocent! The Mozart was the subject of BAL this weekend.

Just been looking back at her earlier stages in the Leeds. Great choice of repertoire, including R. Strauss (not usually a pianist's composer)
Messiaen (beautifully played Vingt Regards) Scriabin and Ligeti. Yes that Beethoven was stonking. I hope she has a great future in spite of being a 'mere' semi-finalist.

[Nick Armstrong]

Haven't read this thread up to date (because I've not yet heard the R3 broadcasts of the Final and don't know the result) so not sure if this has been mentioned. Certainly no one's commented on it today since the broadcast: the 90 minute highlight programme this to which TV coverage has been relegated (https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episod...018-highlights)

Thought I'd take a quick look: first on, Eric Liu.... LvB PC4 - "first movement only"... ok, well it's a highlights programme... then, after the opening bars, the music fades to an interview with the player...

There really are some numbskulls involved with musical broadcasting these days.

[Dave2002]

The TV programme was a great example of how to produce a really dumbed down music "show". Voice over the music, cuts, fades etc. I hope I can pick up some of this on medici still.

[Richard Tarleton]

.................the 90 minute highlight programme this to which TV coverage has been relegated.........

Thought I'd take a quick look: first on, Eric Liu.... LvB PC4 - "first movement only"... ok, well it's a highlights programme... then, after the opening bars, the music fades to an interview with the player...

There really are some numbskulls involved with musical broadcasting these days.

....and just the slow movement of Beethoven 1st PC - musical equivalent of c. interruptus.....you're on the edge of your seat waiting for dum-diddle-um-dum, dum-diddle-um-dum, instead you get....Petroc Trelawny .

[BBMmk2]

Didn’t enjoy the tv coverage that Medici tv grace for the BBC so much.

[Nick Armstrong]

musical equivalent of c. interruptus.....you're on the edge of your seat waiting for dum-diddle-um-dum, dum-diddle-um-dum, instead you get....Petroc Trelawny .

[oddoneout]

The TV programme was a great example of how to produce a really dumbed down music "show". Voice over the music, cuts, fades etc. I hope I can pick up some of this on medici still.

I was afraid of that so decided I wouldn't even give it a try. I'd heard plenty of the broadcasts,and arguably if it sounds good then seeing the performer isn't essential, just an added bonus if it's possible.

[Richard Tarleton]

....and just the slow movement of Beethoven 1st PC - musical equivalent of c. interruptus.....you're on the edge of your seat waiting for dum-diddle-um-dum, dum-diddle-um-dum, instead you get....Petroc Trelawny .

Well, Suzy K has just played the third movement on EC, so that's OK. I'm sure, if we wait long enough, someone on R3 will play the first movement, then we'll have heard it all

[Beresford]

I have eventually caught up with most of the performances in different rounds, all in HD video, free on medici.tv and without the game show trappings of BBC4.
It was good fun, finding out who had won say the chamber music prize, and going back to that person's performance in previous rounds.

I was very impressed by the way the organizers have linked with the University (Honorary degree for Lang Lang, etc) and medici.tv
You can see and hear it all, in good quality, for 3 years, until the next competition. (maybe subscriptions will kick in after a time)
Coverage is worldwide - good for the competitors and the medici funding, and attracts new sponsors.
The winner now gets an agent, as well as cash and gigs.
All the competitors now have to include a modern piece, and a chamber music performance - fascinating to see who communicates well with the other musicians. Preliminary rounds are in New York, Berlin, and Singapore - widens the field and the audiences.
The numbers for the audience prize are enormous - so unsurprisingly the Chinese finalist received most votes. There are a lot of very keen pianists in China.

Much of this would not have been possible if the whole event had been produced by the BBC (tv), even with worldwide post-event programme sales.
I am very pleased that the OTT parochial BBC tv presentation was absent. I liked the Radio 3 presentation, which was praised at the impressive awards ceremony, but of course all is lost after 30 days. In my view the medici.tv link has enabled the competition to be rejuvenated, and the famous friendly atmosphere of the Leeds competition has not been lost in the process.

[Nick Armstrong]

I have eventually caught up with most of the performances in different rounds, all in HD video, free on medici.tv and without the game show trappings of BBC4.

Funnily enough, I finished listening to all the Radio 3 coverage today, including the prize-giving. Dabbled with the BBC4 dog's breakfast (soon deleted) and with the Medici coverage, but preferred just hearing it all on audio only.

I shall probably now go back and watch the Liu concerto performance on Medici, and his chamber music Dvorak - he really did stand (sound) head and shoulders better than the others. What a musician.

Not tempted to re-listen to the winning Häring chamber performance as the cellist sounded to me distinctly sub-standard (put my teeth on edge ). I do want to hear Anna Geniushene's Shostakovich Quintet again though....