2021 Chopin Competition, Warsaw

[Peter]

I've discovered another one; Polish ADAM KAŁDUŃSKI. Poise and composure in abundance; played like a professional; excellent posture; zero histrionics; much dynamic variance even within the most virtuosic passages. And he's the kind of pianist, as I commented to the spouse, who commands you to listen. All the way with him in the most delicate, quiet passages. Something about him makes you want to listen to him. With some others, during the Nocturnes for instance, you can grow slightly bored. Not with KAŁDUŃSKI. He's obviously pretty experienced already. But with so many excellent competitors I don't really have the expertise to judge adequately.

I did find a U-Tube performance of Adam's from last year, so you can get an idea about what I mean:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFXp63mmY4s

I also found a link of the unfortunate memory lapse from a contestant playing the Fantasie in F Minor. It occurs here from 25:40.

FEDERICO GAD CREMA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdHNkUz93Nc

He covered it up brilliantly, but not enough to save him at this level. I recall in a local competition years ago skipping several bars of a Rachmaninov prelude and somehow getting away with it, the adjudicator made no comment!. Fortunately though, no cameras and no Youtube - imagine knowing it's out there forever! In many ways 19th century pianists had it easier with no social media. I wonder even if Chopin would win the competition named after him?

[Peter]

I've discovered another one; Polish ADAM KAŁDUŃSKI. Poise and composure in abundance; played like a professional; excellent posture; zero histrionics; much dynamic variance even within the most virtuosic passages. And he's the kind of pianist, as I commented to the spouse, who commands you to listen. All the way with him in the most delicate, quiet passages. Something about him makes you want to listen to him. With some others, during the Nocturnes for instance, you can grow slightly bored. Not with KAŁDUŃSKI. He's obviously pretty experienced already. But with so many excellent competitors I don't really have the expertise to judge adequately.

I did find a U-Tube performance of Adam's from last year, so you can get an idea about what I mean:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFXp63mmY4s

Only managing to watch a few of the performances - Bruce Liu was outstanding.

[Schenkerian]

Federico Gad Crema is included in the move to Stage 2 - the man who made the memory lapse!! Also, Bruce Liu of Canada and Kaldunski, whom I liked so well. 45 in all move into the 2nd round.

[Schenkerian]

Here is the 1st Round performance of Adam Kaldunski:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVJqStl39Io

[Peter]

Federico Gad Crema is included in the move to Stage 2 - the man who made the memory lapse!! Also, Bruce Liu of Canada and Kaldunski, whom I liked so well. 45 in all move into the 2nd round.

They must have been impressed with his recovery! Interesting the high Asian representation and the non-existent UK presence.

[Peter]

Here is the 1st Round performance of Adam Kaldunski:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVJqStl39Io

Very impressive indeed.

[Schenkerian]

They must have been impressed with his recovery! Interesting the high Asian representation and the non-existent UK presence.

Yes, I thought the same thing. What's that about?

[Peter]

Looking at other competitions, UK had a finalist this year in the Leeds. Nothing in the recent Van Cliburn, Tchaikovsky or Geneva. UK had a winner at the 2005 Ettore Pozzoli, Martin Cousin and took 1st and 2nd places in 1989 in the same competition.

[Peter]

Another one to watch - Alexander Gadiev

[Schenkerian]

Another one to watch - Alexander Gadiev

Yes, I watched his performance. He played on the Shigeru Kawai and this drew my attention at the start.

[Schenkerian]

Saw this pianist, Georgijs Osokins, about an hour ago; he's from Latvia and has quite a lot of professional experience - having been a finalist in this competition in 2015. His stool is way lower than anybody else's and his arms are level with the keyboard, which I found intriguing. This is his 1st Stage performance and I'll post today's when it becomes available:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qiguncMYTg

[Peter]

Saw this pianist, Georgijs Osokins, about an hour ago; he's from Latvia and has quite a lot of professional experience - having been a finalist in this competition in 2015. His stool is way lower than anybody else's and his arms are level with the keyboard, which I found intriguing. This is his 1st Stage performance and I'll post today's when it becomes available:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qiguncMYTg

Yes I saw some of his performance - definitely one to watch though his pedalling was distracting with feet moving around a lot and yes the low seating reminiscent of Gould.

[Schenkerian]

You were right about Liu; he has progressed to the 3rd round. My favourite Kaldunski has been dropped. Disappointed that Osokins is out, also was surprised that the gyrations of Martin Garcia Garcia have seen him progress to the 3rd round. My view is that the Russian in this link will do very well, but it appears my judgement isn't all that crash hot:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBF5OBYJaHY

[Peter]

Well it really is a lottery at this stage - I note the jury member Thai Son Dang was the winner of the 1980 Chopin competition that saw Martha Argerich resign in protest at the elimination of Ivo Pogorelich. Just to see how controversial this competition can be, look at this superb performance by Evgeni Bozhanov of Chopin's op.5 during the 2010 event - he was consistently in 2nd place but the jury decided to change the rules with the point system during the competition which resulted in him being demoted to 4th place in the final. The winner Yulianna Avdeeva was a pupil of a jury member and full disclosure of this fact wasn't made.

[Schenkerian]

Oh, so it's probably corrupt. How very disappointing for the music tragic like myself. Thanks for the information. Of course, some celebrated names have missed out on competitions.