Sensational and breathtaking .It took Shunta Morimoto just twenty minutes to cast a spell in Hastings that will long be remembered .
There may have been an enthralling performance from this years obvious winner Curtis Phill Hsu
but the excitement that Shunta Morimoto generated with the imperious opening of Schubert’s C minor Sonata will go down in history.Shivers were sent down our spine as the web of barely audible chromatic scales were punctuated by the ominous menace of what was to burst forth like a volcanic eruption .The ravishing fullness of the slow movement where Shunta was never afraid to show us what passion and turbulence there was in Schubert’s almost spent soul .
If only we could have had the other two movements I am sure the tarantella finale would have wound even the rather staid Hastings pensioners into delerium as Richter did in that other seaside town of Brighton many years ago.
But it was Scriabin’s obsessive Vers La Famme that ignited the piano with almost obscene obsessive decadence .This 19 year old master showed us how two notes could mean so much over a cauldron of swirling mists ominously reaching boiling point .An unbearable tension was created that almost managed to ignite the proceedings in Hastings and certainly anyone listening from afar would have been cheering this young artist as the world is starting to do already.
It is still there on the superb web site of Hastings for those interested in great artistry .2.10 to 2 .33
https://www.youtube.com/live/KqhIb92xuhw?si=aZnqggTetk0de_eE
Shunta Morimoto takes London by storm ‘I have a dream’ a poet speaks through music
Shunta Morimoto- Pitti Piano Festival Florence – The inspired recreation of a great artist
Shunta Morimoto’s all or nothing performance of Liszt with aristocratic nobility and brilliance
Shunta Morimoto takes Rome by storm
Shunta Morimoto in Viterbo Refined sensibility and artistry of a true virtuoso
Shunta Morimoto a star shining brightly at St Mary’s – the UK debut of a Master
William Grant Naboré thoughts and afterthoughts of a great teacher
We’re delighted to announce that the overall winner of the 17th Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition is Curtis Phill Hsu. He won the coveted Sophia Guo First Prize with a scintillating performance of Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor Op.23, convincing the international jury, chaired by Professor Vanessa Latarche, that he was the fitting overall winner of the competition.
First Prize to Curtis-Phill Hsu
The Sophia Guo Award: £15,000, donated by Dayu & Ling Guo, plus The Hastings Fellowship, an artist development and professional coaching package supported by Arts Council England that gives opportunities to start and sustain professional careers in the creative industries.
Professional engagements including concerts in Hastings and London with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
Second Prize (£7,000) to Harmony Zhu
Third Prize (£3,000) to Chengyao Zhou
Fourth Prize (£1,500) to Derek Wang
Fifth Prize (£1,000) to Hyelim Kim
The Sussex Prize (£2,500) to Curtis Phill Hsu
Awarded for the best performance in the semi-finals
The Orchestra Prize (£500)to Harmony Zhu
Awarded by members of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
The Hastings Prize (£500)to Chengyao Zhou
Awarded for the best performance of the new commission by Lera Auerbach
The Festival d’Auvers-sur-Oise Prize to Harmony Zhu and Curtis Phill Hsu
An engagement at the 2025 Festival, awarded by Juror Pascal Escande to the finalist/s of his choice
Many congratulations to all 5 prizewinners.
ChristopherAxworthy-MusicCommentary 