An eagerly awaited annual event to find the young pianists of tomorrow and it is thanks to Artur Haftman and Jenny Lee who have created this showcase where young musicians can be heard by many of the most distinguished musicians of our day.
Some superb piano playing of untainted natural talent and a distinguished jury ready to encourage and nurture young musicians who already show signs of artistry that will blossom, as they mature and gain experience on their journey in music
Four categories according to age : I have added my own personal comments on the impression they made to me and am sure the distinguished jury will have come to their own expert conclusions.
Category A, was won by Eileen Zhang who showed a remarkable natural talent of fluidity and quite considerable weight in the central melodic episode. She seemed to enjoy allowing her fingers to fly over the keys like swimming in sounds with horizontal movements allowing her agile fingers to shape the music with extraordinary facility . If she got impatient with the long expansive bel canto it was because she is a live wire who could not wait to allow her fingers full reign again.
Category B , was won by Gustaw Mazur who played the glorious Nocturne op 55 n. 2 . He showed great independence of voices in the knotty counterpoints that he shaped with a sense of style and intricately played detail .Of course he did not understand at his age the pure outpouring of ecstasy that this nocturne is, and consequently his rather slow tempo did not allow for an expansive improvised freedom but rather a considered and detailed contemplation.
Category C , the winner was Julian Zhu , a revelation, as this young English born Chinese student at Chethams, revealed a natural talent that cannot be taught. Breaking all the rules, but creating his own as he had the gift of listening to himself and creating music with quite considerable artistry. The Andante Spianato immediately revealed a wonderful arch to his left hand as flat fingers chiselled out Chopin’s youthful bel canto with the freedom that Chopin himself described to his pupils of a tree firmly planted in the ground but with the branches free to move naturally above. A Grande Polonaise that was truly ‘Grand’. Note picking accuracy is not for him, as he needed to communicate what he found within the notes, the external details which were pretty good, will be easy to perfect as he matures and his playing gains in weight.
I was not surprised that he won not only the category prize, but also the Jury special prize and shared the Audience prize with Ameli- Sakai -Ivanova winner of Category D.
Category D, was won by Ameli Sakai-Ivanova who also shared the Audience prize with Julian Zhu. A distinguished performance of fluidity and natural musicality.Playing of real weight and a mature style of sumptuous rich sounds and beguiling flexibility. The infamous octaves of the advancing cavalry in the Polonaise Héroique were played at an incredible pace which she was able to maintain with masterly control .Her sense of balance even allowed the advancing cries to be heard with extraordinary clarity over this wind of advancing octaves! An ending of exhilaration and excitement to which as she matures she will add aristocratic nobility and timeless wonder.
ChristopherAxworthy-MusicCommentary 