2021 Chopin Competition, Warsaw

[Peter]

Despite any rehearsals, which I agree would have taken place (for timing alone) you can still see that they're both reading the score all the time at incredible speed.

Yes but that's what all chamber and orchestral musicians do as a matter of course -it doesn't mean they haven't studied and practiced the piece. Sight reading means playing the thing through never having seen it before and is a skill that some musicians possess to an incredible degree, but I doubt many would give a performance like that.

[Schenkerian]

Point taken, even though I regard it as a considerable skill where musicians are doing three things all at once with chamber music; playing, reading and listening.

[Quijote]

Sight reading is playing it for the first time never having seen the score before, unthinkable that they haven't practiced this together - I simply think they are not playing from memory and relying on the score.

It is a very rare talent to be able to sight-see-perform music of this technical level, and there's no shame in performing with a score. Why do we expect such pyro-technics, I ask? I read in the literature that Beethoven wasn't particularly in favour of playing from memory.

[Quijote]

Yes but that's what all chamber and orchestral musicians do as a matter of course -it doesn't mean they haven't studied and practiced the piece. Sight reading means playing the thing through never having seen it before and is a skill that some musicians possess to an incredible degree, but I doubt many would give a performance like that.

Yes, that's absolutely right. Most professional orchestral musicians are perfectly able to turn up to a recording session playing something from the repertoire that they have never seen before because it's not a solo part, it's the standard "chug-chug-chug" of the writing. It's not at all the same thing as sight-reading and performing a concerto, though no doubt that was something Liszt, Mozart or Beethoven et al could have done. Why do we expect these people to be performing monkeys?

[Quijote]

Yes but that's what all chamber and orchestral musicians do as a matter of course -it doesn't mean they haven't studied and practiced the piece. Sight reading means playing the thing through never having seen it before and is a skill that some musicians possess to an incredible degree, but I doubt many would give a performance like that.

Exactly. Many music lovers (non-performing musicians) expect this sort of "mythhology". In the field it's another question entirely.

[Peter]

Very impressive Martin Garcia Garcia tonight, must be in the final?

[Schenkerian]

Very impressive Martin Garcia Garcia tonight, must be in the final?

I'm not especially impressed by this pianist; too many facial contortions and gyrations. This last is just terribly off-putting. There have been some musicians in this competition with real aplomb and poise and who've played extremely well, for example Kaldunsky, who didn't make it into the 3rd Round. I'm watching Gadjiev (Italy/Slovenia) right now on the 'live' replay and he's an interesting musician. My favourite remains the Russian Khozyainov. And some of the Asian competitors have that composure and confidence I'm after in pianists too.

But, as we've already seen, my judgment on these matters isn't too flash.

[Peter]

I'm not especially impressed by this pianist; too many facial contortions and gyrations. This last is just terribly off-putting. There have been some musicians in this competition with real aplomb and poise and who've played extremely well, for example Kaldunsky, who didn't make it into the 3rd Round. I'm watching Gadjiev (Italy/Slovenia) right now on the 'live' replay and he's an interesting musician. My favourite remains the Russian Khozyainov. And some of the Asian competitors have that composure and confidence I'm after in pianists too.

But, as we've already seen, my judgment on these matters isn't too flash.

I agree his mannerisms are off putting and I wonder just how much this impacts on the jury? For my part, I find just listening and not watching is a big plus! I also expect to see Piotr Alexewicz in the final.

[Schenkerian]

Russian Khozyainov this morning: I was a little disappointed in his Chopin B Minor Sonata. Too much pedal and the slow movement lacked direction and drama. It seemed to fizzle out.

The Mazurkas are wonderful, difficult little gems for all competitors and I follow along with the scores. I'm tired of hearing the Preludes, to be honest.

Piotr Alexewicz is a gorgeous young man and talented, but I have concerns he won't progress if only because the Polish musicians are so heavily over-represented!! They'll feel they have to thin out the ranks, I'm thinking. Su Yeon Kim was outstanding with her program in this latest session. South Koreans really punch above their weight, in every way.

[Peter]

I'll stick my neck out for another finalist - Kyohei Sorita.

[Schenkerian]

Bruce Liu (Canada) is playing now. Very fine musician. No histrionics. I've had friends emailing me with marks out of 10 for each competitor!!

Results imminent for the Finals. But, before that, an ontological question: are we ready for a musician with an international career who is named Bruce??!!!

[Peter]

Bruce Liu (Canada) is playing now. Very fine musician. No histrionics. I've had friends emailing me with marks out of 10 for each competitor!!

Results imminent for the Finals. But, before that, an ontological question: are we ready for a musician with an international career who is named Bruce??!!!

Well we'll have to get used to it I think, I'd be amazed if this guy isn't in the final after that performance.

[Schenkerian]

Yes, he's quite something and the audience loved him!!

[Schenkerian]

My favourites didn't make it. Liu is in the finals as is the irritating Martin Garcia Garcia!! You were right about Sorita and Liu!!

[Peter]

And Gadjiev too. So I think Sorita is a real contender for top prize and Liu and Gadjiev could get 2nd or 3rd - anyway one of those will probably win. I'd be very surprised if Garcia gets into top 3. However the jury obviously had real disagreements yesterday, so who knows?