XII конкурс В.Клиберна в Форт-Уорте

[Сергей]

Только что на сайте фонда Клиберна опубликован приведённый ниже пресс-релиз со списком кандидатов, допущенных к участию.

---------------------------------------

THIRTY-FIVE PIANISTS SELECTED TO PERFORM IN THE TWELFTH VAN CLIBURN INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION
Firsts in competition’s history: more women than men; China most represented country.
Mar 1, 2005


The Van Cliburn International Piano Competition announced today that thirty-five pianists have been selected to come to Fort Worth this spring to participate in the Twelfth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition.

Nineteen women and sixteen men will vie for the significant cash awards and international tours offered to the top prize winners. This is the first time in the history of the competition that more women than men were selected. In the 2001 Competition there were eight women out of thirty participants.

Thirteen countries will be represented: Australia (1), Canada (1), China (, Germany (1), Israel (1), Italy (4), Lithuania (1), Russia (6), South Korea (2), UK (1), Ukraine (3), United States (5), and Venezuela (1).

As in the past, many musicians cross many borders. For the first time, a Nigerian pianist will participate in the competition. Sodi Braide is a UK national currently living in France. Albert Mamriev, an Israeli citizen currently living in Germany, was born in Dagistan. Rem Urasin, a Russian competitor, lives in Tartarstan (Тьфу! Это далеко не первый раз, когда люди "не отсюда", не посмотрев в атлас мира, пытаются убедить нас, что Татарстан это видимо такое отдельное государство где-нибудь рядом с Афганистаном (где находится последний, американцы теперь более-менее знают ). Seven of the eight Chinese competitors are women.

Three of the five US competitors were born in the United States. They are Stephen Beus, from Othello, Washington; Grace Fong, from Temple City, California; and Elizabeth Joy Roe, from Aurora, Illinois. US national Ning An was born in China and currently lives in Ooltewah, Tennessee, and Esther Park, also American, was born in South Korea and lives in Little Ferry, New Jersey.

The selected pianists’ ages range from nineteen to thirty.

Six of the thirty-five selected are coming to Fort Worth for the second time. Two of the six were finalists in 2001: Alexey Koltakov and Wang Xiaohan.

As in past years, these thirty-five pianists passed through extensive screening rounds. Written applications were received from 270 pianists worldwide, and from those, 147 pianists from thirty-four countries were invited to audition for the opportunity to compete. Auditions were held in Utrecht, The Netherlands; Saint Petersburg, Russia; Lugano, Switzerland; New York City, and Fort Worth. Each artist performed a forty-minute solo recital, comprised of repertoire of his/her choice. The recitals were free and open to the public in order to create a natural concert setting for the auditions.

The five-person screening jury consisted of John Giordano: chairman of the jury since 1973; Marcello Abbado: pianist and composer; Thomas Frost: senior executive producer for Sony Classical since 1989; Yoheved Kaplinsky: chair of the Piano Department of the Juilliard School of Music; and Jьrgen Meyer-Josten: pianist, former head of Bavarian Radio, and director of the International Music Competition of the ARD (Broadcasting Companies of Germany) in Munich.

Ms. Yoheved Kaplinsky, one of the twelve competition jurors, asked to be relieved of her position, citing the fact that seven of her pupils were accepted into the competition. “I regretfully feel I must step down from the jury,” said Ms. Kaplinsky. “I believe it is in the best interests of the competition for me to do so.” Cliburn president Richard Rodzinski added, “having so many of her pianists accepted to the competition is an extraordinary tribute to such a great teacher.”

Ms. Kaplinsky’s position will not be filled and the Twelfth Cliburn Competition will be adjudicated by eleven jurors, including chairman John Giordano.

The Van Cliburn International Piano Competition will begin on May 20. The winners will be announced on June 5, 2005 at 5:00 pm. Because of the strong showing in the screening recitals this year, thirty-five competitors were selected instead of the intended thirty, as in the Eleventh Competition. For this reason, extra sessions will be added to the competition schedule, which will be updated and announced shortly.

TICKET INFORMATION: Subscriptions range in price from $75 to $1,413. Please call 800.462.7979. Subscriptions are also available online at www.cliburntickets.org. For further information, please visit the Foundation's website: www.cliburn.org.


PIANISTS SELECTED TO COMPETE IN THE TWELFTH VAN CLIBURN INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION

Name, Age as of May 20 (Nationality)
Ms. Lilian Akopova, 21 (Ukraine)
Mr. Ning An, 28 (Ooltewah, TN)
Mr. Guiseppe Andaloro, 22 (Italy)
Mr. Stephen Beus, 23 (Othello, WA)
Mr. Sodi Braide, 29 (Nigeria/UK)
Mr. Davide Cabassi, 28 (Italy)
Ms. Jie Chen, 19 (China)
Ms. Sa Chen, 25 (China)
Ms. Ying Feng*, 28 (China)
Ms. Grace Fong, 26 (Temple City, CA)
Mr. Davide Franceschetti*, 28 (Italy)
Mr. Alexei Grynyuk, 27 (Ukraine)
Ms. Chu-Fang Huang, 22 (China)
Ms. Mariya Kim, 23 (Ukraine)
Mr. Alexander Kobrin, 25 (Russia)
Ms. Marina Kolomiytseva, 25 (Russia)
Mr. Alexey Koltakov**, 26 (Australia)
Ms. Soyeon Lee, 25 (S. Korea)
Ms. Ang Li, 20 (Canada)
Mr. Albert Mamriev*, 30 (Israel)
Ms. Gabriela Martinez, 21 (Venezuela)
Ms. Maria Mazo, 22 (Germany/Russia)
Mr. Alexandre Moutouzkine*, 24 (Russia)
Ms. Esther Park, 20 (Little Ferry, NJ)
Mr. Roberto Plano, 26 (Italy)
Ms. Daria Rabotkina, 24 (Russia)
Mr. Ilya Rashkovskiy, 20 (Russia)
Ms. Elizabeth Joy Roe, 23 (Aurora, IL)
Ms. Rui Shi, 21 (China)
Mr. Rem Urasin, 29 (Russia)
Mr. Xiaohan Wang**, 24 (China)
Ms. Di Wu, 20 (China)
Ms. ChenXin Xu, 23 (China)
Ms. Joyce Yang, 19 (S. Korea)
Mr. Andrius Zlabys, 28 (Lithuania)


*Competitor in Eleventh Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
** Finalist in Eleventh Van Cliburn International Piano Competition

[Сергей]

Всё тот же Уэйн Гей, что писал об отборе на конкурс, разродился парой статей по поводу отобраных:

Women's movement

Female majority leads field of piano hopefuls

By Wayne Lee Gay

Star-Telegram Staff Writer



Call it the Olga effect. Or the birth of the 21st-century piano diva.

Or simply the new, softer (ха! * ) face of the Cliburn.

For a whole host of reasons -- sociological, historical, individual or even coincidental -- the look of the 2005 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition's opening rounds will be distinctly female. When the Cliburn Foundation announced the field of 35 talented young pianists Monday, a record 19 of them were women, many of whom have consciously crafted their style and personalities to complement their impeccable piano artistry.

Dominated for years by young men whose playing style and repertoire was as clean and predictable as their attire, the Cliburn competition is feeling the shockwaves of change that began in 2001 when a young Russian named Olga Kern captivated our imaginations and captured Cliburn gold.

Kern took chances. She outlasted the men in the traditional gigantic "boys only" repertoire of Liszt, Barber and Balakirev. She dressed the part, right down to the famous red jacket she wore in the finals. She clutched her hand to her heart, and she meant it.

Most important, she played better than any of the men.

And, though she shared the gold medal with Stanislav Ioudenitch, she made the Cliburn prize her own by becoming a star on the concert circuit.

Now comes the second wave. Along with their 16 male colleagues, these women, many in their early 20s or younger, have emerged from an excruciating audition process.

Five jurors traveled to five audition centers in Europe and the United States to listen to nearly 150 ambitious young pianists. What they heard and saw was a new chapter in the history of piano playing.

Like Kern, this new wave of young women isn't afraid to take on repertoire monsters such as Ravel's La Valse or Rachmaninoff's Piano Sonata No. 2. They are overwhelmingly of Asian birth or descent, and they carry with them to the piano a combination of a strong work ethic and a delving spirituality. The often breathtaking attire they wore onstage in the auditions, particularly in New York, turned the utilitarian occasions into events.

But this devotion to couture reflects not so much a frivolous interest in fashion as another aspect of their perfectionism: finding the right fabric, the perfect cut, the flawless accessory to set the stage for the flawless performance of Scarlatti, Chopin or Corigliano.

They favor the famed Juilliard School and the buzzing cultural life of New York City. They talk freely about poetry and soul in their music and their lives, and about performing in the Cliburn competition as a girlhood dream.

Don't expect Olga clones, however.

These women are striking individuals, from Korean teen-ager Joyce Yang, who steps shyly onstage and proceeds to deliver a rendition of Liszt's Reminiscences de Don Juan that's so dramatic it should be rated R, to returning competitor Ying Feng, who fills the stage with a sense of serenity -- along with an aura of fashion and a musical artistry -- that few men could match.

And don't dismiss the other traditional strongholds of pianism, even though the 2005 Cliburn is shaping up to be the year of the woman.

A small but extraordinarily promising group of Italian men will carry the banner of their nation's piano style. Russian-born and Russian-trained pianists form a sizable contingent. A British-born pianist of African descent yearns to make history. And two finalists from 2001 -- Xiaohan Wang and Alexey Koltakov -- will return.

Stephen Beus, a 23-year-old American, may feel the most pressure of all: The rangy Washingtonian looks and plays like the man himself, a young Van Cliburn. All eyes will surely be on him as he goes for the gold.

But for now, Beus, like the other 15 men in the competition, will have to wait in the wings while the 19 women take their opening bows. They've made history, and Fort Worth's famed piano competition may never look the same again.

By The Numbers

141 pianists auditioned around the world for the 2005 Cliburn

35 pianists made the cut, earning an all-expense paid trip to compete in Fort Worth beginning May 20

19 female competitors, the most in the history of the Cliburn

7 female competitors in 2001 (included gold medalist Olga Kern)

13 nations represented in 2005

11 competitors born in China

----------
Моё "ха" вызвано тем, что к примеру из участников отбора в Питере молодые люди производят на меня более субтильное и тонкое впечатление (те же Брахман, Манюков, Христенко), чем дамы и мадемуазели, пытающиеся в этом году повторить путь Пушечниковой...

[Сергей]

И немного информации о прошедших, из тех же рук:

-----------------

The Cliburn 35

By Wayne Lee Gay

Star-Telegram Classical Music Critic



Nearly 150 pianists tried, but only 35 survived. These talented young pianists will converge on Fort Worth in May for the next leg of the Cliburn's amazing race. Save these pages, get to know the competitors. The showdown at Bass Hall will be here before you know it.

The encore performers

Twelve 2001 competitors tried again, but only these six will return.

Ying Feng

Age: 28

Country: China

Who she is: A student at the Mannes College of Music in New York City, Feng has also studied in Shanghai, Paris and at Yale. One of our critic's favorites in 2001, Feng will be happy to return to Fort Worth, if only to indulge her love of Tex-Mex food.

Why her?: In her audition, she displayed immaculate timing and control on the technical demands of Prokofiev's Sixth Sonata and Liszt's Mephisto Waltz No. 1.

Her chances: She didn't make it past the preliminaries last time, but her commanding stage presence and remarkable technical control could help her this year -- if the jury accepts her reliance on romantic virtuoso repertoire.

Davide Franceschetti

Age: 28

Country: Italy

Who he is: The heartthrob of 2001, as well a semifinalist and winner of the chamber-music prize, Franceschetti is hoping for the break that will elevate his career to an international level.

Why him?: A risky program of Schoenberg's lean and dissonant Six Little Pieces and Mussorgsky's well-known Pictures at an Exhibition played well with the finicky auditions jury; he certainly showed imagination.

His chances: Franceschetti, who loves fast cars and vintage pianos, is taking a risk with an odd combination of pieces, but the approach is clearly working so far. (Watch for the crowd of groupies at the stage door.)

Alexey Koltakov

Age: 25

Country: Australia

Who he is: Having reached the 2001 finals at the ripe old age of 22, the Ukrainian-born Koltakov is now married to duo-piano partner Katerina Makarova. He continues to fashion his niche as a Ukrainian-style virtuoso, underlining his heritage by performing arrangements by piano icon Vladimir Horowitz.

Why him?: Koltakov's musicianship is even more powerful than before, creating oceanic waves of sound in music by Liszt during his audition.

His chances: Strong, assuming his Liszt and Prokofiev are in shape. Koltakov will have to make a convincing case for his approach to classical-era music when he plays a Haydn sonata in the preliminaries.

Albert Mamriev

Age: 30

Country: Israel

Who he is: This year's oldest competitor was born in Russia and lives in Hanover, Germany, where he studies with the renowned Arie Vardi. He played in the preliminary round in 2001.

Why him? Chopin's Etude in C provided a brilliant calling card at Mamriev's audition; he continued to show intelligence and emotional range in Prokofiev's Sonata No. 4.

His chances: Mamriev is betting on show horses by Liszt and Prokofiev to get him past the preliminary round. If he makes it to the semifinals, he'll finally pull out some Haydn.

Alexander Moutouzkine

Age: 24

Country: Russia

Who he is: He didn't make it past the prelims last time, but he did pick up a jury discretionary award and seemed to be a fan favorite. Moutouzkine moved to New York to study at the Manhattan School of Music and picked up a string of first prizes at other piano competitions.

Why him?: Devoting half of his audition to American composer John Corigliano's Etude Fantasy proved a wise move: After ranging through the technical demands of this modern showpiece, he displayed delicacy in Mozart and panache and humor in Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No. 9.

His chances: His experience in 2001 and his willingness to explore a wide repertoire make Moutouzkine a good bet to make it to the semis.

Xiaohan Wang

Age: 24

Country: China

Who he is: The bright-eyed surprise finalist from 2001 who was one of only two performers to play their own composition.

Why him: Wang proved that he can be magical in solo repertoire during his performances here four years ago. He auditioned via videotape this time and still impressed the jury.

His chances: He'll have to bring a fresh perspective to the mainstream piano literature he has chosen to play in the preliminary round -- well-known pieces from Beethoven and Liszt. As a returning finalist, the pressure will be on him.

Wayne's Fab 5

Our tireless critic picks his medal contenders.

Giuseppe Andaloro

Age: 23

Country: Italy

Who he is: A conductor and composer as well as a pianist, Andaloro exuded extraordinary composure when he came onstage in Lugano, Switzerland, casually attired in a green shirt with the tail out. He already has an impressive list of first prizes to his name.

Why him?: He achieved both a light touch and a magnificently full tone in Liszt's Mephisto Waltz -- as well as rip-roaring momentum.

His chances: His musicality has an edge of acting and oratory to it that clearly appealed to the jury. He has carefully included 18th-century works in the earlier phases to demonstrate the breadth of his artistry, but will concentrate on a high-energy virtuoso repertoire more and more if he advances. His combination of energy and attitude could make him a fan favorite.

Stephen Beus

Age: 23

Country: United States

Who he is: The 6-foot-3-inch, blue-eyed, former Mormon missionary immediately conjures up images of a young Van Cliburn. The fourth of eight children, he grew up in Othello, Wash., and now attends the Juilliard School in New York.

Why him?: He woke up a late-night crowd at the New York auditions with a Cliburnesque performance, including richly romantic but totally controlled takes on J.S. Bach, Barber and Liszt.

His chances: With his combination of artistic instinct and natural charisma, he's a good bet to advance to the finals.

Davide Cabassi

Age: 28

Country: Italy

Who he is: A burly soccer fan with a huge repertoire, Cabassi showed up relatively unknown at the Lugano auditions.

Why him?: He ranged from hypnotic delicacy to passionate warmth to dramatic brilliance in a repertoire that journeyed from early baroque to impressionism to modernism.

His chances: The jury forgave him for running overtime in his audition; he left the stage looking very much like a medalist. He's planning to present the same repertoire by Bach, Debussy and Stravinsky in his preliminary round performance.

Alexander Kobrin

Age: 24

Country: Russia

Who he is: Another product of the champion-producing Moscow teacher Lev Naumov, Kobrin broke into the Western consciousness by winning the Busoni Competition in 1999.

Why him?: In his audition in St. Petersburg, Kobrin belied the cliches of stormy Russian virtuosity with a beautifully delicate touch in a Haydn sonata, followed by a set of Debussy preludes that displayed humor, serenity, imagination and, ultimately, total control.

His chances: Given his past record in competitions and his stylistic range, Kobrin has a good chance to go far at the Cliburn.

Joyce Yang

Age: 18

Country: Korea

Who she is: The youngest competitor, she came to the United States to study at Juilliard at age 10 and is already managed by the major New York talent agency ICM.

Why her?: With breathtaking passagework, Yang's performance of Liszt's Reminiscences de Don Juan practically glowed with sensual warmth and drama.

Her chances: Barring a major stumble, expect to hear Yang play Prokofiev's murderously difficult Piano Concerto No. 2 in the final round.

The young guns

A posse of teens and 20-year-olds are ready to face the music.

Ang Li

Age: 19

Country: Canada

Who she is: Born in Beijing and largely educated at the Curtis Institute and the Juilliard School, Li became a citizen of Canada as a teen-ager. She showed a bit of national pride with an audition that included the music of Canadian composer Alexina Louie.

Why her?: She displayed a wonderful light touch in Debussy and glittered in a Haydn sonata -- but was unabashedly virtuosic and showy in Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12.

Her chances: She'll need to show stamina and ability to stretch her vision in the preliminary round with Brahms' Sonata No. 3; that, combined with her planned repetition of the brilliant virtuosity of Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12, will give her a strong chance to advance.

Gabriela Martinez

Age: 20

Country: Venezuela

Who she is: Born in Caracas, she's the sole representative of South America at this year's Cliburn.

Why her?: Szymanowski's seldom-performed Variations in B-flat minor showcased her voicing and natural command of the keyboard.

Her chances: Martinez performed with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra in 2002 and gave us a glimpse of why she'd return for the 2005 Cliburn.

Jie Chen

Age: 19

Country: China

Who she is: This teen-ager from mainland China has a knack for onstage glamour as well as superb musical instincts.

Why her?: She turned a modest set of variations by Mozart into a showpiece of complete musicianship and piano artistry, including volume, pedal technique and timing. She continued with evocative, fluid renditions of music of Albeniz and Scarlatti.

Her chances: She failed to build a convincingly symphonic tone in Balakirev's Islamey in her audition; she'll need to prove substance of tone and stamina when she plays this piece in Fort Worth.

Esther Park

Age: 20

Country: United States

Who she is: Korean-born Park moved to the United States to study in the Juilliard School's pre-college program at 11; she appeared previously in Fort Worth as a concerto soloist in the TCU/Cliburn Institute.

Why her?: Park started tentatively in her New York audition on works of Liszt and Chopin, but found the essence of Barber's Sonata.

Her chances: Park's advancement rests on her expert ability to shape phrases and larger forms.

Ilya Rashkovskiy

Age: 20

Country: Russia

Who he is: Born in Siberia, Rashkovskiy now lives in Hanover, Germany, where he studies with Vladimir Krainev.

Why him?: In Rashkovskiy's audition, Liszt's transcription of Schubert's Serenade became a romantic lullaby -- and a superb prelude to Prokofiev's Sonata No. 8.

His chances: A preliminary-round program of Bach, late Beethoven and 20th-century Russian composer Alfred Schnittke could provide the perfect vehicle for him.

Di Wu

Age: 20

Country: China

Who she is: A protege of Gary Graffman at the Curtis Institute, Wu arrived in the United States from China in 1999 -- and promptly began taking top prizes in regional competitions.

Why her?: Wu achieved a rare level of drama in Bach's Toccata in F-sharp minor, and her final movement of Ravel's Gaspard was equally inspired, producing a quasi-orchestral sound.

Her chances: A jury looking for emotional intensity and depth of tone will look favorably on Wu.

The wild cards

Will a two-steppin' Italian or an American who has dreamed of the Cliburn for years emerge?

Sodi Braide

Age: 29

Country: Nigeria/Britain

Who he is: Born in Britain of African descent, Braide now lives in Paris.

Why him?: He opened his audition with crystalline Haydn and was equally convincing in a Chopin nocturne. More impressive, he found depth in a pair of Liszt showpieces.

His chances: Mature musicianship and a distinctive viewpoint could break Braide out of the crowd.

Grace Fong

Age: 26

Country: United States

Who she is: A native of California and a graduate of University of Southern California, Fong studies at the Cleveland Institute of Music with famed teacher Sergei Babayan. She speaks four languages and loves to shop and play tennis.

Why her?: She combines a striking stage presence with a sure command of contrasting styles -- her audition ranged from Handel to 20th-century composer Kenneth Leighton, and her whispering pianissimo was almost as impressive as her thunderous fortissimo.

Her chances: Her preliminary recital will have to convince the jury of her depth and stamina.

Roberto Plano

Age: 26

Country: Italy

Who he is: Plano loves Brahms, Rachmaninoff -- and country music. He's looking forward to two-stepping and line-dancing in Texas.

Why him?: Though his broad rubato in Brahms and the intense drama of his approach to Latin American music by Ginastera and Villa Lobos were controversial, he commands attention.

His chances: If the jury appreciates his unique intensity, he's a good bet to go all the way to the finals; a first prize in Cleveland and a third in Calgary hints that he has a knack for the major North American competitions.

Elizabeth Joy Roe

Age: 23

Country: United States

Who she is: Born in Illinois to Korean parents, Roe dreamed of playing in the Cliburn from the moment she first watched the documentary on the 1993 competition. She's now a graduate student at Juilliard.

Why her?: In her audition, Roe found the brilliant, powerful aspects of Brahms's Sonata No. 2, then discovered an unexpected, quiet but dramatic aura in a miniature by Scarlatti.

Her chances: Roe is determined to enjoy the opportunity to play for the competition's famously friendly audience; with her musical instincts and insight, this nonstrategy may be the perfect way to advance.

Andrius Zlabys

Age: 27

Country: Lithuania

Who he is: A student of Sergei Babayan at the Cleveland Institute, Zlabys has already made his mark in the music world as a chamber music collaborator with renowned violinist Gidon Kremer.

Why him?: J.S. Bach's Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue was vigorous but soundly voiced and structured in his audition in Fort Worth; intensity characterized a short intermezzo of Brahms and Beethoven's "Tempest" Sonata.

His chances: Zlabys will need to combine clarity with passion.

The Russian/Ukrainian connection

Traditional piano powers stake their claim to Cliburn gold.

Lilian Akopova

Age: 21

Country: Ukraine

Who she is: Ukrainian-born Akopova owns a polished, dramatic stage presence enhanced by glittering attire -- and superb technical command.

Why her?: Akopova presented an impressive audition that built from the serenity of Busoni's transcription of Bach's Wachet Auf to a cyclonic rendition of Liszt's Spanish Rhapsody.

Her chances: Depends on the jury's willingness to accept her total focus on an old-fashioned virtuoso repertoire.

Alexei Grynyuk

Age: 27

Country: Ukraine

Who he is: Grynyuk studies in London at the Royal Academy of Music; he has a string of first prizes to his credit.

Why him?: Along with surefire Slavic panache on works of Liszt, Rachmaninoff and Chopin, he displayed a powerful combination of elegance and romanticism in a sonata of Clementi in his Utrecht audition.

His chances: His masterful musicianship is somewhat spoiled by an eccentric stage presence, which includes staring constantly at the ceiling with his tongue stuck out while he plays.

Mariya Kim

Age: 23

Country: Ukraine

Who she is: A Ukrainian of partly Korean descent, Kim studied with her mother in Sevastopol before continuing her studies in Germany.

Why her?: Kim lingered in the lyrical sections of Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12 before launching into a hefty selection that ranged from fragrant lightness to stormy intensity.

Her chances: Concentration on virtuosic and romantic repertoire may hurt her chances to advance.

Marina Kolomiytseva

Age: 25

Country: Russia

Who she is: The first prize-winner of the 2000 Sydney International Piano Competition, Kolomiytseva combines an elegant stage appearance with an intense, barely bridled musical approach.

Why her?: Resonance and majesty informed her performance of Beethoven's Sonata No. 18 in E-flat in her St. Petersburg audition.

Her chances: She's clearly in command of Beethovenian classicism; she'll face the equal but distinct challenges of Prokofiev and Schubert in her preliminary round.

Maria Mazo

Age: 22

Country: Russia

Who she is: Born in Russia, Mazo moved to Germany in 2002 to study with Arie Vardi in Hanover.

Why her?: Serenity and introspection colored Mazo's performance of the Bach-Busoni Chaconne in D minor and works of Brahms and Beethoven; she achieved subtle connection among these different works.

Her chances: Mazo will have to sell her well-studied, deliberate approach in late Beethoven (Sonata in B-flat) in the preliminary round.

Daria Rabotkina

Age: 23

Country: Russia

Who is she: Born in Kazan, Rabotkina continued her Russian-style training in New York with Vladimir Feltsman at the Mannes College of Music and now teaches at the Berman School of Music in Haverford, Pa. She's also a devoted visual artist, whose portraits include the composer Rachmaninoff.

Why her?: In her audition, Rabotkina reflected the best of the Russian school, bringing a symphonic fullness to a Haydn sonata and emphasizing warmth and lyricism in Rachmaninoff's Sonata No. 2.

Her chances: A program of Chopin and Mozart will play to her strengths.

Rem Urasin

Age: 28

Country: Russia

Who he is: Born in Kazan and based in Moscow, Urasin studied with Lev Naumov, one of the world's great creators of competition winners. Urasin came onstage for his St. Petersburg audition attired completely in black, with long hair and a serious demeanor that became almost frightening when he launched into the storms of Liszt's Mephisto Waltz.

Why him?: He's definitely about more than just demonic virtuosity: A Mozart sonata on his audition program was substantial, energetic, nicely paced and free of mannerisms, while a set of Liszt transcriptions of Schubert songs was effectively dramatic.

His chances: His record in previous competitions and his clear command of different styles indicate a potential finalist. He's also a frequent winner of audience-favorite awards, so expect him to attract a following in Fort Worth.

The Asian influence

The stars are rising in the East.

Ning An

Age: 28

Country: United States

Who he is: A native of China who studied for eight years with Russell Sherman at the New England Conservatory, An and his wife, Gloria Chien, have taken faculty positions at Lee University in Cleveland, Tenn. As artist-in-residence, he has a flexible schedule that allows him to travel and concertize extensively.

Why him: He brings an impressively elegant approach and singing tone to a broad range of literature, including Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, Chopin and Liszt.

His chances: Expect him to advance if he can apply his natural lyricism to the thorny challenges of Beethoven's Opus 101.

Sa Chen

Age: 25

Country: China

Who she is: Already widely recognized as an upcoming major artist, Chen was twice turned back because of incomplete documents when she attempted to enter Switzerland for her scheduled audition in Lugano. The screening jury agreed to view a videotape audition.

Why her?: Her breadth came across in spite of the crude tape.

Her chances: With a preliminary round program designed to show intellect (Beethoven's Sonata, Opus 110), physical control (a triptych of Etudes of Liszt, Rachmaninoff and Stravinsky) and stamina (Ravel's Gaspard de la nuit.), she should have a strong chance at advancing.

Chu-Fang Huang

Age: 22

Country: China

Who she is: A fan of theme parks and movies, this Chinese-born, Curtis-educated pianist also has a penchant for daringly elegant concert attire and deeply emotional renditions of romantic piano music.

Why her?: Huang found humor and elegance in a miniature Sonata of Haydn, genuine tragedy in Chopin's "Funeral March Sonata" and compelling irony in the roiling notes of Ravel's La Valse.

Her chances: She's betting on a balance of classical and virtuoso repertoire; audiences may have trouble accepting the inordinate amount of extraneous noise and gesticulation she produces while playing.

Soyeon Lee

Age: 25

Country: South Korea

Who she is: Born in Seoul and now a student of Robert MacDonald at the Juilliard School, Lee admits that she's a power shopper, which was evident in her elegant attire at her audition.

Why her?: The intensity of her rendition of Ravel drew one of the most enthusiastic ovations at the New York auditions.

Her chances: Lee is an actress at the piano. Her emotional approach should play well with the audience. We'll have to see about the jury.

Rui Shi

Age: 21

Country: China

Who she is: Forget cliches about the women of the People's Republic of China: When the New York auditions began to resemble a fashion competition, this petite Juilliard student stood out of the crowd with a stunning strapless gown. Along with a sense of style, she has ambitions to conduct and has won six Chinese National Mathematics Confederation titles.

Why her?: Sonatas of Mozart and Rachmaninoff and a Nocturne of Chopin were all equally delicate and logical.

Her chances: If the jury is looking for balance and calmly erudite playing in a wide repertoire, she'll go far. To this listener, she bordered on the overly safe.

ChenXin Xu

Age: 23

Country: China

Who she is: Xu returned from her home in New York to her native China in 2004 to take the top prize in the 2004 China International Piano Competition; she currently studies with Robert MacDonald and Yoheved Kaplinsky at the Juilliard School.

Why her?: The best moment of Xu's audition came in the multimovement Gargoyles for piano by Lowell Liebermann, in which she took full advantage of the opportunities for drama and showmanship. Works of Scarlatti and Clementi demonstrated technical control in the leaner textures of earlier music.

Her chances: Continued ability to range across style periods will be key for Xu.

[MAks]

Спасибо, Сергей, за информацию! Никак, правда, не найду времени все прочесть, но прочту обязательно, хотя прекрасно понимаю, что чтобы что-то понять в происходившем, надо лично присутствовать на прослушивании.

[Сергей]

Газета Dallas morning news соорудила мини-сайт с информацией об участниках. Прошу сюда:

Ну и для полноты информации ещё статья из этой газеты:

-----------------
Cliburn selects lineup

12:02 AM CST on Tuesday, March 1, 2005

By SCOTT CANTRELL / The Dallas Morning News

The Van Cliburn International Piano Competition has picked 35 pianists to participate in its 12th incarnation, which is set for May 20 through June 5 at Fort Worth's Bass Performance Hall.

Open to pianists ages 18 to 30, this year's contest drew 270 applications from around the world. Of the 35 contestants picked (up from 30 in 2001), the largest contingent – eight – comes from the People's Republic of China. Russia, long a mainstay of piano competitions, is supplying seven pianists, counting one with joint German citizenship. Five hail from the United States, four from Italy.

Germany and Austria, historically sources of numerous important pianists, are conspicuously absent from the lineup apart from Maria Mazo, who holds the joint German-Russian citizenship. But a number of competitors from other countries are currently living and studying in Germany.

Two finalists from the last Cliburn, in 2001, are returning: Alexey Koltakov and Xiaohan Wang. Other competitors returning from 2001 are Davide Franceschetti, Albert Mamriev, Alexandre Moutouzkine and Ying Feng.

The contestants were chosen in screening auditions in January and February in Utrecht, the Netherlands; St. Petersburg, Russia; Lugano, Switzerland; New York; and, just last week, Fort Worth.

Held every four years, the Cliburn is one of the world's highest-profile music competitions. This year's contest will award four medals, in any combination of gold and silver. Each medal will carry a cash prize of $20,000, concert management and a recording on the Harmonia Mundi label.

Prizes will be awarded at a ceremony hosted by Oscar-winning actor, and amateur pianist, Sir Anthony Hopkins.

The preliminary round will be May 20 through 24, the semifinals May 26 though 29, and the finals June 1 through 5.

New this year will be a solo recital in the final round, in addition to the traditional two concertos with orchestra. James Conlon will return to lead the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra in the concertos; the Takács Quartet will perform in the chamber music part of the semifinals. Subscriptions range from $75 to $1,413. Call 1-800-462-7979, or go to www.cliburn tickets.org.
THE COMPETITORS

(Ages as of May 20)

Lilian Akopova, 21, Ukraine She was a finalist in the 2000 Busoni Competition in Italy and won the 2003 Steinway Competition in Munich, Germany. Has given recitals in Ukraine, Russia, Poland, Italy, Japan, Spain and Germany.
Ning An, 28, United States

He won first prize in the 2003 William Kapell Piano Competition. Made his concerto debut at age 16 playing the Rachmaninov Second with the Cleveland Orchestra in 1993. His Carnegie Hall debut, an all-Chopin program, was praised for "the almost sculpted clarity of his playing, and his ability to maintain balance and tension in large-scale dramatic forms." Artist in residence at Lee University in Cleveland, Tenn.
Giuseppe Andaloro, 22, Italy

He was the grand prize winner of the London International Piano Competition in 2002, one of a series of competition honors. Has performed in Italy and beyond as soloist and in concerto performances with orchestras that include the London, Latvian and Sapporo philharmonics. Repertory spans Bach and Handel through Messiaen and Ligeti.
Stephen Beus, 23, United States

He's been a recitalist and orchestral soloist since age 8. Won first prize in the 1996 junior Gina Bachauer International Competition. Played the Rachmaninov Third Concerto to acclaim with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra in 2003. Pursuing a master's in music from Juilliard.
Sodi Braide, 29, Nigeria, Britain

Born of Nigerian parents in Newcastle, England, he started playing piano at age 3 in Dublin, Ireland. Continued his studies in Nigeria, where he was tapped by French pianist Eric Heidsieck for a televised benefit concert in 1988, then received a scholarship to study music in France. Avid chamber music performer.
Davide Cabassi, 28, Italy

He has won a number of national and international contests. Made his debut with the RAI Symphonic Orchester with the Shostakovich Second Concerto. Dedicated to promoting contemporary Italian music, presenting works by Fulvio Delli Pizzi and Michele Ignelzi.
Jie Chen, 19, China

The Curtis Institute graduate's performances include concerto work with the Philadelphia and Minnesota orchestras and a recital tour of 15 cities.
Sa Chen, 25, China

She began her musical studies at the Sichuan Conservatory of Music. Won attention with fourth prize in the Leeds Piano Competition in 1996 as its youngest contestant. She's lived in Hanover, Germany, since 2001 and appeared with a number of European and Asian orchestras. Her debut disc, Chopin Impression, was released in 2003 by JVC.
Ying Feng, 28, China

She was praised by the Washington Post for her masterful performance of the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto in winning second prize in the most recent Kapell Competition. Has performed widely as a soloist and chamber musician in China, Europe and the United States.
Grace Fong, 26, United States

The honors graduate of the University of Southern California and Cleveland Institute of Music has played with the Music Academy of the West Festival Orchestra, the Olympia Philharmonic Orchestra, Shreveport Symphony, Peninsula Symphony and Los Angeles Debut Orchestra. Named a Presidential Scholar in the Arts.
Davide Franceschetti, 28, Italy

This returning Cliburn participant snagged the best chamber music award and a jury award in the 2001 contest. The year before he won the silver medal at the Leeds Competition. Performances in the United States and Europe include his debut in Berlin in 2003 doing Brahms' Piano Concerto No 2.
Alexei Grynyuk, 27, Ukraine

He gave performances of the Chopin E Minor and Mozart D Minor concertos with Ukrainian orchestras at age 13. Won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music, where he graduated with honors. He's appeared in several international music festivals, including the Chopin in Poland and the Newport in New York.
Chu-Fang Huang, 22, China

She began piano study at age 7. In 1997 she was honored for special achievement in interpreting Chinese modern music at the Southeastern Asia Piano Competition in Hong Kong. Her U.S. debut recital, in 1998, was recorded under the Alpine label. She's pursuing a master's degree at Juilliard.
Mariya Kim, 23, Ukraine

First-prize winner in the 2002 International Piano Competition in Patras, Greece, she has performed with orchestras in Ukraine, Russia, Poland, Germany, France, Italy, Austria, Holland, Greece, Turkey, Malaysia and the United States. Alexander Kobrin, 25, Russia

His competition wins include the Scottish International in 1998 and the Busoni in 1999. Has performed in solo and with orchestras in Italy, Britain, France, Austria, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Iceland, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Hungary and Israel. Has recorded on CD and has appeared on radio and television.
Marina Kolomiytseva, 25, Russia

At the piano since age 4, she won first prize at the 2000 Sydney International Piano Competition in Australia. Has played solo recitals and concerts in Germany, Russia, Australia and America. Pursuing a doctorate at the Moscow Conservatorium.
Alexey Koltakov, 26, Australia

This Ukrainian finalist in the 2001 Cliburn became an Australian citizen in 2003. Extensive performance dates include music festivals in Baden-Baden, Germany, and Colmar, France. Toured the United States three times as a teen-ager. Has performed several of Vladimir Horowitz's transcriptions and was instrumental in their publication. Played at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth last April with his wife, Katerina Makarova.
Soyeon Lee, 25, South Korea

Her showcase at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall yielded numerous performance prizes, including a Concert Artists Guild Commissioning Prize, which will result in a world premiere to be included in her recital on the CAG New York Concert series at Weill in March. Has played with the Cleveland Orchestra and London Symphony.
Ang Li, 20, Canada

She's appeared as soloist with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra playing Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1 and the Little Orchestra Society of New York in Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center. Gave a solo recital at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., as the first-prize winner of the Chiang Wen Yeh International Piano Competition. Has played in master classes led by Leon Fleisher, Claude Frank and Peter Frankl, among others.
Albert Mamriev, 30, Israel

He studied in Moscow and Tel Aviv. Soloist with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Haifa Philharmonic, Utah Symphony, Israel Chamber Orchestra and Mexico Symphony. Concert tours to the United States, Italy, Spain, South Africa, China, Germany, Russia, Ukraine, Portugal and Mexico.
Alicia Gabriela Martinez, 21, Venezuela

Her performances include dates with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Super World Orchestra, Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Longwood Symphony Orchestra, Venezuela Philharmonic Orchestra and Venezuela Symphonic Orchestra. Received the 2000 Governor Award of the Arts in New Jersey.
Maria Mazo, 22, Germany, Russia

At 13, she became the youngest prize winner of the "Arthur Rubinstein in memoriam" International Competition for Young Pianists in Poland. Has performed in Germany, Austria, Italy, Malta, Russia, the Netherlands, Britain and France.
Alexander Moutouzkine, 24, Russia

He received a jury award at the 2001 Cliburn and returned for dates with the Chamber Music Society of Fort Worth. Other performances include recitals in Paris, Barcelona, Hanover and Magdeburg, Germany, and New York City and a concert tour through Spain and the Canary Islands. Received a master's in piano performance from the Manhattan School of Music.
Esther Park, 20, United States

She's performed as a soloist with orchestras and in recitals across the United States as well as in Canada, Russia, Italy and Israel. She has participated in the TCU-Cliburn Piano Institute Young Artist Competition.
Roberto Plano, 26, Italy

He took first prize at the Cleveland International Piano Competition in 2001 and third laureate in the 2003 Honens International Piano Competition, where he was honored for best ensemble performance with cellist Shauna Rolston and soprano Ingrid Attrot. Has performed throughout North America, including at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center. Has two recordings, a CD of works by Chopin, Liszt and Scriabin on Italy's Sipario Dischi label, and a disc of Liszt on the Azica label. Appeared on National Public Radio's Performance Today.
Daria Rabotkina, 24, Russia

She received prizes in competitions such as the Young Virtuoso Competition in the Czech Republic, Tbilisi Competition in Georgia and Sendai Competition in Japan. Has performed in Russia, France, Switzerland, Germany and the United States, in venues ranging from Tchaikovsky Hall in Moscow to Davies in San Francisco.
Ilia Rashkovskiy, 20, Russia

He's been playing with orchestras since age 8. Took first prize at last year's Valsesia Musica International Competition in Italy. Plays regularly in Europe and Japan.
Elizabeth Joy Roe, 23, United States

She debuted with the Delaware Symphony Orchestra in March 2003, replacing John Browning on short notice in the Barber Concerto. Has soloed with the Milwaukee Symphony and Chamber orchestras and Lubbock Symphony Orchestra, among others. On full scholarship at Juilliard.
Rui Shi, 21, China

She was a top prize winner at the Stravinsky International Competition held in Illinois, then got a full scholarship for the pre-college program at Juilliard, where she continued her studies. Has performed at Lincoln Center and Steinway Hall in New York and in Connecticut, Philadelphia, Florida and Maine.
Rem Urasin, 29, Russia

He won the first Chopin International Piano competition for Young Pianists in Moscow and garnered awards at the 13th International Chopin Piano Competition (Warsaw, 1995) and Monte Carlo piano masters (Monaco, 2001). Has given recitals in Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Poland, Czech Republic, Taiwan and Japan.
Xiaohan Wang, 24, China

He was a finalist in the 2001 Cliburn Competition and since has played recitals in Arizona, California, Idaho, Minnesota, North Dakota and Oklahoma and appeared with orchestras in Iowa and Michigan. Has performed extensively throughout China and done recitals and given master classes in Germany, Japan and the United States.
Di Wu, 20, China

She was featured as a rising star, at age 10, by Japan Television NHK. A prize winner at numerous competitions, she gained acclaim for three concerts with the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C. Future engagements include a debut with the New York Pops in Carnegie Hall.
ChenXin Xu, 23, China

She was the first pianist in residence at Juilliard to be awarded a debut concert at Carnegie Hall with the Juilliard Orchestra under conductor Roger Norrington. Other engagements included the Aspen Concert Orchestra and Beijing Symphony Orchestra. Invited to perform for the Texas Conservatory for Young Artists in Plano in 2003.
Joyce Yang, 19, South Korea

She won the Philadelphia Orchestra's Albert M. Greenfield Student Competition in 1998, playing the Saint-Saëns Piano Concerto No. 2. That led to a performance of the Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 3 with the Philadelphia Orchestra at age 13. Has also played with the National Symphony Orchestra, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the Ravinia Festival Orchestra and the Long Island Philharmonic.
Andrius Zlabys, 28, Lithuania

A prize winner at the 2003 Cleveland International Piano Competition, he has appeared widely as a soloist and chamber player. Made his Carnegie Hall debut in 2001 with the New York Youth Symphony Orchestra. Has performed extensively with violinist Gidon Kremer, including recitals in Japan and China as well as Europe and South America.


Star power

Oscar winner Sir Anthony Hopkins will preside over the awards ceremony. Sir Anthony, whose screen roles have ranged from Quasimodo to Richard Nixon to, most famously, Hannibal "the Cannibal" Lecter, is an amateur pianist and composer. He's also a longtime fan of Mr. Cliburn and invited the pianist to a party at the 2002 USA Film Festival, where Sir Anthony was honored. That led to the invitation to host.

The jurors

These musicians and scholars will make the hard choices.

John Giordano, chairman of the jury, former music director of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra

Marcello Abbado, pianist, composer, vice president of the Verdi Orchestra in Milan, Italy

Peter Cossé, producer, lecturer, artistic adviser for the Ruhr Piano Festival in Germany

Richard Dyer, music critic of The Boston Globe

Claude Frank, pianist, faculties of Curtis Institute of Music and Yale School of Music

Thomas Frost, senior executive producer, Sony Classical

Zhou Guangren, Chinese pianist, editor, faculty member of Central Conservatory of Music, Beijing

Joseph Kalichstein, pianist

Jürgen Meyer-Josten, pianist, former head of Bavarian Radio in Germany

Menahem Pressler, pianist, co-founder of the Beaux Arts Trio

Tadeusz Strugala, Polish conductor, permanent guest conductor of Prague Symphony Orchestra
Repertory

Competitors are free to pick their own repertory, with a limited selection for the chamber music and concerto rounds. But all semifinalists must perform one of five new American compositions to be selected by a jury in advance (March 22). Each composer whose work is performed will received a cash award, and the piece performed by the most semifinalists will receive a grand prize.
The schedule

Preliminaries, May 20-24

Each of 35 competitors will play a 50-minute solo program.

Semifinals, May 26-29

Each of 12 semifinalists will play a 60-minute solo program, including a new American work and a piano quintet by Brahms, Dvorák, Schumann or Franck.

Finals, June 1-5

Each of six finalists will play a 50-minute solo recital and two concertos with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. One concerto is to be from works by Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Mendelssohn or Saint-Saëns; the other is left to the pianist's choice.

Awards ceremony, June 5

Medals and other prizes will be announced.
New this year

The competition will present only two categories of medals. Up to four medals will be awarded, in any combination of gold and silver. Both gold and silver medals will carry $20,000 cash awards, concert management for three years and a compact disc recording on the Harmonia Mundi label. The last Cliburn, in 2001, was the first to dispense with the usual ranking of gold, silver and bronze medals; that year, two gold and two silver medals were awarded.

Also new will be a requirement that each finalist play a 50-minute solo recital. That's in addition to the two concertos each is expected to play with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra.
Return engagements

Conductor James Conlon, music director-designate of Chicago's Ravinia Festival, will return to lead the Fort Worth Symphony. The Takács Quartet also will return for the chamber-music part of the semifinals.

[Илья Блинов]

Сережа,

спасибо за информацию. Приятно знать, что же нынче ценно в игре на рояле.

Очень рекомендую обратить внимание на Jie Chen. А к словам я добавляю быка, убитого в прошлом году и не мною: Шуберт, соната G-dur, 1 часть, главная партия. Jie Chen.

Если кто-то заинтересуется, могу выложить сонату целиком.

[белочка]

Если кто-то заинтересуется, могу выложить сонату целиком.

Было бы интересно... .

[Александр Самойлов]

А можно где-то узнать программы конкурсантов?

[беглец с ноева ковчега]

Великий Йода предсказывает легкую и уверенную победу Рэму Урасину.

[Сергей]

А можно где-то узнать программы конкурсантов?

Пока вроде нигде нельзя.

Насчёт уверенной и лёгкой победы Рэма -- рано загадывать: возможно, выбор некоторых участников говорит о том, что в этом году организаторы хотят отдохнуть от русских лауреатов. Хотя, конечно, дай Рэму Бог удачи! Хоть он, мне кажется, и не близок типу "техасского лауреата"...