2019 Tchaikovsky Piano Competition

[Rach3]

It's Kantorow!! The Frenchman. A shock win.

Perhaps unexpected in general, but not a surprise for me for this particular French pianist. See my Tuesday post here, and do hear his 2 concertos.

[Rach3]

This “tragedy” of course will raise the “ what if “ question and cast a pall over the results:

http://tinyurl.com/y3252q6d ( I converted to Tiny Url to obscure Lebrecht’s vulgarity.)

https://tch16.medici.tv/en/replay/#filt ... -an-tianxu

An is visibly terrified.Can you imagine having to change from PIT # 1 to Rach Rhapsody in about 10 secs ??!! They should have rescheduled an extra day, but Russia cant afford the cost. Russia is much better at corrupting the Trump family.

[Belle]

This “tragedy” of course will raise the “ what if “ question and cast a pall over the results:

http://tinyurl.com/y3252q6d ( I converted to Tiny Url to obscure Lebrecht’s vulgarity.)

https://tch16.medici.tv/en/replay/#filt ... -an-tianxu

An is visibly terrified.Can you imagine having to change from PIT # 1 to Rach Rhapsody in about 10 secs ??!! They should have rescheduled an extra day, but Russia cant afford the cost. Russia is much better at corrupting the Trump family.

I felt for the guy, I really did. It was just awful. I wonder what role the conductor played in this fiasco? All that hard work, sweat and stress for that to happen to the Chinese competitor. There really wasn't that much between the top contenders, after all. We had trouble with the Sydney International Piano Competition one year when the wrong first place award was announced!! A lot of side-stepping, apologies and red faces.

I think competitors need to be prepared for any and all contingencies!!

[Lance]

Victor Schiøler* was a favourite of mine, from Denmark … seems quite forgotten today. According to Wiki: "Victor Schiøler was born, and died, in Copenhagen. He studied with his mother, then with Ignaz Friedman and Artur Schnabel. He made his debut on 23 January 1914 in Copenhagen and from 1919 toured Europe. He made his first American tour after the war in 1948-49. He was also active as a conductor in Denmark. He recorded for Danacord and RCA Victor."

The luck of the draw, I guess. Certainly there have been quite a few outstanding Scandinavian pianists, such as Gunnar Johansen (Denmark) and Leif Ove Andsnes (Norway). Neither of them entered any competitions; they didn't need to, having successfully launched their careers in their 20s.

[John F]

Schiøler was another Scandinavian pianist who never entered a competition. I know the name and must have heard at least one of his recordings long ago but I remember nothing about it.

[Rach3]

A recent solo recital by winner Kantorow if interested:

Rachmaninoff Sonata #1, Brahms Sonata # 2 , " Firebird ", Faure :

https://www.nporadio4.nl/concerten/9151 ... e-kantorow

[maestrob]

A recent solo recital by winner Kantorow if interested:

Rachmaninoff Sonata #1, Brahms Sonata # 2 , " Firebird ", Faure :

https://www.nporadio4.nl/concerten/9151 ... e-kantorow

This is an excellent recital. I understand why the panel chose him, even though I wasn't able to follow the details of the competition. Kantarow has what it takes. Besides an outstanding technique, he has a depth of feeling and musical inflection that were equally effective in both Rachmaninoff and Brahms, even though Brahms II is not my favorite piece. Congratulations to the winner: he doesn't have many recordings yet, but I will now follow this excellent pianist in the future.

Thanks for posting this!

[Rach3]

Shiraz? I don't actually drink more than the occasional Chardonnay, to be honest.

" I cook with wine, sometimes I even add it to the food." W. C. Fields

[Belle]

Shiraz? I don't actually drink more than the occasional Chardonnay, to be honest.

" I cook with wine, sometimes I even add it to the food." W. C. Fields

Absolute gold!!!

I've watch the Kantorov performances now and I was deeply impressed with the "Firebird" transcription in the semi-finals. What a composer Stravinsky was!! I think the case for piano transcriptions has been more than made; we get to hear the DNA of the music with more clarity when it is 'drilled down' and reduced to essential elements.

[maestrob]

Shiraz? I don't actually drink more than the occasional Chardonnay, to be honest.

" I cook with wine, sometimes I even add it to the food." W. C. Fields

Absolute gold!!!

I've watch the Kantorov performances now and I was deeply impressed with the "Firebird" transcription in the semi-finals. What a composer Stravinsky was!! I think the case for piano transcriptions has been more than made; we get to hear the DNA of the music with more clarity when it is 'drilled down' and reduced to essential elements.

Rach3:

Belle: Kantarow played the Firebird in the recital posted here from French radio as well: I too was very impressed by his performance. He's got "it" in spades methinks!

[Rach3]

Kantorow 3 years ago in a guilty pleasure of mine, the Saint-Saens PC # 5, an uncommon sensitivity and depth in his reading, especially at his age :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y23f_fCSTo ( video )

Orchestre de Chambre Nouvelle Europe
Nicolas Krauze, conductor

Live concert in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, October 2016

A new BIS cd I may have to consider since # 3 is wonderful and # 4 may be my fav S-S PC of all:

https://bis.se/performers/kantorow-alex ... os-nos-3-5

[Belle]

He's impressive, certainly. I also admired Emelyanov and think he has the poise and talent for a successful career - which I'm sure he'll have.

[Rach3]

I also admired Emelyanov and think he has the poise and talent for a successful career - which I'm sure he'll have.

Agreed.Yemelyanov was my choice, even after his concertos, until I heard Kantorow's concertos.

[Rach3]

Bit more of Kantorow ,from 2016,2017,2019:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-90ysgiG28 (Brahms,Waltz,Op.39,# 15 )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUtA5jlpGjw ( Saint-Saens/Liszt/Horowitz “Danse Macabre” )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxVybstjvzU (Brahms,Rhapsody,Op.79,# 1 )

[Belle]

That Brahms always brings tears. I don't know why. Perhaps because I just love the composer so very much. Kantorow gives an excellent account of it.

[Rach3]

That Brahms always brings me to tears. I don't know why. Perhaps because I just love the composer so very much. Kantorow gives an excellent account of it.

Agree with you on Brahms.Here is one that does it for me, the slow mov. of his 3rd Piano Sonata played live by Wilhelm Kempff in London,QEH,1969,a recital Alfred Brendel attended, said Kempff's playing " miraculous" that night,from the BBC Legends cd I highly recommend.Cd also includes Schumann's " Papillons" and Op.17 Fantasy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTK244TP1Sg ( Complete 3rd sonata, slow mov. starts about 7:00 in. )

[John F]

Kantorow's Brahms concerto is certainly a good performance, more mature than his 22 years. That said, I think the first movement needs more backbone, meaning less rubato which Kantorow does too much, as if to show what a sensitive musician he is. Richter and Serkin are more to my taste. But he is a sensitive musician, and in Liszt (he's already recorded the concertos for BIS) I'm sure he is excellent.

[Rach3]

Kantorow's Brahms concerto is certainly a good performance, more mature than his 22 years. That said, I think the first movement needs more backbone,

I tend to agree with you as to about the first 1/3 of that mov., but he picked up the pace for the rest of that mov. Perhaps he intentionally wanted to create more contrast as the mov. progressed. I'm also fond of the Gilels/Reiner 1958 recording.Kantorow has also just released on BIS cd the Saint-Saens PC's Nos.3 -5.His playing of # 5 live in 2016 is on YT , and I thought quite well done, fww.

[Belle]

That Brahms always brings me to tears. I don't know why. Perhaps because I just love the composer so very much. Kantorow gives an excellent account of it.

Agree with you on Brahms.Here is one that does it for me, the slow mov. of his 3rd Piano Sonata played live by Wilhelm Kempff in London,QEH,1969,a recital Alfred Brendel attended, said Kempff's playing " miraculous" that night,from the BBC Legends cd I highly recommend.Cd also includes Schumann's " Papillons" and Op.17 Fantasy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTK244TP1Sg ( Complete 3rd sonata, slow mov. starts about 7:00 in. )

Absolutely lovely; I do not know that Sonata by Brahms! And the magnificent piano sound of Kempff's instrument. It rings like bells. I have his complete Schubert and the piano sound is exactly the same. I'm wondering if it was his own instrument.

[Rach3]

Absolutely lovely; I do not know that Sonata by Brahms!

Check out also similar moments in some of his late piano works ( Opa.116-119 ) and late clarinet works, if not familiar with those .

[John F]

Wilhelm Kempff recorded Brahms's late piano music twice, for Decca in the '50s and DG in the '60s. This is from the DG recording:



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9U4KSiqV3s

[Belle]

Absolutely lovely; I do not know that Sonata by Brahms!

Check out also similar moments in some of his late piano works ( Opa.116-119 ) and late clarinet works, if not familiar with those .

I have recordings of these. I do not really know the piano sonatas as I have never really thought these were up to the standard of Brahms's other works.

[Rach3]

I do not really know the piano sonatas as I have never really thought these were up to the standard of Brahms's other works.

I came very late to the sonatas, but glad I did. The 3rd,Op.5 , is wonderful, as is the 1st ,Op.1. The 2nd , Op.2, is crazy ,but worth a hear ( 2019 Tchaikovsky Competition winner Kantorow played the 2nd at his semi-final solo recital). I can recommend Richter's 1982 (1987 ? ) studio recording of the 1st and 2nd done in Italy, I believe on Decca ( London ). I think it is at YT. The Op.4 Scherzo is another early must hear, as is the Op.9 Schumann Variations.Of course, the Op.8 Piano Trio.

[Belle]

I do not really know the piano sonatas as I have never really thought these were up to the standard of Brahms's other works.

I came very late to the sonatas, but glad I did. The 3rd,Op.5 , is wonderful, as is the 1st ,Op.1. The 2nd , Op.2, is crazy ,but worth a hear ( 2019 Tchaikovsky Competition winner Kantorow played the 2nd at his semi-final solo recital). I can recommend Richter's 1982 (1987 ? ) studio recording of the 1st and 2nd done in Italy, I believe on Decca ( London ). I think it is at YT. The Op.4 Scherzo is another early must hear, as is the Op.9 Schumann Variations.Of course, the Op.8 Piano Trio.

Ok, will give these a go.

[maestrob]

Agree about the Richter recording of Brahms Sonatas I & II. They are decidedly not Brahms at his best, but there are moments in each that are worth hearing. III, OTOH, is a gem from start to finish: it's in a class by itself, far above the other two, and is often played and recorded. Murray Perahia has recorded it, and his reading stands out for me as one of the best.