As a rather fitting and uplifting end to The Chetham's Festival and Summer School for Piano and Pianists, for the last 6 years they have also been running a piano concerto competition. The competition is open to any young person of any nationality under the age of 23, with a special award for the most inspiring and talented young pianist under the age of 16 who does not qualify for the semi-final round.
Both the semi-finals and the finals are performed live at Manchester's Stoller Hall, with the Manchester Camerata providing the orchestra and Stephen Threlfall conducting. This evening I was most fortunate to be in the audience to watch (and listen to) 3 of the six finalists performing their concertos in front of the judging panel.
We first heard Luca Grianti from Italy, at just 17 years old, give a masterly and passionate rendition of Beethoven's 3rd piano concerto. After this came 16 year old Ilya Lomtatidze from Georgia, and wowed audience and jury alike with his emotive and highly skilled interpretation of Rachmaninov's 2nd piano concerto. The third finalist to pick up the gauntlet this evening was Australian Caitlin Rinaldi, again just 16 years old, and again wowed with her lovely performance of Chopin's 1st piano concerto.
It was quite exhausting listening to three huge and extensive concertos played back to back as an audience member; therefore I did not envy the task the judges now had to find just one winner from not just these three, but also from three other finalists who played their concertos yesternight. It was not going to be easy. And so, whilst they went away to deliberate, we were entertianed with more music. And yes, another piano concerto. Again played by The Manchester Camerata under Stephen Threlfall, but this time, played by rising star Eric Lu. He chose Mozart's piano concerto no 23, and played with panache and elan.
The three finalists from yesterday which I did not see were; Oscar Collier (16) from France, Sunah Kim (18) from South Korea, and Noah Zhu (18) from The UK.
After Lu's well deserved applause and a short break, the audience reassembled to hear the judges' comments and see who would win the first prize of £1500. Joint second prize was awarded to Oscar Collier and Luca Grianti, whilst winning the first prize was Georgian wunderkind Ilya Lomtatidze.
It was a huge privilege to be in the audience of such a wonderful event, and see such incredible young talent. I feel sure all of these pianists will go on to forge profitable and interesting careers as they develop their talents further. It was also a superb ending to a fortnight of incredible concerts, recitals and masterclasses given by some of the world's leading concert pianists. So incredibly intense but extremely fulfilling and thrilling to experience this on one's own doorstep. Such a privelege, and I am already looking forward to August 2020!
Congratulations to all the semi- and finalists. It must have been such a great experience for all of them too to have had the opportunity of performing in the Stoller Hall. Thank you, and wishing them all much success and happiness in the future.
Reportage - Matthew Dougall
on - 26/8/19
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