Tenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition (1998) Igor Stravinsky Four Études, Op.7
Johannes Brahms Sonata in C Major, Op.1.
Frederic Chopin Andante Spianato and Grande Polonaise in E-flat major, Op.22
William Bolcom (b.1938) Nine Bagatelles
(Commissioned specially for the competition) JON NAKAMATSU piano (Gold Medallist) HARMONIA MUNDI HMU 907218
[62'32"] full-price by Johann D'Souza INKTRODUCTION. It is not uncommon for Americans to give ticker-tape parades to homecoming winning basketball teams like the Chicago Bulls or Olympic medallists; but for a pianist- that's practically unheard of. Well, that is exactly what happened to Van Cliburn, the tall Texan, when he won the First (ever) Tchaikovsky Piano Competition in Moscow in 1958. A virtual unknown on Russian soil, he was soon to be the favourite going into the finals. The Russians were shocked but not surprised for Cliburn possessed charm, charisma, stature and not forgetting good technique. Practically every major classical recording star has won a major competition, Martha Argerich - the Chopin Competition; Vladimir Ashkenazy - 2nd Tchaikovsky Competition 1962; Murray Perahia - Leeds Piano Competition; Kristian Zimmerman - Chopin Competition and the list goes on and on. In fact it is now a great belief that one needs a major competition to bolster one's career. Major competitions like the Leeds, the Arthur Rubinstein Competition, Tchaikovsky and Chopin Competitions give the winners major career breakthroughs, with engagements at various major halls and festivals, recording contracts with major labels like DG, EMI or Teldec (who can normally afford the crème de la crème). Past winners of the Van Cliburn competition in recent years have included Jose Fenghali and Alexei Sultanov. | |
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