About the X edition of the Chopin Competition

During the period of political change that was arising in Poland in 1980, the Chopin Competition gave Poles a rare opportunity to escape the worries of everyday reality. The 10th Competition enjoyed huge interest: a record number of 149 pianists from 36 countries took part. The largest contingents were from Japan and the United States. This time, only three pianists came from the Soviet Union. Vietnam was represented by just a single artist, but it was he who came out on top. Dang Thai Son also received the prizes for the best performance of mazurkas (equal with Ewa Pobłocka), polonaise (together with Tatiana Shebanova) and concerto (also tied with Shebanova). It is worth emphasising that in the finale Dang Thai Son was playing with an orchestra for the first time in his life. The Russian pianists were also of a high standard: Tatiana Shebanova was runner-up, Arutyan Papazyan fourth and Irina Petrova sixth. The opening of the competition was inaugurated with a performance by Martha Argerich and a Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Kazimierz Kord.

Shockwaves were felt around the world over the frictions within the jury. After the first round, Louis Kentner left the jury, appalled at the fact that none of his pupils had qualified for the next round; then after the third round, Martha Argerich quit, unable to reconcile herself to the elimination of Ivo Pogorelich.
Immediately after the Competition commenced – on 4 October – the initiator of the competition, and long-serving member of the jury, Jerzy Żurawlew died. The jurors paid tribute to the professor at Ostrogski Castle, where his coffin was displayed.