Behind the scenes notes. 10th day

On Sunday – on the last day of Stage II of the Competition – we listened to 10 performances by pianists from Poland, China, Japan, the United States and Italy.

The first to play was Yehuda Prokopowicz, of Poland, who added four mazurkas to the obligatory program. ‘I love the mazurkas. Among Chopin’s works they are closest to my heart. They are the essence of his soul, even though they are so very short.’ He unbosomed he did not sleep or rest well the night before the performance, but once on stage, he was alert. Just like in the first round, he took a look toward the audience and toward the Jury, before playing. He insisted later it was just to take in the beauty of the hall.

Hao Rao of China said he was tired but also ‘very happy’ after the performance, in which he included the Barcarole and the Andante Spianato and Grand Polonaise brillante, Op. 22. To him these works have a lot of energy. He also played six preludes and Scherzo in C sharp minor, Op. 39.   

Late in the evening we heard the names of the 20 pianists admitted to the next round. The group includes six pianists from China, two from Canada, one from Georgia, three from Japan, two brothers from South Korea, one pianist from Malaysia, three from Poland and two from the United States.

Monday is a day of rest and Stage III auditions begin Tuesday morning. The obligatory program includes one of the two sonatas (B flat minor or B minor) and a full mazurka opus. Additionally, pianists can choose any piece by Chopin, so the recital lasted from 45 to 55 minutes.

Monika Ścisłowska-Sakowicz