The International Tchaikovsky Competition is one of the most prestigious musical contests in the world. Founded in Moscow in 1958, it began with just two disciplines, piano and violin. The winner of the piano competition, the 23 year-old Texan by the name of Van Cliburn, became an overnight sensation and the darling of both the Russian and American public. This summer in Moscow he presided as the honorary Chairman of the piano jury, still adored by the older generation of the competition’s regulars. In 1962 the cello was added, and four years later, the voice competition rounded out the expanded list of musical fields. Among the winners were such outstanding musicians as pianists Vladimir Ashkenazi, John Ogdon, Vladimir Krainev, and Mikhail Pletnev; violinists Viktor Tretiakov, Gidon Kremer; cellists Natalia Shakhovskaya and David Geringas, sopranos Elena Obraztsova and Deborah Voight. And of course during its more than fifty year history, the competition has had its share ups and downs as well as controversies.
The recently completed 14th edition of the competition had an unusual format. Due to the ongoing renovations of the Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatory, it was decided that the competition would be split between two cities: the pianists and cellists would play in Moscow, while St.-Petersburg would host the violinists and vocalists. Valery Gergiev was the chairman; realizing that in recent years the Tchaikovsky’s reputation was somewhat sagging, he attempted to improve the quality and reputation of the jury panels by inviting the best musicians. It seems that to a large extent he succeeded. The piano jury included such luminaries as Vladimir Ashkenazy and Yefim Bronfman (both judged only the final round), Peter Donohoe and Dmitri Alexeev. Among the violinists were Anne-Sophie Mutter, Leonidas Kavakos and Maxim Vengerov. Renata Scotto, Ileana Cotrubas, and Olga Borodina were on the vocalists’ jury.
Among the pianists the winner was Daniil Trifonov (Russia), Narek Hakhnazaryan (Armenia) won the cello competition, the first prize in the violin competition was not awarded, and two South Koreans, Sun Young Seo, soprano and Jong Min Park, bass, won among the vocalists. The 14th Competition had its share of controversies. One of the public’s favorites, the pianist Alexander Lubyantsev was eliminated after the second round. The conductor Mark Gorenstein drew a lot of unwanted attention when he made derogatory remarks about the cellist Narek Hakhnazaryan during the orchestral rehearsals before the final round. Unbeknownst to Gorenstein the rehearsal was being recorded and broadcast on Internet (these innovative broadcasts were a welcome addition to the competition). The video went viral; Gorenstein apologized and withdrew “due to illness.”
We’re very proud that two of the winners, Daniil Trifonov and Narek Hakhnazaryan are represented in our library. You can listen to Daniil playing Chopin’s Barcarolle in F-sharp Major, Op. 60 here. Narek’s interpretation of Claude Debussy’s Sonata for Cello and Piano can be heard here. He’s accompanied by the pianist Roman Rabinovich.
July 11, 2011
The International Tchaikovsky Competition is one of the most prestigious musical contests in the world. Founded in Moscow in 1958, it began with just two disciplines, piano and violin. The winner of the piano competition, the 23 year-old Texan by the name of Van Cliburn, became an overnight sensation and the darling of both the Russian and American public. This summer in Moscow he presided as the honorary Chairman of the piano jury, still adored by the older generation of the competition’s regulars. In 1962 the cello was added, and four years later, the voice competition rounded out the expanded list of musical fields. Among the winners were such outstanding musicians as pianists Vladimir Ashkenazi, John Ogdon, Vladimir Krainev, and Mikhail Pletnev; violinists Viktor Tretiakov, Gidon Kremer; cellists Natalia Shakhovskaya and David Geringas, sopranos Elena Obraztsova and Deborah Voight. And of course during its more than fifty year history, the competition has had its share ups and downs as well as controversies.
The recently completed 14th edition of the competition had an unusual format. Due to the ongoing renovations of the Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatory, it was decided that the competition would be split between two cities: the pianists and cellists would play in Moscow, while St.-Petersburg would host the violinists and vocalists. Valery Gergiev was the chairman; realizing that in recent years the Tchaikovsky’s reputation was somewhat sagging, he attempted to improve the quality and reputation of the jury panels by inviting the best musicians. It seems that to a large extent he succeeded. The piano jury included such luminaries as Vladimir Ashkenazy and Yefim Bronfman (both judged only the final round), Peter Donohoe and Dmitri Alexeev. Among the violinists were Anne-Sophie Mutter, Leonidas Kavakos and Maxim Vengerov. Renata Scotto, Ileana Cotrubas, and Olga Borodina were on the vocalists’ jury.
Among the pianists the winner was Daniil Trifonov (Russia), Narek Hakhnazaryan (Armenia) won the cello competition, the first prize in the violin competition was not awarded, and two South Koreans, Sun Young Seo, soprano and Jong Min Park, bass, won among the vocalists. The 14th Competition had its share of controversies. One of the public’s favorites, the pianist Alexander Lubyantsev was eliminated after the second round. The conductor Mark Gorenstein drew a lot of unwanted attention when he made derogatory remarks about the cellist Narek Hakhnazaryan during the orchestral rehearsals before the final round. Unbeknownst to Gorenstein the rehearsal was being recorded and broadcast on Internet (these innovative broadcasts were a welcome addition to the competition). The video went viral; Gorenstein apologized and withdrew “due to illness.”
We’re very proud that two of the winners, Daniil Trifonov and Narek Hakhnazaryan are represented in our library. You can listen to Daniil playing Chopin’s Barcarolle in F-sharp Major, Op. 60 here. Narek’s interpretation of Claude Debussy’s Sonata for Cello and Piano can be heard here. He’s accompanied by the pianist Roman Rabinovich.