The second year of the Chopin International Piano Competition for period instruments began in Warsaw with a gala concert, the star of which was the 82-year-old Argentinian pianist Martha Argerich. The first was held in 2018, when Polish native Tomasz Ritter won. He also took part in the opening performance, during which the Polish Orkiestra historyczna was conducted by the Czech Václav Luks.
Naruhiko Kawaguchi from Japan, who performed a piece composed for the occasion by his compatriot Dai Fujikura, and Canada’s Bruce Liu also performed at the opening gala. In 2021, he won the last year of the world-famous Chopin Piano Competition.
As the AP writes, this race has been held every five years since 1927. Only recently was the current Chopin International Piano Competition for period instruments added to it as a separate part.
Czech listeners will soon recognize this year’s laureate, as shortly after the victory he will be accompanied twice by the baroque orchestra Collegium 1704 with conductor Václav Luks: the first time on Thursday, October 19, in Prague’s Rudolfinum, and the day after in Dresden’s Lukaskirche. One of Chopin’s concerts will be on the program both days. On Sunday, October 22, the laureates will have a separate recital in the Vzlet area in Vršovice.
The competition aims to popularize the music of the Polish composer Fryderyk Chopin on the instruments for which it was composed, and at the same time to help talented performers rise to prominence. Chopin was born in 1810 to a Polish mother and a French father in the village of Żelazowa Wola near Warsaw, but spent half of his life in Paris, where he also died in 1849 at the age of 39.
35 young pianists from Japan, China, Italy, Poland or Russia are taking part in this year’s competition. Those, according to Polish radio, had to condemn in advance in writing the Russian war in Ukraine, as well as all actions of the Kremlin in violation of international law.
American Derek Wang was the first competitor on Friday. All participants play period instruments from the 19th century or their replicas, constructed by the contemporary American builder of vintage pianos, Paul McNulty. The jury, whose member is Václav Luks, will present the winner on October 14.
