Leeds International Piano Competition

[Wowbagger]

The finals are on now. There's a young Croatian guy playing Mozart's 24th concerto at the moment.

[Wowbagger]

I have just learned that Fanny Waterman, the founder of this competition, is still alive. She was born in 1920. I had assumed that she had died years ago. She's going to be interviewed during the event at some stage.

[De Sisti]

Who won? There hasn't been a British winner since the early 1970s?

[Wowbagger]

The final goes on this evening. There were 3 concertos last night - Mozart, Prokofiev & Beethoven no. 1. Two more competitors this evening. 6.30 to 10pm.

Edit: the Beethoven is an interesting choice. I don't think it is all that hard - I have a score of it and I can play quite a bit of it. I'm not good enough to know what they are looking for, but for technical difficulty I reckon it's the easiest of the 5 concertos on offer.

[Wowbagger]

Xinyuang Wang playing Schumann, and Eric Lu playing Beethoven's 4th tonight. I have tickets to see the Hallé in action again for the latter, at the Bridgewater Hall on December. I know buggerall about acoustics in concert halls, but I read somewhere that the Sydney Opera House bosses were mightily pissed off when the Bridgewater Hall opened as it is now the world's top concert hall in terms of acoustics, pushing the SOH into 2nd place.

I went to the old Free Trade Hall many years ago (about 45 I think) for some concerts when I was a student, but I haven't yet darkened the Bridgewater Hall's doors.

[andrewc]

It's OK , not as pretty as Liverpool's Philharmonic Hall though       I'd go more often if not for the extortionate cost of a return ticket to Manchester. 

[Wowbagger]

I wonder if it sticks in the craw rather that the Leeds International Piano Competition have to go to Manchester for their orchestra rahter than having one good enough produced locally?

[Wowbagger]

The pundits are talking up the two Beethoven performances at the moment, with an edge given to Eric Lu. He is the youngest of the 5 finalists.

[Wowbagger]

And they are right!

[andrewc]

He’s playing with the RLPO on Thursday, I have a ticket.  The 2nd & 3rd place players are also giving performances, but at lunchtime, so I can’t see them.

[andrewc]

All the performances are available to watch here https://leedspiano2018.medici.tv/replay/