Since returning to the piano as an adult and through listening to lots of music, I have come to look forward to 'The Leeds' - the world-class Leeds International Piano Competition. The Leeds runs every 3 years, currently running for the 18th time. This year I decided to had along to one of the first round events - nicely coinciding with my birthday! Keyboard seats a must.
After lunch with a friend, M and I arrived at the Leeds University Great Hall in time to soak up a bit of atmosphere before the first competitor of the afternoon arrived on stage. Whilst all 5 competitors (in order: Drew Petersen, Rodolfo Leone, Peng Lin, Célia Oneto Bensaid and Gunyoung Hwang) were all very technically competent, it was interesting for the listening experience of hearing successive performers in the same room on the same instrument. Seated position, shoulders, feet, projection - lots of variables! Petersen had a very 'proper' posture and technique, but his pieces lacked what I can best describe as 'space' - especially compared to Leone, who had lots of 'space'. Lin lacked projection and Hwang was too forceful - not enough dynamic subtlety.
Our opinions matched on Leone and Oneto Bensaid as our favourites of the five - Leone's space and poise, plus Oneto Bensaid's clarity, power and attitude (the latter especially for her performance of Dutilleux's 'Choral et variations' from Sonata Op. 1).
The results of the First Round have been announced, and interestingly, whilst Leone progressed to the 2nd Stage, so did Petersen - and not Oneto Bensaid. I don't disagree with the choice of Petersen - he wasn't my (our) preferred pianist on the day but maybe he was just very nervous...
Having attended the event, I'm looking forward to hearing the results of the next round and to the broadcast events in September.
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