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Any interest in the recently concluded Warsaw Chopin Competition?
Posted by Chris from Lafayette on October 22, 2025, 8:51 pm
Although videos of all the performances are available on both Youtube and the Chopin Competition site itself, I've so far been unable to watch and listen to enough of them to decide which pianist I would favor. I did hear some of first-prize winner Eric Lu's performances, and I'm not sure he was the best choice, compared to some past winners of the Competition. Did anyone else follow this year's competition more closely than I did? And did you agree with the jury's decisions?
Re: Any interest in the recently concluded Warsaw Chopin Competition?
I listened to most of the last stage and while I enjoyed his performances, I didn't think Lu was the best either. I'm also shocked David Khrikuli didn't even place in the top six. I expected him to be in the top three.
The favorite performance of those I heard was 16-year old Tianyao Lyu's Op. 11 concerto.
That said, none of the 2025 performances moved me as much as some of Kate Liu's performances in the 2015 competition, link below. I thought she was the winner there, but she placed fourth, IIRC. I often replay her Andante Spianato from that competition, link below. It's a performance I'd love to be hearing on my deathbed, but hopefully not soon! :)
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Although videos of all the performances are available on both Youtube and the Chopin Competition site itself, I've so far been unable to watch and listen to enough of them to decide which pianist I would favor. I did hear some of first-prize winner Eric Lu's performances, and I'm not sure he was the best choice, compared to some past winners of the Competition. Did anyone else follow this year's competition more closely than I did? And did you agree with the jury's decisions?
OMG! I couldn't agree more about Kate Liu's 2015 Chopin Competition performances! Miraculous is the term for them! And the reason Kate was robbed of her first-place finish is because of the low scores she was given by Martha Argerich and a Japanese judge that year (I forget her name now) whose scoring was always right in line with Martha's. Darn you, Martha! ;-)
In this year's Competition, it's interesting that Tianyao Lyu was reportedly the only pianist besides Eric Lu to play on a Faz. I still haven't heard her performances yet. I haven't yet heard Khrikuli's Chopin Competition performances either, but, earlier this year, both Ms. CfL and I thought he played extremely well at the Cliburn Competition, although we both understood why the Gold Medal in that Competition was awarded to Aristo Sham - the guy who, seemingly, is incapable of hitting a wrong note! (Well, almost!)
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I listened to most of the last stage and while I enjoyed his performances, I didn't think Lu was the best either. I'm also shocked David Khrikuli didn't even place in the top six. I expected him to be in the top three.
The favorite performance of those I heard was 16-year old Tianyao Lyu's Op. 11 concerto.
That said, none of the 2025 performances moved me as much as some of Kate Liu's performances in the 2015 competition, link below. I thought she was the winner there, but she placed fourth, IIRC. I often replay her Andante Spianato from that competition, link below. It's a performance I'd love to be hearing on my deathbed, but hopefully not soon! :)
Previous Message