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I love the way Fujita smiles when he plays!

I have been following Fujita. Not the best for Fujita today.

Below my expectations so far.

I don't know if I've ever heard a Rach 3 where soloist and orchestra were so in sync. Also, Fujita was so comfortable with the concerto, all the textural balancing was superb and I can't think of one time he wasn't sympathetic to an orchestral solo. It was almost frightening!

A stark contrast to Kantarow who was very big, very exciting, but seemed like he might go off the rails in a few places while also falling out of sync with the orchestra from time to time.

I'd be curious to know how they sounded in hall.

There were a lot of good things about that performance, particularly in the Tchaikovsky. For me, it was the best of the Tchaikovsky 1sts (or maybe tied with Shishkin). It had a great dance feeling in the outer movements that none of the other performers really captured, and the second movement was lovely. The Rachmaninoff was a little light and I would have liked a bigger sound in some places, but that's what I sort of expected after his seminal round. Awesome fingers and an overall beautiful tone quality throughout.

Kantorow is still the best by far, though. I rewatched it again last night and liked it even more.

Another observation: everyone is absolutely fantastic at playing with the orchestra (and Fujita was spot on the whole time in this respect). This is sort of what undid Debargue last time, but you can tell that everyone playing here has done this many times before.

I enjoy Fujita's clarity, warmth, and ease. The Rachmaninoff 3rd seemed TOO easy, which might work against him. Personally, that kind of playing is my cup of tea, though.

I'm having a sinking feeling that the aggregate jury decision will be something (out of left field) like:

1. Melnikov
Tie 2a. Shiskin, 2b. Emelyanov
Tie 3a. Kantorow, 3b. Broberg
4. Fujita
5. An

Let's hope Broberg kills. 😁

What happened there?

Broberg is killing it right now.

Well that was fun!

Bravo Broberg. Really, there's not much more to say.


I'd be happiest with

1. Broberg
2. Kantorow
3. Shishkin
4. Fujita

Very difficult decision. My earlier (worst case) prediction wouldn't surprise me. 😆 I hope we don't get a bunch of shared medals, and the case of those coming in 3rd and 4th being the best.

I don't see how there can't be ties like last time, so here's my purely uneducated guess:

1. Kantorow
2. Shishkin/Yemelyanov
3. Broberg/Melnikov
4. Fujita
5. An

Broberg was great, if a little interpretively strange at times. I felt that he made some decisions for the sake of doing something different from the other competitors as opposed to finding a real musical reason. Whatevs, it's the Tchaikovsky Competition and the level is already so high.

I think that’s actually a good decision. How many of the juries are really going to be listening with fresh ears the second time? It’s nice of Matsuev to make that offer but a second performance wouldn’t really level the competition but just to appease the competitor. Actually I think all the media firestorm and injustice is going to help An in his career much more. And there’s always the next competition (or other competitions) for someone that young and talented.

Nah, it worked! (I know what you mean. 😆)

Has the Tchaikovsky ever tied gold? They have a habit of tying silver with no gold awarded, I recall.

They have. Most famously John Ogdon and Ashkenazy in 1962. Also Krainev and Lill in 1970.

Silly me, that's right of course! I was hung up on recalling Eugene Fodor being "robbed" of a violin gold in 1974.

I agree with you on An's situation. Another crack might have backfired, and you really can't undo what happened. Best to respectfully decline and be (publically) gracious.

14 million views, wow. Announcement now.

6: none
5: none
4: An Tianxu and special prize for self confidence and bravery (?)
3: Melnikov, Broberg, Yemelyanov
2: Shishkin, Fujita
1: Kantorow

About right, IMO.

Hooray for Kantorow!!!