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Wow, is that all of the Italian participants? That county slays it, per capita.

As predicted, all of the previous competitors made it through.

There are some surprises... I think we are missing few names here and few shouldn't be here. Thankfully jury is big and full of specialists, with different views on how the music should be played, so this somehow makes things equal and minimises chances of random choices.

I miss Swigut, Goranko and Jiji Joji Zhao.

Also bit surprised by seeing Adam Kaldunski, as he has the same issue which I he had like two years ago when I heard him live playing 1st Rach Concerto. He does not have enough power to play big forms (like heavy concertos, 4th Ballade etc) and it was missing in his performance here as well. He I'd quite good though unless needs to play loud and fast.

Swigut is a big surprise for me!

Tuesday was a bit wild with Yasko's slip. Not sure if the person who followed her, Andrey Zenin, was in any way affected by that backstage. I thought Zenin did quite well until the D-Flat section of the F Min Ballade and had a bad slip, which he recovered OK. The last person to play that day, Federico Gad Crema, also had a bad slip too towards the end of the Fantasy. Both looked despondent leaving the stage, but one will go on.

Yes, also quite surprised.

Lots of people have been mentioning her. I totally get the refinement/storytelling/musicality, but she honestly seemed cautious to me compared to some of the others. Looking ahead to the rest of the competition, I'm not sure if she could keep up with the strenuous repertoire demands, especially in the concerto round. The potential is there, though.

Watched Yasuko's recital and was blown away by the Fantasy - that's clearly what passed her.

Very happy about the Italians - Leonora Armellini in particular. She was beaming after her performance, and rightly so. I heard Alberto Ferro in recital before and he's a professional, too. I'm not sure about Michelle Candotti.

I dont think it is per se that she is cautious, but her style is more toward intimacy rather than a more powerful, assertive style. It is a general trend currently to favor a more "muscular" Chopin a la Listz. Not sure she has the same techical level as some others, so the jury always makes certain choices. Nehring performance was very average with little personality, so he certainly benefited from his reputation. Thats competition.

That said, and I did not listen to all the participants, but to me this year is musically speaking "inferior" to previous sessions. The pianists are technically very gifted and solid, but I have not seen yet personalities. We will see how Osokins and Khozyainov do in the next round.

I see what you mean and agree that Nehring shouldn't have been passed if it weren't for his previous experience with this competition (and the Rubinstein). Comparing those two, she was more worthy.

And yes, there's not a ton of personality aside from some extremely solid playing from most. I'd actually say that Cateen (Sumino) keeps me coming back to his recital and I find new things to enjoy each time (or maybe it was just a matter of time before we had an influencer participate in international competitions). Osokins was being eccentric for the sake of being eccentric, IMO. In lieu of personality, I still like the style of the Italian participants the most, plus Hao Rao and Sorita.

I am glad that some favorite of mine who seemed not so popular made it through, such as Nguyen, Ozel, Ferro, and Choi. I am sad both Goranko and Pierdomenico did not make it through. After Stage I, I am mostly rooting for Chang. Gadjiev, Osokins, Su Yeon Kim, Sawada, Wu, Choi, and Khozyainov.

The program for stage II has been posted already. Besides the addition of some of the Impromptus by Nehring, Ozel, and Pacholec, and Nehring an Nguyen adding a prelude to the mix, some other interesting program additions include:

- Wiercinsky is playing the Op. 12 - Variations in B flat major on a theme by Ludovic
- Armellini is playing the sostenuto in E flat
- Chang program is very interesting. He is playing the Trois Nouvelles Etudes and also the Op. 1
- Chen is playing the B flat minor sonata, together with the Barcarolle, a Waltz and a polonaise. I do not know how he will fit everything in 40 minutes.
- Choi and Gadjiev are adding the Prelude op. 45
- Khozyainov is adding the Fugue in A minor Op post
- Lee is also adding the B flat minor sonata (so it is possible it seems)
- The Rondo a la Mazur was also chosen by a couple, including Mun, Sumino, and Sorita.

I have the impression Nehring's program is missing one of the required pieces. He only has Op. 61 and a Waltz. Is he not missing a second polonaise?

^ Yes, Arsenii Mun will be the first.

(The Competition rules mention the letter-drawing - the only one - at Section X-2.)

Turn-Table,
Thank you. It makes sense.

Arseni Mun has a very clean and sterile playing and a solid technique.

I wish he had played on the Steinway instead of the Yamaha. Steinway immediately makes the pianist sound more professional.

I'm curious what you think about today's performance of Szymon Nehring's. I feel he opened much more than in the first stage and it was a really solid performance with lots of nuance and structure, but somehow he can't captivate me emotionally in this competition.

I liked Nehring’s Polonaise-Fantasy and the Impromptu.
He could have played the op.22 gentler.

I didn't likes his Impromptu. It was just missing something. Rest was IMO level above, but like Arseni Mun better. Also the participant after Nehring, he was very individual, his Poloinase was very good and individual, but still in style.

Watching the evening session live now - Sawada is struggling...



You're welcome.

It seems to me that consistency will be of great importance going further. After what I've heard up till now in today's session, candidates often either performed drastically better than in the previous round or the exact opposite. Those who will keep the composure throughout will become favourites.

I'm sad for Sawada, as I loved his performance interpretation-wise, but he struggled to execute.

I am sad for Sawada too. I was really looking forward to his recital today but he struggled quite a bit
I was very surprised with Pacholec, who I did not connect with in the first stage. He was very strong today. Loved his Waltzes and Polonaise. I enjoyed a lot Osokins performance, although I do not think he was too happy with his heroic Polonaise. He missed more than expected. Loved Ozel as well, I hope it is enough for he to move on.

I personally did not feel much connection with Nehring's playing as it also happened after Stage 1. His Impromptu in particular I did not like much. Looking forward to Sorita and Smith later today.

Sorita is just exquisite. On another level than the others in the evening session. His Rondo was lovely.

They are tinkering with the volume/microphones in the livestream for some reason. During Shindo's performance you could hear someone (not her, I don't think) wheezing loudly throughout. Shindo is another one who stands up every few minutes.