Chopin 2025: Finalists of Warsaw's Chopin Competition to perform Saturday to Monday
Seven male and four female pianists will compete for the top honours of the 19th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw, including Poland's Piotr Alexewicz, from Saturday to Monday.
The final stage of this year's contest also features, in alphabetical order, Kevin Chen (Canada), David Khrikuli (Georgia), Shiori Kuwahara (Japan), Tianyou Li (China), Eric Lu (United States), Tianyao Lyu (China), Vincent Ong (Malaysia), Miyu Shindo (Japan), Zitong Wang (China) and William Yang (United States).
The final round concerts will take place at the National Philharmonic, only in evening sessions, starting Saturday at 6:00pm and continue until Monday.
Each pianist will perform Chopin's Polonaise-Fantasy in A-flat major, Op. 61 and one of the two piano concertos, either in E minor, Op. 11, or in F minor, Op. 21, accompanied by the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra under conductor Andrzej Boreyko.
Traditionally, the Piano Concerto in E minor, Op. 11, is considered the "lucky" finale of the Chopin Competition, having been performed by such first-prize winners as Maurizio Pollini, Martha Argerich, and Krystian Zimerman.
Chinese pianist Tianyou Li will begin the final round of auditions on a Steinway & Sons piano, followed by Eric Lu from the United States who has chosen a Fazioli piano. He will be the only artist to perform the Polonaise and Concerto in F minor, Op. 21, in addition to the Concerto in E minor, Op. 11. All the other finalists playing on Saturday have chosen the Concerto in E minor, Op. 11.
After the intermission, at around 8pm, Chinese pianist Tianyao Lyu will perform, also on a Fazioli piano, followed by Malaysian Vincent Ong on a Shigeru Kawai piano.
The second day of the finals, Sunday, October 19, will feature two female pianists, Japanese Miyu Shindo on a Steinway & Sons piano, and Chinese Zitong Wang, on a Shigeru Kawai piano. Both have chosen the Concerto in E minor, Op. 11.
After the intermission, the jury and the audience will listen to American William Yang playing on a Steinway & Sons piano, followed by Polish pianist Piotr Alexewicz. The Pole will begin his concert on a Shigeru Kawai piano at around 9pm.
The last three finalists will play on Monday, October 20th, all having chosen a Steinway & Sons piano. Canadian Kevin Chen will begin his performance at 6:00pm, followed by David Khrikuli from Georgia and Shiori Kuwahara from Japan. Chen and Kuwahara will play the Piano Concerto in E minor, Op. 11, and Khrikuli has chosen the Concerto in F minor, Op. 21.
The final round programme is demanding, requiring not only outstanding musical skills but also knowledge of the time in which these works were composed, the situation and experiences of their composer.
Chopin worked on the Polonaise-Fantasy on and off, he scribbled sketches on music paper over a long period of time. "I'd like to finish something I don't know what to call yet," the composer said. The title came last. The piece, completed in August 1846, is full of dignity and majesty. It is also tinged with melancholy.
The Piano Concerto in E minor, composed in 1830, had its first performance on October 11 that year, in Warsaw. The Paris premiere took place in 1832. The audience enthusiastically welcomed both Chopin and his work. Despite the opus numbering, the concerto is actually the composer's second.
The Piano Concerto in F minor, Op. 21, was composed by Chopin in 1829 and premiered on March 17, 1830, in Warsaw. The composer himself played the solo part. Chopin is said to have written the second movement of the concerto "under the inspiration of his first love."
The six highest-scoring finalists will be awarded main prizes and the title of laureate. The first prize winner will receive EUR 60,000 and a gold medal, the second prize winner will receive EUR 40,000 and a silver medal, and the third prize winner will receive EUR 35,000 and a bronze medal. The fourth, fifth, and sixth prize winners will receive EUR 30,000, EUR 25,000, and EUR 20,000, respectively. The remaining finalists will receive equivalent prizes of EUR 8,000.
The name of the winner of the 19th Chopin Competition will be announced on the evening of October 20. The awards gala will be held next day, followed by a concert by the first prize winner. Two more prize winners will perform on October 22 and 23.
The 19th edition of the International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition, organised by Poland's Fryderyk Chopin Institute, runs from October 2 to October 23.
The Polish Press Agency is a media partner of the competition. (PAP)
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