Chopin 2025: Jury favours tradition rather than novelty - Aleksandra Swigut
The judges of the 19th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition tend to favour a conservative and balanced style of piano playing rather than extravagant interpretations, pianist Aleksandra Swigut has told PAP.
The final round of this year's contest will feature 11 participants: Piotr Alexewicz (Poland), 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).
In an interview with PAP on Friday, Swigut said that the finalists included people she had anticipated.
"There are no very extravagant personalities, and the audience likes such crazy and unpredictable individuals," she said. "We are witnessing the promotion – through the jury's decision – of a rather conservative and balanced, traditional, albeit beautiful and noble pianism."
According to the pianist, Asian participants are excellent in this area. "Their approach to art favours continuation of the pianistic tradition: very high precision, immense competence, and respect for the musical text, as well as perceptiveness and a certain literalness," she explained.
Swigut also drew attention to the pianists' very significant technical abilities. "In the competition, we're starting to reach a stage where the precision of the pianists, particularly those from Asia, resembles technological perfection." However, in her opinion, there is a need to move towards personalities who will step outside the safe zone.
On Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, the finalists will perform one of the piano concertos: in E minor, Op. 11, or F minor, Op. 21, and, obligatorily, the Polonaise-Fantasia in A flat major, Op. 61. They will be accompanied by the Warsaw Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra conducted by Andrzej Boreyko.
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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