Chopin 2025: My playing is not nonchalant but conscious, Malaysian pianist says
Malaysian pianist Vincent Ong said after his performance in the third stage of the 19th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw on Wednesday that his playing is not nonchalant but conscious.
He said that during performances he pays close attention to the sound and reacts to it as it develops, adding that some may mistake this awareness for detachment.
According to him, the most demanding part of the competition is not the repertoire but coping with the number of reviews, opinions and even compliments he receives, which can at times feel excessive. Still, he added, it is an important personal experience.
The pianist said that he started playing the piano when he was four, using a small keyboard at home and learning from his older brother, who was already a pianist.
He also said that apart from classical music, he listens to genres such as jazz, rock and J-pop, noting that jazz offers much to learn and that certain qualities of Chopin’s music can be compared to it.
Ong added that he had received messages from Malaysia expressing great interest in his participation and in the competition itself. He said he did not see himself as a representative figure, but was pleased that Chopin’s music was gaining attention in his country.
Twenty pianists from eight countries are competing in the third stage of the Chopin Competition. The auditions run until Thursday, when the names of the finalists will be announced.
The 19th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition, organised by Poland’s Fryderyk Chopin Institute, runs from October 2 to 23.
The Polish Press Agency is a media partner of the competition. (PAP)
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