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For the promising performer, the dream of raising a trophy
on stage can fuel many a late-night practice session. But
the English would have you believe that it's the taking part
that counts, and in the world of musical competitions, they
have a point. Because the chance to play, sing, or wave your
arms around in front of a reputable orchestra, watched by
a sizeable audience of industry insiders, can lead to great
things whether you get the gong or not.
'Competitions are useful to programmers in that they enable
us to see a number of musicians and to then draw our own conclusions
as to who we feel might work for us', says Timothy Walker,
Chief Executive and Artistic Director of the London Philharmonic
Orchestra. 'In the case of the Queen Elisabeth Competition
in 2005, we knew about the talented winner Sergei Khachatryan.
What also impressed us was the performance from the runner-up,
Yossif Ivanov, who will join us on 13 June for Prokofiev's
1st Violin Concerto.'
Walker believes that such contests can display talent that
might otherwise be hidden. 'The finalists in some competitions
are not artists that the leading orchestras would engage at
that stage in their careers, so competitions like this provide
them with the opportunity to play with great orchestras, under
great conductors, at high-profile venues.' So what does the
Orchestra's Artistic Director look for amongst the contestants?
'I think you take technique and knowledge of the work as given,
and look for presence and communication, and perhaps something
special. Soloists have to know how to give a performance and
to communicate, especially in a large space like the Royal
Festival Hall. The greats will always emerge and shine.'
Dates to hear for yourself some of the artists who have done
just that:
Wednesday 3 and Sunday 7 October 2007 Maurizio
Pollini (winner, Warsaw Chopin Competition 1960)
Wednesday 17 October 2007 Dagmar
Pecková (first prize, Dvorák Competition 1982)
Friday 9 November 2007 Sunwook
Kim (winner, Leeds Piano Competition 2006)
Saturday 15 December 2007 Colin
Currie (finalist, BBC Young Musician of the Year 1994)
Wednesday 30 April 2008 Lisa
Batiashvili (winner, Sibelius Competition 1995)
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