Two of them – Tianyou Li and Tianyao Lyu represent China, Eric Lu - the United States, and Vincent Ong - Malaysia.
All finalists perform the Polonaise-Fantasy Op. 61 and one of Chopin’s two Piano Concertos: in E minor Op.11 or in F minor Op.21. In the latter work, the contestants will be accompanied by the Warsaw Philharmonic under Andrzej Boreyko. Of the day’s four contestants, Lu, who is making a come-back to the Warsaw event after placing fourth ten years ago, is the only one to have selected the F minor Concerto.
In the previous editions of the Warsaw Competition, the repertoire of the finals was confined to a Piano Concerto. Bearing in mind that both Piano Concertos, premiered by the composer at the age of twenty, represent the early, ‘brilliant’ stage in his career, this year the organizers of the competition decided to enrich the program with the Polonaise-Fantasy to give pianists the opportunity to display a broader palette of their interpretative skills.
The Polonaise-Fantasy was published in 1846, three years before Chopin’s death. According to American Chopin scholar Jeffrey Kallberg, it testifies to a change in the composer’s style from “late” to “last”.
Eleven pianists are competing in the finals, three from China, two each from the United States and Japan, and one each from Poland, Canada, Georgia and Malaysia.
The only Polish pianist vying for the highest honors – 25-year-old Piotr Alexewicz – will appear before the Warsaw audience on Sunday.
The prize-winners will be revealed on Monday. A total prize fund exceeds EUR 240,000, including EUR 60,000 for the top prize.
Competition laureates will also go on international tours comprising some of the world’s most prestigious venues.
(mk)