One Take on the Cliburn Finalists
Monday, June 8th, 2009It has been an interesting two-plus weeks for piano lovers absorbed in the Cliburn Competition in Ft. Worth, Texas. Portland Piano International hosted a group of forty at the Semi-Finals from May 28-31.
Most people have seen the results by now, but if you’ve not read any of the bloggers, critics or other reviews or commentaries, here is one from blogger Chris Shull at Star-Telegram.com (Ft. Worth, TX).
I’ve agreed with Chris for the most part throughout the competition, and this article sums up my feelings about the winners.
All of the finalists this year were terrific pianists, and all had something important - and in some cases very different - to say. But it was the listeners, real or virtual, and many more than usual this year thanks to the internet broadcast, who were the real winners.
Visit Portland on July 12, just five weeks hence, to hear the Silver Medalist, Yeol Eun Son, at the Portland International Piano Festival. Her set of Debussy Preludes in the Semi-Final round was gorgeous.