Cliburn Finals (Concerto round): Session Two

89.45.4.8

Posted on June 5, 2025 at 00:54:49

Posts: 28649
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: February 17, 2004
Contributor
Since: February 6, 2012

I felt that tonight's session contained one performance which was head and shoulders above the rest. But, in order. . .

Philipp Lynov played the Liszt Piano Concerto No. 2, one of my favorite piano concertos, even though I haven't listened to it much over the last couple of decades. The commentators were correct that the work is equal parts piano concerto and symphonic poem, with Liszt's characteristic transformations of a given theme - and what a beautiful main theme it is in this work! Lynov, whom I hadn't heard at all in the earlier rounds, has long fingers which serve him well in keeping his articulation clear (and thereby keeping the textures clear). Perhaps he played a few too many mistakes, although I felt the vast majority were of little consequence.

Vitaly Starikov lit up the stage with what I would call a stunning rendition of the Bartok Piano Concerto No. 2, the most difficult of the composer's three Piano Concertos. He took a rather long time to get his piano stool height adjustment the way he wanted it (provoking some chuckles from the audience), but then he literally took charge from the moment he played his first note. What a monster this guy is. Of the first six performances, Starikov's was the one I would place at the top right now - his playing grabbed me and wouldn't let go! Bravo!

Carter Johnson played the Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 2, the same Concerto he played when he won the Dublin (International?) Competition, and the same one he used when he participated in the Gina Bachauer Competition. So he's had experience with the work in pressure situations, and this was the best performance I've heard from him in the current Cliburn Competition. Even so, it was not the sort of playing that really makes you sit up and exclaim, "Hey - this guy's good!". I much prefer Starikov - so far!

Each pianist will now get one more chance to make an impression on the judges (and the audience), as the final two sessions of this final round bring the Competition to a close. Friday, it's Ozel in the Beethoven 4, Wang in the Rachmaninoff 3, and Sham in the Brahms 2. Saturday it's Starikov in the Schumann, Johnson in the Ravel Left-Hand Concerto, and Lynov in the Prokofiev 2.

Hide full thread outline!

Starikov

pbarach

05:53:59 06/05/25

3

Liz Joy Roe and Buddy Bray (nt)

sser2

09:01:18 06/05/25

2

Elizabeth is half of the Anderson & Roe Piano Duo

Chris from Lafayette

10:32:15 06/05/25

...

Show full thread outline!

Starikov

pbarach

05:53:59 06/05/25

3

Liz Joy Roe and Buddy Bray (nt)

sser2

09:01:18 06/05/25

2

Elizabeth is half of the Anderson & Roe Piano Duo

Chris from Lafayette

10:32:15 06/05/25

During one competition break

sser2

11:12:12 06/05/25

RE: Cliburn Finals (Concerto round): Session Two

sser2

02:15:36 06/05/25

RE: Cliburn Finals (Concerto round): Session Two, posted on June 5, 2025 at 02:15:36
sser2 Audiophile Posts: 2714 Location: Pittsburgh USA Joined: July 30, 2003	We felt the same, but you say it with more eloquence and knowledge. BTW, the piano stool incident had a twist - it was not Vitaly adjusting it that caused the laughter. Ms. Alsop at first patiently waited, but when the procedure started getting awkwardly long, she turned to Vitaly with a gesture as if asking - do you need help with it?

Starikov, posted on June 5, 2025 at 05:53:59
pbarach Audiophile Posts: 3509 Location: Ohio Joined: June 22, 2008	I just watched Starikov in Bartok 2. Wow! Fantastic performance. I really enjoyed it. Who are the two people who comment on the performances during the livestream?

Liz Joy Roe and Buddy Bray (nt), posted on June 5, 2025 at 09:01:18
sser2 Audiophile Posts: 2714 Location: Pittsburgh USA Joined: July 30, 2003	nt

Elizabeth is half of the Anderson & Roe Piano Duo, posted on June 5, 2025 at 10:32:15
Chris from Lafayette Audiophile Posts: 28649 Location: SF Bay Area Joined: February 17, 2004 Contributor Since: February 6, 2012	As La Scena Musicale states, this is the piano duo which "embraces fashion"! (Well, you gotta have a gimmick!) I've heard them a couple of times and, musically, I thought they were quite good too! ;-) I've noticed that, in the last couple of commentary segments at the Cliburn, Elizabeth seems to have been out shopping in the Dallas - Fort Worth area! Maybe Nieman Marcus? LOL!

During one competition break, posted on June 5, 2025 at 11:12:12
sser2 Audiophile Posts: 2714 Location: Pittsburgh USA Joined: July 30, 2003	they showed the duo playing a theme from West Side Story. It was fun!

Classical Court

Cliburn Finals (Concerto round): Session Two

89.45.4.8