The 15th International Chopin Piano competition in Warsaw has entered the second round. Poland, Japan and South Korea have the largest national groups among 32 pianists competing for the Grand Prix.
Three weeks ago as many as 250 young pianists from all over the world came to Warsaw for a preliminary round of what is one of the most prestigious events of its kind. Eighty of them were selected for the competition proper.
On Thursday thirty two hopefuls begin the second round with a programme including mazurkas which invariably pose the greatest demands on all interpreters of Chopin's music.
Musicians agree that performing Chopin requires an extraordinary blend of technical brilliance, spontaneity, maturity, refinement and a grasp of Chopin's unique aesthetic. According to the chairman of the international jury, Polish pianist Andrzej Jasinski, capturing Chopin's style proved too difficult for many entrants:
"I would say jokingly that in some extreme cases a drug test should be applied like in a sports competition. This is because I had the impression that some of the pianists performed in the state of elation or trance, which did not go hand in hand with an understanding of Chopin's music."
The biggest national contingents in the second round are from Japan - with nine pianists and Poland - with seven.
Jury member Hiroko Nakamura from Japan, herself a prizewinner in the Warsaw competition forty years ago, isdelighted with the success of her compatriots. She says that Polish pianists and music teachers have contributed to the great interest in Chopin's music
in Japan.
Apart from Japan and Poland, the pianists in the second round repreent the United States, Russia, South Korea, China, and Taiwan.
According to Polish music critic Kacper Miklaszewski Asia has played a very important role in Chopin performance for several decades now.
Founded in 1927, the International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw is one of the oldest events of its kind in the world. Prizewinners' names will be announced on October 21.
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