Sixteenth International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition
Warsaw 2nd to 23rd October 2010
Since its beginning in 1927, the International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition has grown into one of the most prestigious and most difficult competitions of the world. A unique concept of dedicating the contest repertoire solely to Chopin’s works allows an always updated insight into the changing attitude towards the oeuvre of this Polish musical genius, the “poet of the piano”. The list of winners and finalists boasts names of outstanding artists such as Mitsuko Uchida, Vladimir Ashkenazy and Maurizio Pollini, to recall just a few. The competition attracts not only competitors, but audience and media alike. Famous was the case of Ivo Pogorelić, whose performance divided the jury members so radically, that he didn’t make it to the finals despite the fact that everybody acknowledged him as a fascinating pianistic promise. This provoked Martha Argerich (winner in 1965), Paul Badura-Skoda and Nikita Magaloff to resign their duties as jury members.
Next year is a special one in the history of the competition as it will mark 200 years since the birth of Fryderyk Chopin on 1st March, 1810 and will also commemorate 161 years from his death on 17th October, 1849. The last competition held in 2005 hosted in the Preliminary 257 pianists from 35 countries, numbers which will most likely increase next year in expectation of inspiring new interpretations.
Applications from pianists born between 1980 and 1993 have to be submitted till
1st December 2009, details can be found under www.konkurs.chopin.pl
