May 30, 2008
Posted by Li Robbins on May 30, 2008 at 02:55 PM
The finals from the Montreal International Musical Competition are now available online! Just go to Concerts On Demand: Montreal Int. Musical Competition, for four hours of pianists playing "for their lives" (as they would say in reality TV land). Some very fine performers and performances await.
Also in MIMC news, at last night's gala a number of special awards given out to the young pianists -- two going to Canadians. Please continue reading for all the details.
Continue reading "Montreal Piano Competition Finals -- Concerts On Demand" »
May 29, 2008
Posted by Li Robbins on May 29, 2008 at 10:00 AM
A number of people have written in asking to see the list of winners of the Montreal International Musical Competition -- so once again, here they are. The Grand prize went to pianist Nareh Arghamanyan from Armenia, pictured here. She takes home the $30,000 Grand Prize.
The second grand prize went to Japan's Masataka Takada, and Russia's Alexandre Moutouzkine. (The Second Prize of $15,000 and Third Prize, $7,500, were combined into a $22,500 Second Prize that will be shared equally between the two.)
The remaining three finalists, Elizabeth Schumann and Sara Daneshpour from the U.S and Canada's Sergei Saratovsky, will each receive a $4,000 prize.
Photo by Gunther Gamper
May 28, 2008
Posted by Li Robbins on May 28, 2008 at 12:00 PM
As promised, here's Kelly Rice, with the final word on the Finals at MIMC last night in Montreal.
"At home circa half past midnight after the traditional post-Competition toasts, deconstruction, and much merriment. Slept until 9:30 AM. YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!
Too many souvenirs to blog about today, so I’ll confine myself to:
1. Nareh Arghamanyan in the broadcast booth fresh from the announcement of her triumph. Such grace, poise, and promise. A huge talent, and a great future.
2. Conversations (on air and off) with my two guest commentators. David Jalbert texting to listeners between movements. (He’s as handy on a cell as he is at the keyboard.) And Martha De Francisco sitting in the hall until the very last minute. (Will she make it to the booth on time?)
3. A wonderful broadcast team led by my producer Scott Tresham. A bilingual broadcast is a complicated thing, and I think Canadians would be proud to see how we put this all together. Perhaps we should do ‘the making of’?"
I second #3. Scott, Sophie (Kelly!) and everyone involved in the R2 and Espace Musique broadcasts have worked very hard.
Now all that's left is the Gala, tomorrow night, featuring a concert with the Laureates. (And as mentioned earlier, live audio/video webcasts of the quarter-finals and semifinals will remain on the MIMC website for a year, and the finals will be available at Concerts On Demand soon.) Oh, and the MIMC vocal competition of course, in 2009.
Posted by Li Robbins on May 28, 2008 at 10:19 AM
...pianist Nareh Arghamanyan, who is nineteen-years-old (!) and from Armenia. Last night, live from the Montreal International Musical Competition R2 host Kelly Rice (with Laurie Brown on The Signal) announced that Arghamanyan had won the $30,000 Grand Prize.
The second grand prize(s) went to Japan's Masataka Takada, and Russia's Alexandre Moutouzkine. The remaining three finalists, Elizabeth Schumann and Sara Daneshpour from the U.S and Canada's Sergei Saratovsky, will each receive a $4,000 prize.
Live audio/video webcasts of the quarter-finals and semifinals will remain on the MIMC website for a year, and the finals will be available at Concerts On Demand sometime soon -- I will post when they are available.
Stay tuned for the hardest working man in host business, Kelly Rice -- he'll file his last report reflecting on the competition shortly.
Photo by Gunther Gamper
May 27, 2008
Posted by Li Robbins on May 27, 2008 at 08:29 PM
Signalites take note, The Signal (10 p.m.) may be joined in progress due to Montreal International Musical Competition.
But tonight The Signal is part of that special broadcast because the winner of the competition will be announced live on the show.
And because the focus of this year's competition is the piano, Laurie will feature a performance from the winning pianist as well as several beautiful contemporary piano selections from brand new CDs by Brigitte Poulin and Christina Petrowska Quilico.
Posted by Li Robbins on May 27, 2008 at 03:45 PM
Tonight is it. The last round of the Montreal International Musical Competition, live-to-air this evening on CBC Radio 2 at 7 p.m.; 8 p.m. AT; 8:30 p.m. NT.
And as he has every day throughout the competition, R2 host Kelly Rice reports in on the previous day's happenings:
"What a night. I’m still recovering … literally. Struck down by a massive cold, sniffles, coughs … the works. But music is a balm, and last night there was lots of TLC in Canadian Sergei Saratovsky’s Beethoven 5. (That's him in the photo!) It was the first time he played it with orchestra, so it took a little while to settle in. I doubt whether it will garner gold, but as the top Canadian in Competition, he walks away with 5K. A 5K well deserved!
Masataka Takada from Japan was in complete control of his Prokofiev 2. He’ll do well at prize time. But for me, the coup de coeur of the soirée was American Sara Daneshpour. I questioned her choice of Tchaikovsky yesterday, but boy was I wrong! She soared and swam like a seasoned pro.
Tonight, the plot thickens. American Elizabeth Schumann is the Miss Manners of 19th century etiquette so her Chopin 1 will be stylish and poetic. Russian Alexandre Moutouzhine is on home turf with Rachmaninoff 3. Fire all phasers, Alex!
The wild card of the six is Nareh Arghamanyan from Armenia. At 19, she’s the youngest of the bunch, and if she … and if she doesn’t … no, no, I’ll write no more. Don’t want to jinx her. Just tune in tonight for her Tchaikovsky. There will be beauty. "
-Kelly
Thanks, Kelly, and sorry to hear about your cold -- I've heard that Laphroaig makes a nice hot toddy?
Looking forward to hearing who the winner is tonight -- but congratulations to all of the very talented contestants.
If you miss the broadcasts, fear not, you'll be able to hear all the finalists online shortly following the competition at Concerts On Demand.
Photo by Gunther Gamper
Posted by Li Robbins on May 27, 2008 at 10:38 AM
If you have been reading Kelly Rice reporting from the Montreal International Musical Competition here on the blog but have yet to hear him in the flesh, as it were, do tune in to Studio Sparks (12 p.m.) today.
Kelly joins S'sparks host Eric Friesen to preview the second day of finals -- which you can hear live-to-air this evening on CBC Radio 2 (7 p.m.; 8 p.m. AT; 8:30 p.m. NT.).
Tonight the contestants (performing live at the Théâtre Maisonneuve of Place des Arts) are Elizabeth Schumann, 26, of the U.S., playing Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 1, followed by Alexandre Moutouzkine, 27, of Russia (Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3) and Nareh Arghamyan, 19, of Armenia (Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1).
May 26, 2008
Posted by Li Robbins on May 26, 2008 at 03:30 PM
The build up to the Finals of the Montreal International Musical Competition is, well, building. Lots of excitement and nerves and probably not a lot of sleep for the chosen finalists, pictured here. (You can hear the Finals tonight and tomorrow night live on CBC Radio 2 at 7 p.m.; 8 p.m. AT; 8:30 p.m. NT.)
Of course Kelly Rice, a.k.a. Our Man In Montreal, who is hosting for Radio 2, is immune to any such anxiety. Or is he? This just in from Kelly:
"Last night, we did lobsters (plain, with a bit of butter) and fiddleheads (with lardons and cream, à la française), and washed it down with some California bubbly. We were in celebration mode. It’s been a great competition so far and the best is yet to come. All six finalists have important things to say, and to hear them with orchestra will be a delight. I fell asleep contented (and well-fed).
My tranquility was short lived. I woke in the middle of the night and started thinking about the choice of concertos. Beethoven 5 is a tough sell at an international competition, so I second guess Canadian Sergei Saratovsky. Would he be better off with Rachmaninoff 3? American Sara Daneshpour is a fabulous classicist, so I wonder why she’s turning to Tchaikovsky, and not Mozart or Beethoven for her concerto choice. Masataka Takada from Japan is well matched with Prokofiev 2, but I speculate as to whether he could play it safer with Prok 3.
Too late now. The dye is cast. 'Concerto Cassandra Kelly' and 'Worrywart Kelly' will just have to wait and hear -- and enjoy the music."
-Kelly
Dear Cassie/Worrywart. Maybe it was the lobster? (The tiny violins are playing over that potential cause for your insomnia, I am afraid.)
But only tonight and tomorrow night will shed any light on whether or not the repertoire choices work for these contestants.
A note re: the live broadcasts: Kelly will be joined by Canadian pianist David Jalbert and world-renowned recording producer Martha De Francisco. (For more information about the guest commentators, please continue reading.)
Photo by Gunther Gamper
Continue reading "The Cream Of The (Piano) Crop: Live Tonight" »
Posted by Li Robbins on May 26, 2008 at 03:01 AM
Kelly Rice, CBC Radio 2 host of the Montreal International Music Competition, (MIMC) will be on the air tonight, with Canadian pianist David Jalbert and world-renowned recording producer Martha De Francisco to present the finals, live-to-air on Canada Live. (And pre-empting the last hour of Tonic in most time zones.)
The special live-to-air broadcast from Place des Arts can be heard tonight & Tuesday at 7 p.m.; 8 p.m. AT; 8:30 p.m. NT.
The six finalists will each perform a concerto, accompanied by the Orchestre Métropolitain Du Grand Montréal under the direction of Jean-Marie Zeitouni.
Continue reading "Montreal Competition Finals -- Live!" »
May 25, 2008
Posted by Li Robbins on May 25, 2008 at 12:00 PM
...in the last 90 minutes of Sunday Afternoon In Concert. Tune in to hear R2 host Kelly Rice share stellar (and possibly a few less than stellar) moments from the quarter and semi-final rounds of the Montreal International Musical Competition.
The Finals will be heard live on CBC Radio 2 and Espace Musique tomorrow night and Tuesday night, May 26 and 27. But today, Kelly takes a look at what's happened thus far. And for a sneak peek via Ye Olde Blogge, Kelly just sent me this note via electronic mail.
"I guessed 5 of the 6. Where did I go wrong? The way I always do: by voting with my heart and not my head. I would have loved to hear Kotaro Nagano tackle Chopin 1 in the finals. I like this shy and serious 19-year-old. He draws you in. But anyway, that’s not to be, and Masataka Takata puts a Prokofiev 2 in mix, which is a good thing for us concerto buffs.
A few other scattered memories from the Semis (in random order):
1. Sara Daneshpour’s Scarlatti. Note to self: cancel Sara’s appointment with Dr. Harpsichord. She’d teach him a thing or two about sassy 18th century style. Her Domenico was delicious.
2. Two Liszt B Minor Sonatas in session (Friday night). Listening to the Liszt twice in one night is like your fitness instructor saying: 'Good, now let’s run that 20k one more time.' Help!
3. Elizabeth Schumann. After a stunning Kinderszenen, a glaring memory slip in the home stretch Liszt almost keeps her from the finals. Congrats to the Jury for letting her pass. She’s a poet with a unique voice.
4. Nareh Arghamanyan. For a 19-year-old, her Beethoven Op. 110 was a wonder. And her Rachmaninoff made me cry. What more can I say?"
-Kelly
I feel fairly confident that Kelly will find more to say this afternoon, radio is such a bother without any sound.
But seriously, folks, today at 3:30 you can tune in to R2 to hear more. And don't forget the special live-to-air broadcast on Canada Live (May 26 & 27 at 7 p.m.; 8 p.m. AT; 8:30 p.m. NT). Kelly will be joined by guest commentators Martha de Francisco & David Jalbert. The 6 finalists will each perform a concerto, accompanied by the Orchestre Métropolitain du Grand Montréal under the direction of Jean-Marie Zeitouni.
And here are the Finalists -- and the order in which they will perform:
Continue reading "Montreal (Piano) Competition Highlights Coming Up..." »
Posted by Li Robbins on May 25, 2008 at 11:20 AM
Sunday Afternoon In Concert will feature highlights from the quarter and semi-final rounds of the Montreal International Musical Competition in the last 90 minutes of Sunday Afternoon In Concert today. More on that soon, but first, other SAIC highlights:
Music from Danish Violinist Nikolaj Znaider, who wowed 'em when he debuted with the Vancouver Recital Society back in 2006. Naturally they invited him back, and you can hear that performance, Znaider partnered by pianist Robert Kulek, today.
Also, harpist Judy Loman, from a celebration of her 50th season as a professional musician. The concert features works by Glenn Buhr, Srul Irving Glick, R. Murray Schafer and others, and joining her are TSO concertmaster Jacques Israelievitch, Met Opera harpist Mariko Anraku, & former student Lori Gemmell.
And in case you can't wait for the special post coming up from Kelly Rice, CBC host of the Montreal piano competition, to tide you over until then please continue reading for more info on the competition itself.
Continue reading "Nikolaj Znaider, Judy Loman, Sunday Afternoon" »
May 24, 2008
Posted by Li Robbins on May 24, 2008 at 12:00 PM
Late last night, when we were all in bed, Kelly Rice sent me this from the Montreal International Musical Competition. No, nothing about a cow kicking anything over, thankfully, not even Stuart McLean's cow.
Just a first hand account of what it's like watching the jury (pictured here) watching the competing pianists in action:
"I'm sitting in the back row of the balcony of the Salle Pierre-Mercure. The balcony is off-limits to the public, reserved exclusively for Competition staff, CBC/Radio-Canada types, and the nine members of the jury.
The nine are seated in the front row of the balcony, separated from each other by a few empty seats. They sit at individual desks equipped with lamps to read and write by. Some judges make use of scores that are carefully collated into booklets by the competition staff. They’re especially welcome for repertoire that's less familiar.
Some judges use their desks to finger along with the music, a bit like the piano version of air guitar. A few even conduct, and nod their heads to the music. They’re all very involved and fully present to what’s happening on stage. At the same time, they’re quiet and discrete, and no one does anything to disturb the proceedings. The piano is, after all, their life, and they’ve all been through competitions themselves -- they're sympathetic to what these young musicians are going through.
They’re a fun bunch to watch, and I can’t resist looking at Polish judge Piotr Paleczny for Chopin, or French judge Jacques Rouvier for Debussy.
At the break, they retire to a private lounge to rest. They deserve it. By the end of the semi-finals this jury will have heard more than 26 hours of solo piano. With all that music floating around in their heads, how can they sleep? My soporific is scotch. (Laphroaig, if you’re wondering.)"
--Kelly
Ah, a very choice soporific. (I can go a little downscale myself, say, a wee Glen. Either livet or fiddich will do.)
Don't forget to tune in tomorrow afternoon to Sunday Afternoon In Concert to hear Kelly Rice on the radio with highlights thus far in the competition, and again on Monday and Tuesday nights ((May 26 & 27 at 7 p.m.; 8 p.m. AT; 8:30 p.m. NT ) -- live, with the finals.
May 23, 2008
Posted by Li Robbins on May 23, 2008 at 12:00 PM
The Montreal International Musical Competition announced the names of the 12 pianists moving into the semis -- and those pianists can be heard competing live today and tomorrow by webcast -- (May 23, 7 p.m. ET; May 24, 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. ET) and highlights of both semis and quarter-finals will be heard this Sunday in the last 90 minutes of Sunday Afternoon In Concert.
Here's "Our Man In Montreal," CBC R2 host, Kelly Rice, to tell you what it was like waiting for the semi-finalists to be announced:
"There's a buzz in the hall. About 200 stick around to hear the results. Everyone wants to gossip about the competition, who they heard, who they liked, who will make it, who won’t. It’s cruel and ruthless talk, but the reality is: half of these kids are about to be eliminated. Dies irae, dies illa.
I settle myself next to Mebbie Aikins. She’s been a competition billet for 15 years. Latvian Andrejs Osokins is her charge for this edition, and it’s a full-time job. Food: chicken and fresh veggies (not cooked). Noise: no radio and conversation the morning of a performance. Transport: lifts to the Conservatory for practice (5 hours a day, 45 minutes work, 15 minutes break). R and R: occasional meals in local restaurants for a change the scene (and I suspect, a chance for her to eat something other than the chicken!) As well, she’s there for life’s little emergencies. Like when he forgot his shirt the day of the Quarters.
Why the effort? She loves the contact with young people. It gives her satisfaction.
So, as the clock ticks by, and the judges take longer than expected, tension mounts. Mebbie is slightly anxious, and that’s saying something, because Mebbie Aikins, a retired McGill administrator and widow of a Presbyterian minister, is used to coping with a lot.
So at 11:05 PM when the name of Andrejs Osokins is among the 12, Mebbie is visibly relieved, and very pleased.
Mind you, victory has a price. Chez Mebbie, it’s a further moratorium on breakfast radio and idle chit chat. And, chicken, more chicken."
-Kelly
My nails are bitten to the quick after reading that! You must have to have nerves of steel to either be competing, or supporting someone who is. Not to mention having limited dietary needs.
Here are the semi-finalists, (including one Canadian, Sergei Saratovsky, and the order of the next part of the competition:
Photo By Gunther Gamper
Continue reading "Semi-Finalists Announced In Montreal" »
May 22, 2008
Posted by Li Robbins on May 22, 2008 at 12:00 PM
Kelly Rice, CBC R2 host of the Montreal International Musical Competition, or MIMC, as we call it around here (rhymes with Zinc, at least in my mind it does) gets a little tough on Bach played badly in his latest missive. But he also lets us know what's going well:
"The quarter-finals are a musical potpourri, a steeplechase of pianistic hoops and hurdles, testing the competitors in subtle ways: virtuosity in the Etudes, impressionistic shading in the Debussy, clarity and precision in the 18th century piece, emotional depth in the romantic Nocturne, and originality of expression in the new Canadian piece (the jazzy Fastforward by Alexina Louie).*
Not everyone is great at each style, believe you me. It still astounds me that, on the whole, Bach is played SOOOOOOO badly at competitions like this. Have these kids not heard of the Early Music movement? Baroque performing practice? An appointment with the local harpsichordist would do them a world of good.
There’s one more piece in the Quarters, blandly stated in the rule book as: 'The Candidates choice of a work no longer than 18 minutes.' It’s the one I look most forward to, when each competitor says loud and clear: Here I am!
Take Torontonian Lang Ning Liu. To watch her standing, not sitting, at the keyboard, pouncing on John Corigliano’s Etude Fantasy, was mesmerizing. Vancouver’s Sergei Saratovsky was in consummate control of his Bartok Sonata. At the break, Tünde Kurucz, wife of Hungarian judge Imre Rohmann, was beaming: 'He’s REALLY good!' Yup, that he is, Madame, that he is.
Then there’s Kotaro Nagano (no relation to Kent), a 19-year-old from Japan. His Chopin Nocturne brought a tear in this ol’ eye. Note to self: bring Kleenex."
-Kelly
Thanks Kelly, have the kleenex at the ready for today's "Quarters," just in case. You can hear them live-to-computer at 1 p.m. & 7 p.m. eastern, whatever that translates to where you are -- by going to MIMC's webcasts page. (And also the semifinals May 23, 7 p.m. ET; May 24, 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. ET).
*If you're curious as to exactly what repertoire the contestants picked from, here are The Rules.
May 21, 2008
Posted by Li Robbins on May 21, 2008 at 10:33 AM
It really is quite thrilling to watch the Montreal International Musical Competition, which you can do today -- live-to computer! And today is a banner day for the Canuck contingent, as three of them play this afternoon and this evening. (Here is the schedule.)
Yesterday I watched some of the contestants this way, by webcast, and I actually started feeling nervous on behalf of the competitors -- the sound was that good, the "liveness" of the webcast that live.
Only being there would be "live-er," and for that we have daily reports from our Man In Montreal, CBC R2 host Kelly Rice. Yes, he's there on the ground. Actually I'm pretty sure he gets to sit in a chair during the competition, but either way, he just sent me this missive:
"When I was a wee lad in music school, the word in the practice rooms was: get outta town! Go to Europe, go the States, go anywhere but Canada. Well, things have changed. What strikes me most about the 4 Canadians in this competition is that each one of them had their formative music education here at home. Chez nous!
Take 23 year-old Michelle Nam. When she was 15, her family moved from Korea to Edmonton, and a big part in that momentous decision was her musical prospects north of 49. Four years at McGill and a win at the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal Competition were ample preparation for her next big career move: Julliard and the Big Apple.
Russian born Sergei Saratovsky was also seduced by the Big White North and is completing his doctorate in piano at the University of British Columbia. Earlier this month, he sped up his application for citizenship so he could compete under the Maple Leaf.
Then there’s Lang Ning Liu. A talent scout from Toronto’s Glenn Gould School recruited her from China.
Even Quebec native Marie-Hélène Trempe (she played yesterday) stayed close to home, with studies at the excellent piano department at the Université de Montréal.
With home-grown talent like this, Canada’s already won gold at this 'piano Olympics.'"
-Kelly Rice
For nuts and bolts details about what's coming up in the competition, please keep reading.
Photograph of André Bourbeau (president of the jury) with the Canuck contingent by Gunther Gamper.
Continue reading "Canada's Piano Gold" »
May 20, 2008
Posted by Li Robbins on May 20, 2008 at 11:45 AM
The Montreal International Musical Competition is "Canada’s premiere classical music showcase for some of the world’s most promising young talent in the disciplines of voice, violin and piano."
In other words? It's a big deal. And so I'm very pleased to say that the host of this year's competition, Monsieur Kelly Rice (that's him on the left with André Bourbeau, president of the jury) will be contributing a daily post to R2 blog throughout -- the competition goes until May 29th.
There are many details involving when the live broadcasts and the webcasts happen (live audio-video webcasts of the quarter finals start today, at 1 p.m. & 7 p.m. eastern) and for all of that info, please click on "continue reading," at the end of this post. But first...drum roll...I bring you the inaugural message from the CBC Radio 2 host, Kelly Rice in Montreal, as he takes his first look at the contenders:
"In the room are the 23 competitors, some host family members (each competitor is billeted) the competition team, and a few hangers-on like me. Instructions are given, rules are read, schedules are confirmed. And then, with a turn of a small, elegant brass bin, names are drawn and read aloud. One by one the competitors go to the front and pick the time they’ll face the music.
I love this part. I hear their names pronounced for the first time (Lithuanian still stymies me). I watch as they leave their seats and saunter or stride to the front of the room. I observe how they’re dressed, their hair (Liszt-like?), their smile (or frown), and their clothes (from casual-chic to semi-formal). Excitement mounts when I’m asked to draw some names from the bin.
No one wants to be first. That "privilege" goes to the last name drawn: Chun-Chieh Yen, from Taiwan. Check him out at 13:00 EDT today, when the Quarter Finals begin. Que la fête commence!" -- Kelly Rice
(Photograph by Gunther Gamper)
Continue reading "Let The Competition Begin! Que La Fête Commence!" »
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The finals from the Montreal International Musical Competition are now available online! Just go to Concerts On Demand: Montreal Int. Musical Competition, for four hours of pianists playing "for their lives" (as they would say in reality TV land). Some very fine performers and performances await.
