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LIFE WITHOUT MUSIC WOULD BE A MISTAKE No.7/23.05
- victorshramko
- May 23
- 3 min read
May's Nocturnes. Sweet Music.
I once realized that I could listen to Chopin's music for hours, but it is difficult to do anything else at the same time. It draws you in, absorbs you totally.
This year's May seems to be the month dedicated to Chopin in two rather distant countries, although close to my heart: Poland and Kuwait.
Today, on Friday, May 23rd, the auditions for the 2nd stage of the Chopin Competition in Kuwait are taking place. This is the 7th edition of the event continued by Kuwait Music Academy.
Two weeks ago, the pre-qualifications for the 19th Int'l Chopin Competition (ICC) took place in Warsaw: the live audition of 162 candidates out of 642 applicants from 58 countries who sent their recordings. After 12 days of about 10 hours of auditions, the Jury chose 66 pianists plus free cards for 19 winners of other world top Int'l Competitions.
The level of candidates was sensational. The difference in score between those selected and those sent home was microscopic. NB Jury's Chairman Prof. Piotr Paleczny performed a recital in Kuwait in 1986 as a young laureate of the 8th ICC in 1970.
ICC has high prestige and a centenary tradition since 1927. In the 1st edition, the distinction was won by... Dmitri Shostakovich!
The 1st edition of the Kuwaiti Chopin Competition (KCC) started in 1999. The Patron was Prof. Dr. Rasha Al-Sabah. The Jury was chaired by the Rector of the Chopin Academy in Warsaw. Exceptionally, the 5th edition in 2010 was under the patronage of HH Sheikh Nasser S. A. J. Al-Sabah. It was preceded by local ICC in Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Qatar. The event was graced by the Polish National R&TV Orchestra with winners of the Warsaw ICC. Our KCC has a tradition of just a quarter of a century, but among our Jury members are three representatives of Poland at the Warsaw ICC: Karol Masternak, Anna Owerkowicz, and Cezary Owerkowicz.
The line-up of participants in both events is very international. In Warsaw, we have: 29 Chinese, 13 Poles, 13 Japanese, some from South Korea, UK, US, Canada, and so on. In Kuwait, except for Kuwaitis, we also have participants from many countries. NB In the 5th KCC mentioned above, the winners were a Kuwaiti boy and a Chinese girl ex aequo.
For decades, Far Asia, such as Japan, China, and Korea, has fallen in love with Chopin's music. The only technical problem during the last audition was that 6 participants from China have the surname – Li.
And something more to smile about. Almost every significant event has its anecdotes.
The phenomenal pianist Martha Argerich from Argentina began playing piano at the age of three. In 1965, she came to Warsaw for the 7th ICC, not as a favorite. During rehearsal, she was so nervous and ran away before her 1st performance. Happily, she was found, played, and won all possible prizes. Such an attempt was not the first nor the last. Apparently, as a child, she put wet rags in her shoes to catch a cold and avoid performing. Even now, she tries to cancel tours and withdraw from the stage. But victory and fame caught up with her.
Traditionally, in the ICC, the Jury is served delicious doughnuts with rose petal jam. Great pianist Arthur Rubinstein used to eat 7 to 11 pieces at a time. Once, when he reached a record 13 pieces, he proposed establishing a Special Prize for the baker of this delicacy. World Cake Prize. Music is sweet!?
Once, the famous and witty music critic suggested somewhat spitefully to shorten auditions: 'Let all the pianists start playing simultaneously Revolutionary Etude at once. Whoever finishes first – he is a winner. Just sprint.' However, the Jury did not take advantage of this proposal.
Our young KCC has not yet grown into anecdotes or legends, but oh well, let's wait...
Enough words.
Let us play: Frederic Chopin - Etude in C Minor, Op.10, No.12 'Revolutionary' (performed by Khatia Buniatishvili)
Written by
Cezary Owerkowicz
Co-founder of Kuwait Music Academy and
Director of Treasure of Talents Festival in Kuwait
