Over at the Piano World forums, it’s the morning after selection of Cliburn Competition finalists, and many are aghast that a dynamic, soulful, and risk-taking pianist was overlooked.
Here’s what one poster said: “Competition winners are typically the reliable pianists somewhere in the middle when it comes to interpretation–those who don’t go out on a limb or offend the majority’s idea of good interpretation. Deljava n doesn’t fit this profile.” (He also included Claire Huangci in this category–to which I am in agreement)
When I heard Alessandro Deljava n render the Schumann Fantasie, it felt as though he was the composer playing it. The pure fire, in the moment excitement, incredible virtuosity, left me breathless. It reminded me of hearing Gilels in Carnegie Hall when I was a kid. I nearly fell over the balcony in my unconstrained, impassioned embrace of such awe-inspiring artistry.
So very rarely does a pianist come along and rivet a listener to his every phrase. Too many are on the sidelines giving a “respectable” reading.
Flash forward to the competition ARENA in the Olympiad framing, and we have the judges penalizing the ones who may have a few note slip-ups, and go outside the M.M. (Metronome markings) These referees are fixated on petty details and not attuned to what counts.. COMMUNICATION!!!
Oh, and don’t forget to deduct points for FACE-MAKING! I must confess, to working on my Beethoven Pianos blog yesterday while listening to Alessandro–no image this time, and his playing soared well beyond any camera angle rendered at RING-side.
I can’t fathom in my wildest imagination why Deljava n was cut–sorry to be blunt—but I know he WILL move on to a great career regardless–same for Claire Huangci because they CONNECT with listeners and bring emotional depth to the competition, defying the NORM….
It’s been further emphasized that too many Gold winners at Cliburn have not progressed to major careers, so maybe this is a good omen for Alessandro and Claire (They join the Cliburn reject circle along with Evgeni Bozhanov who is thankfully out of the competition loop, serenading appreciative audiences world-wide)
***
Now for a serving of Deljava n who is uncannily a celebrated CHEF, cooking for everyone on the Cliburn set. You gotta love him.
Incidentally, if anything is predictable in this competition cosmos, I’ll hedge my bets that Alessandro will land the AUDIENCE FAVORITE award (so I’m off to cast my vote!)
An off the cuff interview with Alessandro
LINK:
