THE SCOOP | A Field Guide To The Montreal International Music Competition, Piano 2017 Edition

Jennifer Liu

7 years ago

MONTREAL — At their press conference yesterday, the Montreal International Music Competition unveiled the complete programming for this year’s Piano edition, which runs from May 2–12. Featuring competition alumni and international pedagogues, traditional events appear alongside fresh new initiatives: from time-honoured masterclasses, to an improvisation concert with chamber orchestra, to the competition rounds, there will be something for everyone along the spectrum of classical music.

This year, the suspense will run through to the final gala: in a plot twist to past competitions, the winners’ names will be withheld until immediately before the gala concert. In an evening of performances headlined by soprano Measha Brueggergosman as well as pianist Serhiy Salov and violinist Benjamin Beilman, the competition will culminate in one big orchestral celebration. Audiences outside of Montreal will also be able to join the party as the competition and gala events will be streamed online in real time.

Here is a rundown of the competition:

Live Broadcast  

the competition and gala concert will be live streamed on concoursmontreal.ca/live

Competitors

24 pianists
aged 19 to 30
15 countries represented
one Canadian, 24-year-old Teo Gheorghiu.

Gheorghiu’s program includes:

First round:

Haydn: Sonata in G major, Hob. XVI:40
Chopin: Mazurkas, Op. 59
Ravel: Valses nobles et sentimentales
Balakirev: Islamey, fantaisie orientale

Second round:

Rachmaninoff: Études-tableaux, Op. 33
André Mathieu: Laurentienne No. 2 in C-sharp minor (compulsory test piece)
Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition

Final round:

Tchaikovsky: Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23

Jury

André Bourbeau (head jury, Canada), Idil Biret (Turkey), Dang Thai Son (Vietnam), Alain Lefèvre (Canada), Hélène Mercier (Canada), Pedja Muzijevic (Bosnia), David Owen Norris (United Kingdom), Cristina Ortiz (Brazil), R. Douglas Sheldon (United States), Gabriel Tacchino (France)

There is a sizable Canadian contingent: Messrs Dang, Lefèvre, and Muzijevic, and Mme Mercier have ties to Canada through performing or teaching activities.

Prizes

Main prizes

First Prize: $30,000, plus Joseph Rouleau Career Development Grant: $50,000
Second Prize: $15,000
Third Prize: $10,000

Special awards

People’s Choice Award, Best Canadian Artist, best performance of the compulsory Canadian work, best semifinal recital, Bach Award, Chopin Award, plus $2000 each for unranked finalists.

Gala

The evening begins with the awards ceremony, followed by the gala concert. Claus Peter Flor will conduct the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, who will accompany this year’s top three finishers as well as former MMIC first prize winners.

Detailed Calendar of Events

Improvisation concert: Pianos en liberté

April 26, 7:30, Bourgie Hall

Serhiy Salov, Jean-François Zygel, and Bruno Fontaine will premiere a work by François Dompierre: each pianist will improvise their part while conducting I Musici de Montréal.

First round

May 2 to 4, 2:00 & 7:30, Bourgie Hall

TGIFree-Day!

May 5, Bourgie Hall

2:00: masterclass with Idil Biret

5:00: lecture-recital by David Owen Norris

7:30: masterclass with Gabriel Tacchino

Free admission to all events

Semifinal round

May 6 to 7, 2:00 & 7:30

Bourgie Hall

Final round

May 9 to 10, 7:30

Maison symphonique

Gala Concert & Awards Ceremony

May 12, 7:30

Maison symphonique

Musical Toronto will be on the ground covering the competition finals in Montreal as it happens. Stay tuned.

For more CLASSICAL MUSIC NEWS, visit HERE.

Jennifer Liu

Jennifer holds a master's degree in piano performance and is pursuing her degree in journalism at Carleton University. Previously, she lived for classical music in Toronto and Montreal.