A Shaham comes second

A Shaham comes second

News

norman lebrecht

September 28, 2022

The Fritz Kreisler International Violin Competition for under-30s has been won by Guido Sant’Anna e Silva, 17, from Brazil.

Joint second were Michael Shaham, 19, from Israel and Rino Yoshimoto, 19 from Japan.

Father Haggai Shaham writes: ‘I am very proud of my son Michael Shaham’s great achievement … He played beautifully throughout the stages, well deserved award for his first international competition.’

Comments

  • C says:

    Well done to all of the young musicians. Three very good finalists, who all have a bright future ahead.

  • andrew says:

    He came second, which means someone else came first. How is this newsworthy? Enough of this Israel is wonderful stuff, honestly – you need some proper perspective on things.

  • Frank says:

    Norman, do you realize, in spite of his “dynastic” name, he’s NOT RELATED AT ALL to Gil or Orli Shaham? Sure, he does come from
    A successful musical family but not the one you are baiting readers into thinking it is.

    • Dominique Pérignon says:

      Frank, we all did realize that he’s not related to the smaller Gil-Orli Shaham dynasty, but to the other, much bigger musical Shaham dynasty, including the violinist Hagai, mezzo-soprano Rinat, double bass player Naomi and violinist/violist Noga.

  • Corine Dufour says:

    the brasilian kid was better. he took the place by storm.

  • Byrwec Ellison says:

    Is it safe to say here that I don’t object to playful headlines?

  • Music for all x says:

    Music is not politics.
    Music is not tribal.
    Music is not a sport.
    Music is not a religion.
    Music is not sexist.
    Music is not racist
    Music is not Nationalistic.

    Music is Music.

    Any questions?

  • Sanity says:

    Any words about the winner? No? Nothing? Doesn’t he deserve them? Does this website have anything against winners who don’t come from music dynasties? Let me get this straight: it’s not only that Guido Sant’Anna deserves to be the real news here because he won the competition. This wasn’t a “normal” victory. This boy had absolutely everything against him from the very moment he was born, in a poor and distant neighborhood of São Paulo. He never had a music theory lesson in his whole life. He had help to afford the ticket plane to Vienna, accommodation, everything. The sole of one of his shoes had to be reinforced with glue because it was falling apart and this pair of concert shoes was the only one he had. And yet he entered the Goldener Saal of the Musikverein and didn’t let anything there intimidate him. He completely dominated the situation, from beginning to end. Even though he has always been at a total disadvantage in terms of conditions when compared to kids like Michael Shaham, he brought the house down playing Brahms in a place Brahms himself has been. And I find it so incredibly disappointing that this heroic, epic achievement by an absolutely astonishing violinist wasn’t seen as worthy of any attention here.

    • Ee says:

      Eh…think this is a load of poo…He’s a very supported kid. I think you are making up a story for drama. Parent perhaps? Congrats to all that participated, you were all good.

      • Sanity says:

        Drama? Do you have ANY idea of what life in a poor neighborhood from Brazil is??? Do you have any idea of what it is like to be approved to join a competition of this level and have to immediately run to try and get donations for absolutely everything regarding the trip, or you simply won’t be able to go even though you passed? Clearly not. So the one person making drama here is you, who not only have no notion whatsoever of what reality is like in the third world but also clearly cannot accept Guido’s smashing victory – let alone humbly recognize the MIRACLE, the everyday MIRACLE he had to make in order to get to where he is now. So “load of poo” is what you have inside your insensitive, ignorant and envious brain.

  • Jayson says:

    I was totally rooting for Shaham the entire competition. Wishing him a great future.

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