Ukrainian, 23, wins Montreal
OrchestrasThe Ukrainian violinist Dmytro Udovychenko came top last night in the Concours musical international de Montréal.
He takes home a $30k cash prize plus the Joseph Rouleau Career Development Grant ($50,000) offered by The Azrieli Foundation, a winner’s Tour of 3 North American cities and a forthcoming engagement with the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal.
Second and third placed were two Koreans, Songha Choi and Soobeen Lee.
No luck for the Shahams.
This is Udovychenko’s second payday. Last December he won Singapore.
Politics win again… what a pity for the real talented competitors not getting the recognition they deserve. Reminds me of some years ago the then 16-year old Maria Duenas being kicked out of the first round. Montreal competition is becoming a real shame and a disappointment for the classical world.
I’m sure his victory has EVERYTHING to do with his talent and NOTHING to do with his nationality.
What a shame that these two (I assume otherwise reasonable) people have such nasty reactions to post online to this news. I am confident anyone who watched at least the finals would agree Dmytro easily deserved the first prize. His Shostakovich was at turns haunting and tremendous, yet always refined, in the true Oistrakh tradition. His semifinal included a stellar Bartok Solo Sonata, utterly convincing in a completely different fashion from Menuhin’s standard, and perhaps the best Ravel blues movement you’ll ever hear. The level of playing this year was overall excellent, but Dmytro’s musicianship was undeniable. He captures that ‘inescapable’ quality that so few violinists today can summon.