One of the World’s Largest Piano Competitions Returns in Canada
Editors ChoiceBeginning tomorrow, the Honens International Piano Competition celebrates its tenth edition as ten pianists compete for one of the world’s largest and most respected prizes in classical piano—$100,000 CAD and a comprehensive, three-year artistic and career development program. Each pianist competing in the Semifinals and Finals advanced through the Quarterfinals in Frankfurt and NYC. The competition is held in Calgary, but if you’re not able to make it in person, you can catch the livestream of both the Semifinals and Finals free of charge on Honens’ website or IDAGIO’s Global Concert Hall. You’ll want to tune in for this internationally acclaimed competition!
The 2022 semifinalists come from around the world for this competition and are judged by an esteemed panel of jurors including Michel Béroff, Earl Blackburn, Katherine Chi, Imogen Cooper, Stewart Goodyear, Ick-Choo Moon, and Orli Shaham. You can learn more about each individual semifinalist on Honens’ website. The competition is known to launch the careers of “complete artists”, pianists who are more than virtuosi. They are also collaborators, communicators, risk-takers, and thoughtful interpreters. Getting to know a little about each competitor can add to the viewing experience!
One example of how the prize has launched some of piano’s biggest stars – look to the 2018 Honens Prize Laureate, Nicolas Namoradze. In addition to selling out performances around the world and receiving rave reviews, Namoradze was named “One to Watch” (Gramophone) and has won numerous awards including the recent 2020 & 2021 Young Pianist Award by the UK Critics’ Circle. The celebrated pianist returns to Honens this year for Mind Over Music, a new series curated and hosted by Namoradze. Mind Over Music explores a range of questions surrounding music competitions in the 21st century. Events include two panel discussions, a workshop, and a lecture demonstration that touch on such topics as performance psychology, mindfulness, mental health, aesthetics, and neuroscience. Mind Over Music events are held in-person and streamed through IDAGIO. Learn more here.
Honens’ Semifinals will be held from October 20-24 and the Finals will be October 27-28. It’s always a thrill to watch the next star in the world of piano emerge; mark your calendars and be sure to tune in for the competition and Mind Over Music!
“Competitions are for horses, not artists”- Bartok.
So think of it as a festival: a series of piano recitals including solo and collaborative music-making and culminating with concerto performances with orchestra. Ten of the top young pianists playing at the top of their game. No need to rate or compare. They have a jury for that.
I wonder what equestrian competitions Bartok had in mind: racing? showing? show jumping? dressage?
I know half the semi-finalists rather well, and all I can say it will be a tough job for the jury to pick a winner from this astounding group (the 5 I don’t know personally are also pretty remarkable!). Glad I am not on the jury!