I wanted to post Monday, but it was such a blur! For the final post from this year’s Cliburn, I post the final two parts of my conversation with James Conlon, and I edited a two part audio clip of the closing ceremony complete with wild (and very frank) opinions, Van speaking, the awarding of medals and my brief interaction with the Gold medalist(s) at the closing reception. A little Rachmaninov thrown in also!!
Ron Spigelman
Cliburn Soundoff! – Conlon Pt.3/Comparison/FWSO/Tsujii speaks/Cliburn trail
Today is the big day, one more recital and two more concertos, and then the big announcement! Bob Schieffer will speak at the closing ceremony and then off to the Worthington for the party! Today James Conlon talks about the growth of the competitors throughout the week (mentions some surprises), I compare the same excerpts from Bozhanov and Tsujii’s Rachmaninov 2 rehearsals, and then in my conversation with FWSO concertmaster Michael Shih we talk about the communication with blind Japanese Pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii followed by some words about that from Nobuyuki after his concerto performance. Also what to do if you are in the orchestra and don’t want to make the 60 mile round trip each day…..(One more Cliburn post tomorrow)
Cliburn Soundoff! – Conlon Pt. 2/Son/Vacatello/Compare clips/Bray/Yang
James talks about communication between soloist and conductor, a lesson still applied by a past competitor. Vacatello and Son dress their chamber concertos. Exclusive: Another comparison this time between Zhang and Son with Prokofiev 2 (tomorrow I compare Tsujii and Bozhanov in Rachmaninov 2) and I wrap up with Buddy Bray who gets specific about the jury and speculates on what Van Cliburn is thinking. Plus the final part of my chat with Joyce Yang who shares a conversation she had with Di Wu…tomorrow more Conlon and Michael Shih concertmaster of the FWSO…Listen!
Cliburn Soundoff! – Conlon speaks/Zhang dresses/Chopin Compare/Bray/Yang
The heat is definitely on with an incredible night of music making, this thing is too close to call! Part 1 of my interview of James Conlon, an excerpt from Haochen Zhang and Mozart 20, a comparison of the same two spots in Chopin 1 from Bozhanov and Tsujii (this you will only get here), Buddy Bray who is inside with the Jury and Joyce Yang 2005 silver medalist here to check out the new crop…listen!
Cliburn Soundoff! – Richard on Webcast/final rehearsals/BIG ANNOUNCEMENT – Audio
In the final part of my chat with Richard Rodzinski we talk about the grueling schedule and how it will benefit a pianist, plus our perspectives on the web-cast and its educational benefits. There’s also excerpts from 4 of the finalists final rehearsals and BIG ANNOUNCEMET (drum roll), starting tomorrow I will post part one of my sit down with Conductor James Conlon, it was a far reaching conversation….
Follow my tweets from the rehearsals!
Cliburn Soundoff! – Post Cliburn/Vacatello/Piano issues/Zhang/Wu – Audio!
Yesterday was the last full day of rehearsals and tonight the performances begin. My continuing chat with Richard focuses on the grueling schedule and how that helps a Pianist post Cliburn. I was able catch finalist Haochen Zhang (who is 19 today!) asking The USA chief Steinway technician Ron Coners about an issue with the keys. I then interviewed Ron who used to be the tech for Horowitz! More excerpts from rehearsals with James Conlon 1 on 1 including the practicalities of tempo and collaboration…listen below!
Cliburn Soundoff! – Vacatello/Son/Rodzinski/Tsujii/Conlon/Bozhanov – Audio
From the Cliburn, more from my chat with Richard focusing on how new media can affect an artist’s performance, candid clips from 4 of the finalists including a couple of excerpts from their 1 on 1 rehearsals with James Conlon who arrived yesterday plus an interesting clip with finalist Yeol Eum Son and Cliburn general manager Maria Guralnik about the practicalities of being a non US resident about to be flooded with concert engagements. Some of this you will not see or hear on the web-cast!….
Cliburn Soundoff! – Rodzinski/Lam/Announcement – AUDIO!
This week I will post daily from the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition where for the 4th time I am assisting James Conlon. After rehearsing the orchestra the last two days James takes over and I do the assistant thing which gives me time to do interviews, so this will be mostly Audio postings. Today the 1st part of my talk with ED Richard Rodzinski, a quick chat with Semi finalist Andrea Lam and the announcement of the finalists!……