After a week of intense preliminary competition, the field of 30 performers in the 14th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition has been narrowed down to 12 semi-finalists.
John Giordano, jury chairman for this iteration of the Cliburn Competition, announced the following names Thursday night at Bass Hall:
Nikita Abrosimov, 24, Russia
Sean Chen, 24, United States
Alexey Chernov, 30, Russia
Alessandro Deljavan, 26, Italy
Fei-Fei Dong, 22, China
Jayson Gillham, 26, Australia/United Kingdom
Claire Huangci, 23, United States
Vadym Kholodenko, 26, Ukraine
Nikolay Khozyainov, 20, Russia
Nikita Mndoyants, 24, Russia
Beatrice Rana, 20, Italy
Tomoki Sakata, 19, Japan
Here, then, is how the semi-final performance schedule will look:
SATURDAY, JUNE 1
Semifinal Concert 1
Recital #1 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Claire Huangci
Chamber #2 2:45-3:25 p.m.
Beatrice Rana
Recital #3 3:40-4:40 p.m.
Nikita Mndoyants
Semifinal Concert 2
Chamber #4 7:30-8:10 p.m.
Nikita Abrosimov
Recital #5 8:25-9:25 p.m.
Tomoki Sakata
Chamber #6 9:40-10:20 p.m.
Vadym Kholodenko
SUNDAY, JUNE 2
Semifinal Concert 3
Recital #7 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Nikolay Khozyainov
Chamber #8 2:45-3:25 p.m.
Alessandro Deljavan
Recital #9 3:40-4:40 p.m.
Jayson Gillham
Semifinal Concert 4
Chamber #10 7:30-8:10 p.m.
Alexey Chernov
Recital #11 8:25-9:25 p.m.
Sean Chen
Chamber #12 9:40-10:20 p.m.
Fei-Fei Dong
MONDAY, JUNE 3
Semifinal Concert 5
Chamber #1 1:30-2:10 p.m.
Claire Huangci
Recital #2 2:25-3:25 p.m.
Beatrice Rana
Chamber #3 3:40-4:20 p.m.
Nikita Mndoyants
Semifinal Concert 6
Recital #4 7:30-8:30 p.m.
Nikita Abrosimov
Chamber #5 8:45-9:25 p.m.
Tomoki Sakata
Recital #6 9:40-10:40 p.m.
Vadym Kholodenko
TUESDAY, JUNE 4
Semifinal Concert 7
Chamber #7 1:30-2:10 p.m.
Nikolay Khozyainov
Recital #8 2:25-3:25 p.m.
Alessandro Deljavan
Chamber #9 3:40-4:20 p.m.
Jayson Gillham
Semifinal Concert 8
Recital #10 7:30-8:30 p.m.
Alexey Chernov
Chamber #11 8:45-9:25 p.m.
Sean Chen
Recital #12 9:40-10:40 p.m.
Fei-Fei Dong
True, this is the first Cliburn Competition that Van Cliburn, himself, won't be alive to witness. That said, with each performance streamed online at the Cliburn's site, you, yourself, can take in every single pedalling, every last ivory.
Before the official word--her Schumann and Chopin in the prelims the best indications--American pianist Sara Daneshpour was Classicalite's favorite to win it all.
Now, we're not so sure. Who do you, Classicalites, think will win it all?
