First semifinal day – evening
Lionel Martin (b.2003 – Germany)
program
Leopold Hofmann (1738 – 1793) – Concerto in D Badley D3
Royal Chamber Orchestra of Wallonia, dir. Vahan Mardirossian
By fully immersing himself in the compositions, he achieves a certain mastery in which the sense of rapture is not lacking. He played with serenity and stability in the coherence and structure of the pieces. Excellent string technique and fluidity in the high positions, a rich and warm tone that spreads well across the entire register, and an alternation between abstraction and communicative accessibility.
Yo Kitamura (b.2004 – Japan)
program
Anton Kraft (1749-1820) – Concerto in C Op. 4
Royal Chamber Orchestra of Wallonia, dir.Vahan Mardirossian
In his case, we see a fragmentation of musical art, where he questions and examines the relationship between composing and performing a composition. By distancing himself from the repertoire, he gains the opportunity to continuously develop and refine his technical skills. During the competition, he played with great calm and confidence, demonstrating his thorough, specialized study. He prompts reflection on the future of musical performance art.
Léo Ispir (b.2002 – France)
program
Harold Noben (b.1978) – Caffeine
Franz Schubert – Sonata in a D 821
Gabriel Fauré – Elegy op. 24
Dana Protopopescu, piano accompanist
The pieces from the selected repertoire complement each other and cover a broad spectrum. With his gift for melody, he combines strength and finesse in maintaining the rhythm and flawlessly executing technically demanding passages, capturing the audience's attention. Crystal-clear articulation. In harmony with his exceptional, high-quality cello, he conveys the emotions of the Elegy with great sensitivity. Distinctive phrasing and intonation in Schubert, mastery of his stage presence…
Jiaxun Yao (b.2002 – China)
program
Harold Noben (b.1978) – Caffeine
Igor Stravinsky – Italian Suite
Elliott Carter – Figment I
Joseph Dall'Abaco – Caprice No. 6 in E
Gaspar Cassado – Requiebros
Dana Protopopescu, piano accompanist
A flawless sonority, achieved through extraordinary effort that has completely transformed her, though at the cost of some imprecisions in her bowing technique – where the bow occasionally failed to strike the strings at the proper angle – and in the positioning of her left hand on the bow. Balance, excellent projection, complete perfection of tone, a truly impressive repertoire and performance.
