Fourth Semifinal Day – Afternoon
program
Leopold Hofmann – Concerto in D major Badley D3
Royal Chamber Orchestra of Wallonia, dir. Vahan Mardirossian
Leo Ispir demonstrates the tremendous determination that undoubtedly underpinned his deep engagement with Hoffman's concerto, allowing him to now showcase his cello mastery with seemingly effortless ease. While we saw him wrestling with a certain competitive tension during the recital, that has now vanished and he plays with incredible comfort and skill the most demanding passages – the very ones we were eagerly anticipating.
program
Leopold Hofmann – Concerto in D major Badley D3
Royal Chamber Orchestra of Wallonia, dir. Vahan Mardirossian
In her captivating performance, Jiaxun Yao brings Hoffman's concerto to life with great feeling and beautiful tone, but I fear the jury will judge her harshly for her recurring shortcomings in bow technique, stemming from a fraction-of-a-second hesitation in her right hand. During this session, an extra scherzo appeared where it wasn't intended, which is unfortunate for her given the competition results.
program
Harold Noben – Caffeine
FFranz Schubert – Sonata in D 821
KKrzysztof Penderecki – Capriccio per Siegfried Palm
Anna Naretto, piano accompanist
Lionel Martin offers a fresh definition and content to artistic freedom, pushing the boundaries of what is possible with a cello, making considerable technical innovations. This culminates in the final piece, Penderecki's Capriccio, which stands in stark contrast to Schubert's sonata, rich in romantic, inspiring themes that he performs with appropriate feeling. Regardless of the competition outcome, he will remain in memory for this exceptionally expressive virtuosic performance and artistic impression.
program
Harold Noben – Caffeine
FFrancis Poulenc – Sonata for Cello and Piano FP 143
JJulius Klengel– Scherzo op. 6
Naoko Sonoda, piano
As in the previous sessions, he plays with great joy and confidence, maintaining a calm demeanor while performing the well-rehearsed repertoire. He approaches the required program in a personal manner, successfully tackling all the challenges of the competition, allowing both his own abilities and those of his cello to shine through fully.
