Sixth semifinal day – afternoon
program
Anton Kraft – Concerto in C op. 4
Royal Chamber Orchestra of Wallonia, dir.Vahan Mardirossian
Zeller excels in artistic expression, control, balance, fluency, and precision of the left hand, consistency in his bow movements, and the ability to musically interpret the ideas and 'mathematics' that the composer has embedded in the score. The cellist makes optimal use of the fact that this classical concerto originated precisely in his own cultural space and context, which enables him to radiate striking, elegant beauty through balance, symmetry, and stability.
program
Leopold Hofmann – Concerto in D Badley D3
Royal Chamber Orchestra of Wallonia, dir.Vahan Mardirossian
With his interpretation of the Hofmann concerto, in which the cello soloist has ample opportunity to demonstrate his expressivity, Andrew Ilhoon Byun abundantly proves his place in the advanced round of the competition. By combining sound quality and technical excellence, which especially shines in the high registers, he indirectly reveals his top level of training and experience and continuously confirms the reasons for recognition of his training and performance achievements.
program
César Franck – Sonata in A FWV 8
Harold Noben – Caffeine
Antoine de Grolée, piano accompanist
The choice of Franck was an excellent match for Clara Dietlin, as she demonstrates profound reflection on the pieces and the philosophy and lyricism contained in the composition. The four-movement sonata, which is highly varied in technique and emotionality, was performed with mastery and artistry. This also reminds me of the efforts currently being made to bring the cello back into the public eye, after a rather modest presence in chamber music here in Belgium. Her maturity and vision supported her in the Caffeine piece, an outstanding, masterful interpretation of the work—the finest we have heard to date. The boundaries of cello playing are tested here, alluding to the contemporary state of suspended communication, as presented by composer Harold Noben.
program
Harold Noben – Caffeine
György Ligeti – Sonata for solo cello
Johannes Brahms – Sonata no. 1 in e op. 38
Dana Protopopescu, piano accompanist
Dilshod Narzillaev plays with a kind of artistic purity and individuality. He was able to convey all the tensions of the composition 'Caffeine' beautifully. In Ligeti, the two-part piece resonated with clashes between civilizations, ethnographic traditions suffocated in striving for strange legacies to cherish. In Brahms' three-movement sonata, he merged with his cello into a whole of impeccable aesthetics and technique, with outstanding cello tone.
