First candidate: Stéphanie Huang - Belgium, °1996
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© Amandine Lauriol / Académie Jaroussky[/caption]
As is by now generally known, Stéphanie Huang is the sister of violinist Sylvia Huang who was also a laureate of the KEW three years ago.
'5 Albumblätter' by Jörg Widmann is the prescribed work. We can by now familiarize ourselves with it and follow it easily. It is a shorter work with some pitfalls, both technical and lyrical. The cellist must switch from very contemporary to very romantic phrases and that is an interplay with the orchestra and in solo passages. Stéphanie Huang interprets it with a very personal touch, rather softer as befits this somewhat delicate young woman.
From Antonín Dvořák, the jury and audience heard the Concerto n. 2 in b op. 104 B 191. As on the first evening and the coming final days, the Brussels Philharmonic under the direction of Stéphane Denève accompanies the musicians, including Stéphanie Huang. This rewarding late-romantic work is easy on the ear and when it is played by a compatriot, everyone is somewhat more subjective in their judgment. Subjective or not, Stéphanie is a talented soloist with a beautiful future ahead of her. That much is certain.
Second candidate: Marcel Johannes Kits - Estonia, °1995
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© Kaupo Kikkas[/caption]
With the prescribed work of Jörg Widmanns 5 Albumblätter, this laureate immediately provides insight into his broad technical palette. He plays very cleanly and with conviction. All the different elements that the work contains come into their own with the necessary calculation.
Speaking of calculation in playing, Dmitry Shostakovich's Concerto n. 1 in Es op. 107 shows the cellist using much intelligence. It is above all the intelligence that predominates in the performance and overshadows the lyrical elements. It makes the performance somewhat cool. The applause from the audience reveals that it is on the same wavelength. Whether the jury shares this view, we will find out at the end of this week.
The KEW can be followed directly via livestream. Click on and sit with us in the front row.
Tuesday 31/05 [20:00]
Stéphanie Huang [ Antonín Dvořák, Concerto n. 2 en si mineur op. 104 | Concerto n. 2 in b op. 104 ]
Marcel Johannes Kits [ Dmitry Shostakovich, Concerto n. 1 en mi bémol majeur op. 107 | Concerto n. 1 in Es op. 107 ]