Fifty years ago on this date, June 24: John Lill wins the Gold Medal (shared with Vladimir Krainev), presented by Jury Chairman Emil Gilels, at the Moscow International Tchaikovsky Competition.
Very well done John! A very well deserved win followed by an amazing career.. It has been a privilege to attend so many exceptional concerts over the past 50 years… You really are one of the all time greats!!!
Who could forget those unbelievably thrilling double octaves in the Allegro con fuoco finale of the Tchaikovsky B flat minor? Still staggering after all these years! The video still exists, I hope? That’s when a great artist throws caution to the winds and takes his interpretative life in his hands. Only Horowitz comes close.
I have an old Soviet Melodiya vinyl of John Lill playing in round one of the competition, with the performances dated as 2nd/3rd of June 1970. He was due to give a recital in Moscow this June on the same date, exactly 50 years to the day of him first playing in Moscow – sadly cancelled, of course. A privilege to have seen so many wonderful performances of his over the decades. Thank you!
Congratulations, John.
Looking at that photograph you have hardly changed at all.
Very well done John! A very well deserved win followed by an amazing career.. It has been a privilege to attend so many exceptional concerts over the past 50 years… You really are one of the all time greats!!!
Who could forget those unbelievably thrilling double octaves in the Allegro con fuoco finale of the Tchaikovsky B flat minor? Still staggering after all these years! The video still exists, I hope? That’s when a great artist throws caution to the winds and takes his interpretative life in his hands. Only Horowitz comes close.
I have an old Soviet Melodiya vinyl of John Lill playing in round one of the competition, with the performances dated as 2nd/3rd of June 1970. He was due to give a recital in Moscow this June on the same date, exactly 50 years to the day of him first playing in Moscow – sadly cancelled, of course. A privilege to have seen so many wonderful performances of his over the decades. Thank you!
Hi Tara, may I ask what repertoire John is playing on the Melodiya LP? Colin
Hi Colin,
Bach – Prelude & Fugue No. 14 (BWV 883(
Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 2
Mozart Sonata No. 17 (K.576)
I was a music student in Moscow during the 80s and was given it in exchange for a London Street atlas! 🙂
Thanks Tara, that was a good deal. Best wishes, Colin