20 & 21 September Finals – St George’s Hall, Bradford
Saturday 21 September
Khanh Nhi Luong
Sergei Prokofiev Concerto No.3 in C, Op.26
Jaedan Izik-Dzurko
Johannes Brahms Concerto No.2 in B-flat, Op.83
These competitors will perform Concertos with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra under its Chief Conductor Domingo Hindoyan.
***
Khanh Nhi Luong gave an initially impressive account of Prokofiev 3, fleet fingers when required, if never showy, and well-judged expressional leeway. Orchestral detail was a little recessed, however, even the castanets. The second movement was a little square at times, if with variety coming to the fore, and the Finale lacked excitement; worse, the expansive middle section was indulged beyond itself, and the violins were thin. Initial impressions were not lived up to.
In Brahms 2, Jaedan Izik-Dzurko gave a sleepy traversal of the first movement, seemingly with Hindoyan complicit in such dullness, notwithstanding that any pianist tackling this technically demanding work needs more than ten digits, it was difficult to know if Izik-Dzurko was accommodating the writing or was offering a considered if not cogent interpretation of the music. The second movement had a bit more fire, but dreaminess surfaced again, and the cello-led slow movement (nice solo, ditto the oboe, and horn at the Concerto’s very start), came over reasonably well, even though this nearly reached a standstill, too. The Finale had playful purpose. The pianist, when interviewed, clearly has both feet on the ground, a likeable modesty.
This now leads to Junyan Chen taking the First Prize, I assume (this piece published before the results are made known), although I only heard her Rachmaninov from last night, and not the earlier rounds, and the same for Izik-Dzurko. Overall, broadcast sound could have been better, presenters less effusive.
I agree with you. Your comments are very accurate. Izik-Dzurko’s Brahms did not fight with the beast in the first movement. Too bland. I even heard a wrong note in the first five minutes. I might be wrong. Not my winner. Compared to Ariel Lanyi’s Brahms no. 2 in 2021 Leeds Piano Competition, Izik-Dzurko’s version is not persuasive, and lacks personal style.