The Cliburn
Finalists for the 16th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition are, front, from left, Anna Geniushene, Ilya Shmukler, Uladzislau Khandohi, Yunchan Lim, Clayton Stephenson, and Dmytro Choni.
It’s been said of John Adams, a founding father, that he was the best talent scout of them all, tapping Thomas Jefferson to elaborate on it all and George Washington to assemble and lead the brawn.
The jury at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition might have as difficult a task of making verdicts among these peculiar talents, but that body, chaired by Marin Alsop, at the 16th edition of one of the world’s premier classical music contest has spoken.
The last stretch of the competition is about to begin with the determination on Sunday of the six finalists, the final field cut from 12 semifinalists at Bass Hall. The final 6:
Uladzislau Khandohi, Belarus, 20
Clayton Stephenson, United States, 23
The final round begins Tuesday at Bass Hall. In the finals, each competitor will perform two concertos with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra conducted by Alsop. Pianists must select one concerto from the following lists. The winner will be announced Saturday at the awards ceremony at 7 p.m.
Individual tickets range in price from $30 to $225.
SCHEDULE
Tuesday
Final Round Concert 1 – 7:30 p.m.
Yunchan Lim, South Korea, 18 – Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, op. 37
Ilya Shmukler, Russia, 27 – Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 3 in D Minor, op. 30
20-minute intermission
Clayton Stephenson, United States, 23 – Gershwin Piano Concerto in F Major
Wednesday
Final Round Concert 2 – 7:30 p.m.
Uladzislau Khandohi, Belarus, 20 – Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, op. 18
Anna Geniushene, Russia, 31 – Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major, op. 15
20-minute intermission
Dmytro Choni, Ukraine, 28 – Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Major, op. 26
Friday
Final Round Concert 3 – 7:30 p.m.
Clayton Stephenson, United States, 23 – Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 3 in D Minor, op. 30
Ilya Shmukler, Russia, 27 – Grieg Piano Concerto in A Minor, op. 16
20-minute intermission
Yunchan Lim, South Korea, 18 – Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 3 in D Minor, op. 30
Saturday
Final Round Concert 4 – 3:00 p.m.
Dmytro Choni, Ukraine, 28 – Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, op. 37
Uladzislau Khandohi, Belarus, 20 – Chopin Piano Concerto No. 1 in E Minor, op. 11
20-minute intermission
Anna Geniushene, Russia, 31 – Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat Minor, op. 23
