There are no losers, only winners at this year's Gina Bachauer International Artists Piano Competition.
That's the way Paul Pollei, founder and director of the competition, sees it. "We can't lose, no matter who goes forward," he told the Deseret News.
Last Saturday, the 10-member jury selected six competitors who will move on to the final round, where they will play a concerto with the Utah Symphony under guest conductor Lawrence Leighton Smith. The finals take place at Abravanel Hall over two evenings, June 30 and July 1.
Featured June 30, was Zhang Zho, 21, from China, in Sergei Rachmaninoff's Concerto No. 2 in C minor; Lukas Geniusas, 19, from Russia, in Rachmaninoff's Concerto No. 3 in D minor; and Serhiy Salov, 31, from Ukraine, in Johannes Brahms' Concerto No. 2 in B flat major.
On July 1, it will be Yunjie Chen, 29, from China, in Frédéric Chopin's Concerto No. 1 in F minor; Kotaro Fukuma, 27, of Japan, in Robert Schumann's Concerto in A minor; and Dmitri Levkovich, 31, from Ukraine, in Rachmaninoff's Concerto No. 2 in C minor.
The awards ceremony will take place immediately after tonight's performances, after the judges have decided on the rankings of the six. The finalists are competing for a total cash purse of nearly $80,000, with the first-prize winner receiving $30,000 in money, a recording session and also recital and concert engagements.
The six were selected out of a total of 37 participants who represented 17 countries, including five from the United States. Judging them was difficult because of the high level of playing, Pollei said, but he is pleased with the result. "The finalists are all the top of the top. I don't think anyone is disappointed, because from this group (of competitors), anyone could have been a finalist."
Three of them — Zho, Geniusas and Fukuma — have competed in the Bachauer in the past, but on the junior level. "Zhang was such a tiny girl when she was a prize winner in the junior competition," Pollei said. "I heard her play during this competition, and she is a first-class artist who gave a blockbuster performance."
Geniusas comes from royal piano blood in Russia, Pollei said. "He comes from a piano dynasty, and I'm very happy to see him in the final round. He played the Chopin etudes during the competition. That was his biggest test, so the Rachamninoff Third will be like graduate school."
There aren't too many Japanese pianists on the international scene right now, so having Fukuma in the final round is a treat. "He's won prizes at other competitions, and he has recordings out," Pollei said. "Everything is in his favor, and he's a real power right now."
While Salov hasn't competed in the Bachauer before, he should be familiar to local audiences. He was part of this year's Bachauer recital series, and he caused quite a stir playing his own transcription of Igor Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring."
The last two in the final round — Levkovich and Chen — should also be strong contenders for first prize. "Dmitri is a blockbuster guy, and we're satisfied with him," Pollei said.
He is also happy with Chen in the lineup. "He is certainly qualified to be there."
It's gratifying to see so many familiar faces in this year's competition, Pollei said. "They were here as juniors, and they wanted to come back and try again. That suits us, and it says something about the Bachauer."
Pollei likes the program for the finals. "I really think this is a fabulous event," he said. "Everybody loves Rachmaninoff, and we have three of those. The Schumann and the Chopin haven't been heard in the finals forever, but the big blockbuster is the Brahms."
Everyone involved with the Bachauer is looking forward to the final round. "We're ready," Pollei said. "Away we go."
If you go...
What: Gina Bachauer International Artists Piano Competition Final Round with the Utah Symphony, Lawrence Leighton Smith, conductor
Where: Abravanel Hall
When: July 1, 7 p.m.
How much: $25
Phone: 801-355-2787 or 888-451-2787
Web: arttix.org
e-mail: ereichel@desnews.com