Honens Piano Podcast

Roman Rabinovich performs Chopin's Ballade No. 4 Op. 52.

Today we'll hear from 2009 Honens Laureate Gilles Vonsattel. In this episode, Gilles performs Louise Farrenc’sAir russe Varié Op. 17.  Robert Schumann and Felix Mendelssohn could be counted among Farrenc's admirers and for good reason; Farrenc wrote in an imaginative and knowledgeable international style, prizing transparency and clear forms. Enjoy!

Today is the final episode of the Honens @ Home: Meet the Quarterfinalists series. In this episode, we meet Dominic Muzzi. Dominic is no stranger to winning competitions—he started winning when he was only a teenager. He is currently enrolled in the doctoral program at Indiana University, where his teacher, 2003 Honens Laureate Roberto Plano, might have put the Honens bug in his ear.

In this video, Dominic shares the third movement, Vivo, from Grażyna Bacewicz's Piano Sonata No. 2. 

Let's listen.

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You might recognize today's featured Quarterfinalist from the 2018 Honens International Piano Competition—Austrian pianist and 2018 Semifinalist Philipp Scheucher has returned for the 2022 Competition.

Today, Philipp shares with us his own arrangement of Radetzky March by Johann Strauss. Philipp says: "We are exposed to so much negative news, the joy of music and music making can be healing." We couldn't agree more. 

Enjoy. 

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Today, we hear from Honens Quarterfinalist Zhora Sargsyan with a performance of Rachmaninov's Étude-tableau Op. 39 No. 5.

Zhora poetically describes this piece as very dramatic and a little bit Wagnerian: symphonic and polyphonic. He suggests listening for the single melodic line pitted against the mass of chords. The melody has to overcome the heaviness and insist on its existence. In the end, Zhora says the drama resolves and through the storm the spot of light can be seen, symbolizing hope for survival.

Let's listen.

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This week, we are pleased to feature KaJeng Wong. KaJeng, born in Hong Kong, has studied in the US, UK, and Sweden. He is the Artistic Director of Music Lab (a non-profit organization in Hong Kong that believes in the value of performance and its power to connect with people), and is interested in collaborative projects involving dance and theatre. He's also the subject of an award-winning documentary about his growth as a young musician called KJ: Music & Life.

Today we hear KaJeng perform an arrangement of J.S. Bach's Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring by Dame Myra Hess.

Enjoy.

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In this episode, enjoy J.S. Bach's theatrical Toccata in D Major BWV 912performed by Italian pianist and Honens Quarterfinalist Danilo Mascetti. 

Since 2014, Danilo has been the co-founder and Artistic Director of the Arte Solidate Festival at Lake Como, an annual international classical music festival and charity in Italy. In addition to supporting young artists, the festival collaborates with local social organizations to support minors in need, a cause close to Danilo's heart. 

Let's listen. 

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Today we meet 2022 Honens Quarterfinalist Lorenzo Soulès. Lorenzo, born in Lyon, France, completed his studies in Cologne.

Lorenzo has chosen a selection from Isaac Albéniz's Iberia to share with us. Iberia is one of the great masterpieces for piano, evoking the colours and atmosphere of Spain. It's a suite divided into four books, each made up of three pieces. Lorenzo performs El Albaicin, named for a district in Granada, in this podcast.

Let's listen.

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Today, we are pleased to feature a pianist all the way from Australia! Honens Quarterfinalist Alexander Yau is a multi-talented musician. He's a skilled clarinetist, a classical tenor, and additionally, he composes and arranges his own pieces. 

In this podcast, Alexander makes his debut as a conductor from the keyboard. Enjoy this performance of the slow movement from Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 23 in A Major K. 488.

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This week, 2022 Honens Quarterfinalist Timofey Dolya invites us into his living room in Austria for a performance of Scriabin's Sonata No. 2 in G-sharp minor. This piece takes us from a quiet night on the seashore to the turbulence of a stormy ocean. 

Enjoy!

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This week, we are pleased to share two miniatures from Russian pianist and 2022 Honens Quarterfinalist Dmitry Yudin. The first piece is a familiar work by Mendelssohn, transcribed by Rachmaninov, and the second is a work by the less well-known early 20th century composer Sergei Lyapunov.

These two pieces are ones Dmitry never tires of playing. He says each has "its own unique character: a mysterious, elegant, and ironic scherzo, and a very temperamental and virtuosic Russian dance, the Lezghinka."

Let's listen.

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In this episode, enjoy a performance of Chopin's Scherzo No. 3 Op. 39. Italian pianist and 2022 Honens Quarterfinalist Federico Gad Crema began playing piano at nine years old. The first piece he learned was by Chopin, a composer whose music Federico continues to learn, perform, and love. 

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Today we feature 2022 Quarterfinalist Minkyu Kim. Born in South Korea and a graduate of Seoul National University, Minkyu continues his studies in Scotland, where he’s enjoyed many performances with Scottish ensembles. 

Enjoy!

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If you follow piano competitions around the world, you may have already heard about this week's featured Quarterfinalist. Ukrainian pianist Dmytro Choni has won prizes at numerous competitions throughout his career. Most recently, he was named a Finalist in the 2021 Leeds Competition.

Enjoy this video from Dmytro, performing one of his favourite works, Claude Debussy'sL’Isle Joyeuse(The Joyous Isle).

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Welcome back to Honens @ Home.

Today we are pleased to feature 2022 Quarterfinalist George Fu. George, a Chinese-American pianist and composer, earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics at Harvard University before beginning music studies at the Curtis Institute and the Royal Academy.  

In this performance, with two works inspired by J.S. Bach, you will experience George's talents as both a pianist and composer—Rachmaninov's transcription of the Gavotte from Violin Partita No. 3followed by George's own reimagined transcription, Transformation, based on the Gigue from Violin Partita No. 2.

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In this episode of Open Lid, Catherine McClelland, Honens Director, Artistic Planning catches up with Marcel and Elizabeth Bergmann, also known as the Bergmann Duo. Hear about how they met and started playing together, the impact competitions have had on their career, the different challenges of playing piano duet versus piano duo, what each of them brings to the duo, their relationship with contemporary composer William Bolcom, Marcel's compositions, and more!

Learn more about the Bergmann Duo here.

What a year it has been.

It's hard to believe that it's already the end of 2021. But as we look back, we’re grateful to have continued to share the joy of music with you.

This is the last edition of Honens @ Home for the year. We will be back with more music in January. 

We are looking forward to 2022 (and the Competition!) with great anticipation. Until then, enjoy this special Holiday Edition of Honens @ Home from Honens Artistic Director Jon Kimura Parker. 

On behalf of all of us at Honens, we wish you and yours a very happy holiday season.

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Many of the 2022 Quarterfinalists have participated in previous competitions, but today's featured pianist, Elizaveta Kliuchereva, has a different and unique perspective. In 2017, Elizaveta served on the Junior Jury of the Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Competition in Tel Aviv. 

In this excerpt, you'll hear Elizaveta perform Scherzo from Symphony No. 6“Pathetique” by Tchaikovsky arr. Feinberg.

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This week, we are pleased to share a 2022 Quarterfinalist with an interesting Calgary connection. Chinese pianist Yangrui Cai participated in Morningside Music Bridge, the prestigious international training academy for young musicians that was hosted by Mount Royal University until 2015, then was administered by the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra.

In this excerpt, you'll hear Yangrui perform the first two movements—Russian Dance and Petrouchka’s Room—from Stravinsky's Petrouchka.

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This week, we're pleased to share Ce qu’a vu le vent d’ouest ("What the west wind saw") from Préludes Book 1 by Debussy, performed by Canadian pianist Jean-Luc Therrien.

As you'll hear from Jon Kimura Parker, one of Jean-Luc's recent projects has been recording Debussy's complete first book of Préludes on the Orpheus Classical label. This debut solo album, which also includes his own transcription of Liszt's Symphonic Poem No. 3 ''Les Préludes,'' was recently released on Spotify, and will be released on other platforms soon.

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American pianist and composer Robert Fleitz is today's featured Quarterfinalist. Robert was a Quarterfinalist in 2018 and looks back on it as a wonderful experience. We're glad he chose to reapply for 2022!

In this excerpt, enjoy Robert performing Pathmarks composed by Krists Auznieks. About this piece, Auzniek's wrote: "The journey truly begins after one stops excavating holy grails from dead ears and listens to what has become of the musical signs that, once distant, have become our own."

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Today, we are pleased to share Élisabeth Pion performing Gretchen am Spinnrade, Liszt's arrangement of a Schubert lied.

Élisabeth, a 26-year-old Canadian pianist who is currently studying in the UK, is also very interested in Tai Chi. In fact, she has been training at Wu's Tai Chi Chuan Academy in London for about a year and is loving it. Élisabeth believes that the deep and rich heritage that sustains the practice of Tai Chi is similar to music—poetic and supple, yet powerful and strong—with an endless journey of learning.

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In this episode of Open Lid, Catherine McClelland, Honens Director, Artistic Planning catches up with  2003 Honens Laureate Roberto Plano to discuss all things competitions. Throughout the interview, you'll also hear Roberto performing works by Chopin, Respighi, Brahms, and Schumann.

Follow Roberto on YouTube here and his family's YouTube here. 

We hope you enjoyed our first episode of Honens @ Home: Meet the Quarterfinalists. We're thrilled to give you a chance to get to know our 2022 Competitors and experience their artistry.

Today, we're pleased to share a performance of Nikolai Kapustin's Concert Etude Op. 40 No. 4 "Reminiscence" by Quarterfinalist Xander Benham. Xander, a 26-year-old pianist from the United Kingdom, is also an avid cook who works as a chef part-time and has a special interest in cooking Italian, Asian, and Turkish cuisines.

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We're delighted to introduce an exciting new series  ... Honens @ Home: Meet the Quarterfinalists.

Over the next several weeks, you'll hear from many of the 2022 Quarterfinalists, who were selected by our Applicant Screening Jury in December 2020.

We invited the Quarterfinalists to share a video performance with us to give you a chance to hear their artistry and learn more about them before the Quarterfinal rounds, which take place in New York and Frankfurt in March of next year.

Participation is optional. These videos will not be evaluated by the jury and are not, in any way, part of the 2022 Competition. 

For our first episode, enjoy Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12 in C-sharp minor performed by Honens Quarterfinalist Giovanni Bertolazzi. 

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In this episode of Honens @ Home, we want to share a video of 2009 Honens Laureate Gilles Vonsattel's performance of Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 32 in C minor Op. 111. This work, Beethoven's last sonata, is a great concluding climax to his piano sonata output. 

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At the Honens International Piano Competition, competitors are encouraged to perform music composed within the last 50 years as well as pivotal works of the piano literature in their self-programmed recitals. In 2018, Semifinalist Stefano Andreatta did just that when he performed ...just as the sun is always... (2006)by British composer Christian Mason. 

While it was composed for another piano competition, this work is not the virtuosic showpiece you might expect, perhaps because it was commissioned by a generous couple in memory of their daughter, Heidi, who passed when she was only 30. 

Let's listen now to this quiet and introspective work.

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Composed in 1953 and translated from Gaelic or Latin poems, Samuel Barber's Hermit Songs Op. 29 ranks among the great song cycles of the twentieth century. 

Barber was naturally drawn to vocal expression in his compositions. Upon discovering the verses, he said: "I have come across some poems of the 10th century, translated into Modern English by various people, and am making a song cycle of them. These were extraordinary men, monks or hermits or what not and they wrote these little poems. I find them very direct, unspoiled, and often curiously contemporaneous in feeling."

In this excerpt you hear two songs from the cycle, The Monk and His Cat and The Desire for Hermitage, performed at the 2015 Honens International Piano Competition by Semifinalist Yoon-Jee Kim and soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian.

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Franz Schubert's last three piano sonatas, composed near the end of his life, are sometimes compared to Mozart's final trilogy of Symphonies 39 to 41. In both cases, each piece differs in character, was written in a period of despair, and is almost epic in scale. 

Today, we'll hear the first of the three final piano works from Schubert and the stormiest in mood, Piano Sonata No. 19 in C minor D. 958,performed by Finalist Han Chen in his Semifinals Solo Round of the 2018 Honens International Piano Competition.

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At the 2015 Honens International Piano Competition, Semifinalist Karim Said performed Theme and Variations in D minor Op. 18b by Joannes Brahms, an arrangement of his first string sextet.  

Brahms was joined by Clara Schumann at the premiere of his String Sextet No. 1 in B-sharp Major Op. 18. She loved it and asked him to arrange the slow movement for solo piano. He obliged, and gave it to her in time for her birthday in 1860. 

This arrangement is "full of Brahms' typical subtleties of structure and melodic and harmonic beauty," (Steven Coburn, AllMusic) so it isn't surprising that Brahms, himself, was very fond of the piece.

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Today, enjoy three works by Franz Liszt from the 2018 Honens International Piano Competition. 

As you'll hear from Jon Kimura Parker, Liszt is well represented at Honens Competitions. After all, he wrote some of the most virtuosic and monumental music for pianists! These three miniatures, however, you probably haven't heard often. During her Semifinals Solo Round, Tzu-Yin Huang performed Bagatelle sans tonalité S. 216a, Valse oubliée No. 1 S. 215/1, and Romance oubliée No. 1 S. 527.

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Joseph Haydn was one of the most prolific and prominent composers of the Classical period. Unfortunately for pianists of his time, it wasn't always easy to get one of his scores. Prior to his publishing deal in 1774, pianists looking to play Haydn's compositions would have had to search for a handwritten, bootlegged copy.

The work we are sharing with you today is one of his first sonatas ever published, from a collection of six, and is still one of his most popular. We hope you enjoy Haydn's Sonata in F Major Hob. XVI/23, performed live at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity by 2009 Honens Prize Laureate Georgy Tchaidze.

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This week, we're pleased to share Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel Op. 24 by Johannes Brahms, performed live by Semifinalist Aristo Sham at the 2018 Honens International Piano Competition.

Composed in 1861 and dedicated to Clara Schumann, this is a work of "massive scope and dazzling variety." As Jon Kimura Parker explains, Brahms stuck with classical forms after many of his contemporaries moved on. In this piece, Brahms used a "Baroque theme, strict variations, and richness and scope of the piano technique, showcasing him as a preserver and representative of tradition."

According to Hyperion, "even Wagner saw its significance when Brahms played it to him, commenting grandly that it showed what could still be done with the old forms by someone who knew how to use them."

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This week we're pleased to share two songs from Dvořák's Op. 55, "The String is Taut" and "Songs my Mother Taught Me."

The second song in this excerpt is one you may recognize. As you'll hear from Jon Kimura Parker, it took off in popularity and has achieved widespread fame. The song's lovely melodies and chromatic harmonies are a shining example of the Romantic period, of which Dvořák was a member, also making it a perfect song to share with Mother's Day just around the corner. 

Enjoy the two songs, performed by 2015 Honens Semifinalist Yoon-Jee Kim accompanied by soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian.

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We've got a masterpiece to share with you this week: Frédéric Chopin's Ballade No. 4 in F minor Op. 52, performed by Semifinalist Tzu-Yin Huang. 

Ballade No. 4 is often considered the pinnacle of Chopin's music for solo piano. You'll hear a wide range of emotions from pathos to heroism, all wrapped up in beautiful melodies, dramatic key changes, and some of the finest writing for the piano. 

When you listen, it might be helpful to think about the ballade form in romantic literature—a dramatic narrative often based on legend or history. Chopin tells a story in this music, he just doesn't tell us what it is! For that, you'll need to use your imagination.

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This week, we are headed to the 2018 Honens International Piano Competition for a performance from Semifinalist Aristo Sham. 

Beethoven's Sonata No. 4 in F-sharp Major Op. 78is a rare, two-movement sonata that poses a challenge to the performer because it demands clarity and lightness as well as powerful and fast playing. Like Moonlight and Waldstein, this is a Beethoven piano sonata with a nickname. 

Let's listen as Jon Kimura Parker tells us more. 

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In this episode,  you'll hear a masterwork—Sergei Rachmaninov's Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor Op. 36,performed by 2018 Honens Semifinalist Stefano Andreatta. 

Rachmaninov composed his piano music for himself. He was an amazing virtuoso with a secret weapon ... enormous hands! With his fingers spread, his reach was 12 notes wide, or an octave and a half. Those big intervals are an extra challenge for other pianists learning his work. 

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This week, we head back to the 2015 Honens International Piano Competition to a performance from Semifinalist Yoon-Jee Kim. In her Semifinals Solo Round, Yoon-Jee played Charles-Valentin Alkan's arrangement of Haydn's Symphony No. 94 in G Major.

There has been lots of speculation about how this piece got its nickname, "Surprise Symphony." According to one colourful account, it was during a performance when Haydn, serving as conductor, impulsively altered the dynamics in the second movement. "Haydn had already given the downbeat to begin the movement when the gentle snores of a front-row patron piqued his sense of humour. He and his musicians forged ahead with the little theme until reaching its final chord, for which Haydn cued an immense fortissimo (loud tone) bringing the drowsy patron to his feet."

Enjoy, but beware of listening while drowsy!

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Today, we are pleased to feature 2015 Honens Semifinalist Samson Tsoy's performance of C.P.E. Bach'sSonata in G minor Wq. 65/17. 

Carl Philipp Emmanuel (C.P.E.) Bach and three of this brothers all became professional musicians, each trained almost entirely by their famous father, Johann Sebastian. Like many fathers, J.S. wanted his sons to have careers to fall back on, especially since, at the time, uneducated musicians were often treated as servants. 

Before taking on music full-time, C.P.E. obtained a degree in law. As it turned out, he never needed his law degree as he went on to become a very famous musician in his own right. A well-respected keyboardist and composer, C.P.E. Bach is known for bridging the gap between the Baroque and Classical eras.

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In this episode of Open Lid, Catherine McClelland, Honens Director, Artistic Planning catches up with  2000 Honens Laureates Katherine Chi and Alessandra Ammara. The three discuss memories from the 2000 Honens International Piano Competition,  adventures from past tours,  how they stayed connected during the pandemic, and their appreciation for each other. Katherine and Alessandra perform a program of Claude Debussy,  Alexina Louie, and Sergei Rachmaninov. 

At the 2018 Honens International Piano Competition, Finalist Han Chen performed Roussel's Divertissement Op. 6with the Azahar Ensemble. Described by AllMusic's Adrian Corleonis as "rhythmically alive with every bar," the piece is "pithy without being complex, harmonically fresh without system, robust but never knockabout, sensuous rather than sensual." 

What a perfect sentiment to carry with us for the remainder of the week.

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This week, we'll hear 2009 Honens Prize Laureate Georgy Tchaidze perform Haydn's Andante con variazioni in F minor Hob. XVII/6. The two themes in this work—one major, one minor—create a dialogue that BBC Radio 3's Stephen Johnson said alternates "melancholy with joyous exuberance without any real transition."

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We are thrilled to share this special performance today, recorded by the Chicago-based Canadian pianist and 2003 Honens Laureate, Winston Choi. 

A few months ago, Winston was part of a Laureate Circle Goes Onlineevent, where he shared a thoughtful program with works by Franz Schubert, Amy Beach, and William Grant Still. In this episode, you'll hear two of those pieces, both romantic and lyrical. The first is Schubert's Impromptu No. 3 in B-flat Major Op. 142, which Winston describes as, "perhaps one of the most delightful and positive pieces one can find," and Beach's Ballade Op. 6. Winston describes Beach as "a composer that should be considered one of the greats," whose music is "rich, thick, complex, and yet, speaks organically."

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Today, we are pleased to share 2006 Honens Laureate Hinrich Alpers performing the third movement of Franz Liszt's transcription of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 in D minor Op. 125,recorded at his summer home in  Berlin. Widely considered the latter's greatest work, ‘Beethoven 9’ was composed between 1822 and 1824 and first performed in Vienna on 7 May 1824. Liszt's transcription for solo piano is meticulous in its accurate reproduction and requires much from the pianist (technique, stamina, and musicianship) to fully realize an entire orchestra with only 10 fingers.

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Today, we are pleased to feature part two, the last six miniatures, of 2012 Honens Prize Laureate Pavel Kolesnikov's performance from R. Schumann's Kinderszenen"Scenes from Childhood." 

The work was originally called Leichte Stücke "Easy Pieces." Schumann added the movement titles after he had completed the composition and described them as "nothing more than delicate hints for execution and interpretation."

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In this episode of Open Lid, 2009 Honens Laureate Gilles Vonsattel discusses his  preparation to record Sir George Benjamin's  Shadowlines, including working with the composer himself, with Catherine McClelland,  Honens Director, Artistic Planning.

Learn more about Gilles on his website: gillesvonsattel.com

This week, we are pleased to share the first seven minatures of R. Schumann's Kinderszenen"Scenes from Childhood," performed live by 2012 Honens Prize Laureate Pavel Kolesnikov. 

Composed in 1838, this work represents Schumann's interest in the idealism and innocence of childhood. He described the works as "more cheerful, gentler, and more melodic" than his earlier works. 

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Today's excerpt comes all the way from Italy, from 2000 Honens Laureate Alessandra Ammara performing Maurice Ravel's Scarbofrom Gaspard de la nuit. 

Composed in 1908, Gaspard de la nuit is considered one of the most difficult pieces in Ravel's repertoire. The work is a window into Ravel's lively imagination and musical inventiveness. It is a triathlon for a pianist, with a moderately fast opening movement, a slow movement in the middle, and Scarbo, a fast, impressive finale. Scarbo jumps intensely from theme to theme, using jagged and highly advanced piano techniques, and is fiendishly difficult.

Jon Kimura Parker shares why this particular ex

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Watch the video edition of this excerpt at honens.com/home.cerpt is so special to some patients in Italian hospitals. 

Today, we are excited to share Three Visions by William Grant Still, performed by 2003 Honens Laureate Winston Choi.

Though he is a relatively unknown composer, Winston shares that Still is "arguably the greatest African American composer of the 20th century." Winston is most interested in rare works and champions those he believes should be better known and performed more widely. This piece is an example of exactly that—a fantastic composer with a distinct voice, colourful music, and exploration of the entire piano in his music.


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This week, we're pleased to share the complete cycle of Chopin's Preludes Op. 28, performed by 2015 Honens Finalist Henry Kramer.

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This week, we are pleased to feature a special clip from 2003 Honens Laureate Roberto Plano. In this excerpt, Roberto performs an arrangement of one of the most famous opera arias, Casta Diva from Norma by Italian composer Vincenzo Bellini.

Frédéric Chopin began his arrangement of this aria in 1831. He started writing the left hand, but eventually he abandoned the project. It is speculated that Chopin had planned to write the right hand later or have the work performed with a singer. Many years later, the arrangement was reconstructed and published by Polish scholar Wojciech Nowik.

Roberto has added his own touch to Chopin's arrangement, inspired by how singers sing the melody.

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Today we are pleased to feature Honens Finalist and winner of the 2018 Audience Award, Llewellyn Sanchez-Werner. 

In his Semifinals solo round, Llewellyn performed American composer Wayne Oquin's Détours. The piece, dedicated to Marc-André Hamelin, follows a set of 15 variations (or "detours"), each flowing continuously after the last. It travels between points of extremity: from delicate to solid, from fleeting to expansive. As you'll hear from Jon Kimura Parker, the piece is, at all times, extraordinary. 

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Today, enjoy  Maurice Ravel's Sonatine, performed by 2006 Honens Laureate Hinrich Alpers in his home in Germany. 

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In 2018, Honens International Piano Competition Semifinalists chose between four programs in the collaborative round. Semifinalist Adela Liculescu chose the program that included Gabriel Fauré's Violin Sonata No. 1.

About the piece, Fauré's former piano teacher, Camille Saint-Saëns, said: "In this sonata you can find everything to tempt a gourmet: new forms, excellent modulations, unusual tone colours, and the use of unexpected rhythms. A magic floats above everything, encompassing the whole work, causing the crowd of usual listeners to accept the unimagined audacity as something quite normal. With this work Monsieur Fauré takes his place among the masters.”

It's no wonder the piece is one of Jon Kimura Parker's favourites. 

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Let's go back a few years to hear two clips from 2009 Honens Prize Laureate Georgy Tchaidze.

After listening to Georgy perform one of Medtner's Fairy Tales, known as the greatest but most neglected piano music in Medtner's repertoire, enjoy Dvořák's Finale from Piano Quintet in A Major Op. 81 with Georgy and 2010 BISQC first prize winner, the Cecilia String Quartet.

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We're lightening things up this week with music you usually only hear around the holidays. In 2015, Semifinalist Samson Tsoy performed Tchaikovsky arr. Pletnev's Concert Suite from The Nutcracker Op. 71. We'll listen to three of the most famous character dances in this excerpt—Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, Russian Trepak, and Chinese Dancerecorded live at the 2015 Honens International Piano Competition in Calgary, Canada. 

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Today, we head back to the 2012 Honens International Piano Competition for a performance of Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor Op. 27 No. 2 by Prize Laureate Pavel Kolesnikov. 

While the piece is well known as the "Moonlight Sonata," Beethoven never knew that title. The nickname came five years after Beethoven's death from music critic and German poet Ludwig Rellstab. Upon hearing the first movement, Rellstab said it sounded like moonlight shining on Lake Lucerne in Switzerland.  

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For the final week of a month dedicated to 2018 Honens Prize Laureate Nicolas Namoradze, enjoy this excerpt of him performing a trio of works, all recorded live during his Semifinals Solo Round at the 2018 Honens International Piano Competition.

First, you'll hear the final movement of J.S. Bach's Partita No. 6 in E minor BWV 830; then the first movement of R. Schumann's Humoreske in B-flat Major Op. 20; and finally Godowsky's transcription of Chopin's Etude in G-sharp minor Op. 25 No. 6 “Double Thirds”.

As Jon Kimura Parker says, it's hard to keep up with all of Nicolas' recent accolades! We created a list on our website to capture everything all in one place for easy reviewing.

See you next week!

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Welcome back to Honens @ Home.

This week we are pleased to feature four of 2018 Honens Prize Laureate Nicolas Namoradze's own compositions. First, enjoy Moon, Refracted, Nicolas' own arrangement of Rentarō Taki's famous Japanese song, Kojo no Tsuki (The Moon Over the Ruined Castle). Then, you'll hear Nicolas' first three Etudes—Major Scales, Mostly Triads, and Moving Mirrors—performed live at the 2018 Honens International Piano Competition.

As you'll hear from Honens Artistic Director Jon Kimura Parker, scores for Nicolas' compositions in this excerpt (and more!) are now available for purchase through the highly-respected Japanese publishing company, Muse Press. 

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We mentioned last week that 2018 Honens Prize Laureate Nicolas Namoradze is enjoying a flurry of recent success, especially with regard to his new Hyperion album, Fragments from Hans Andersen & Studies by York Bowen. As you'll hear from Artistic Director Jon Kimura Parker, among other accolades, the album was selected as the prestigious Gramophone Editor's Choice in January!

In this excerpt, enjoy Nicolas' performance of Canadian composer Alexina Louie's   at the Chelsea Music Festival. Based on a Zen poem, this piece shows Louie's unique personality and expressive style.

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For the month of February, we are dedicating Honens @ Home to 2018 Honens Prize Laureate Nicolas Namoradze! As you'll hear from Artistic Director Jon Kimura Parker, despite the challenging times, Nicolas has had a flurry of recent success that we are excited to share with you. 

In today's excerpt, enjoy the third movement of Beethoven's Quintet for piano and winds in E-flat Major Op. 16 with the Azahar Ensemble, recorded live at the 2018 Honens International Piano Competition in Calgary. Said to be modelled after Mozart's Quintet K. 452, the piece showcases Beethoven's composing and pianistic prowess ... and Nicolas Namoradze's skill as a chamber musician!

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At the 2018 Honens International Piano Competition, Semifinalist Tzu-Yin Huang performed Intermezzo interrotto, György Sándor's solo piano arrangement of the fourth movement of Béla Bartók's Concerto for Orchestra. 

Concerto for Orchestra is one of Bartók's best known, most popular, and most accessible works. In 1943, Bartók was in and out of the hospital, thinking his career in music was over, when the Boston Symphony conductor, Serge Koussevitzky, came to offer him the commission. He completed the Concerto in only a few months. It premiered on 1 December 1944. 

After his death, Bartók's son, Peter, discovered a manuscript for a piano reduction of the score. Soon after, he asked Sándor to prepare the script for publication and performance, which is the arrangement you are about to hear. 

Enjoy this performance from Semifinalist Tzu-Yin Huang recorded live at the 2018 Honens International Piano Competition!

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In this episode, 2018 Honens Prize Laureate Nicolas Namoradze performs J.S. Bach's Partita No. 6 in E minor BWV 830live at the 2018 Honens International Piano Competition.

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This week, we're pleased to feature Honens Finalist Henry Kramer performing a trio of works from his Semifinals Solo Recital live at the 2015 Honens International Piano Competition.  Enjoy M. Ravel's Ondine fromGaspard de la Nuit, F. Chopin's Prelude Op. 28 No. 15 “Raindrop”, and G.Ligeti's Musica Ricercata.

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Happy New Year!

Today, let us be nourished by a performance of Gabriel Fauré's Préludes Op. 103by 2015 Honens Semifinalist Scott Cuellar.

As you'll hear from Jon Kimura Parker, Honens Artistic Director, these are somewhat unfamiliar works. Composed by Fauré at about the same time as he was starting to lose his hearing, the preludes are known for classical restraint and understatement, and express deep, mingled emotions with a mysterious and complex simplicity.

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This week, we are pleased to share a special Holiday Edition Honens @ Home with Jon Kimura Parker. This is the last edition of Honens @ Home for the year. After a brief pause (or, intermission, if you will) we'll be back with more music in January.

On behalf of all of us at Honens, we wish you and yours a very happy holiday season filled with love, laughter, music ... and virtual gatherings.

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In this episode of Open Lid, 2003 Honens Laureate Winston Choi discusses American composer Charles Tomlinson Griffes' Roman Sketches with Catherine McClelland,  Honens Director, Artistic Planning.

Catch up with Winston on YouTube: youtube.com/WinstonChoi

In this episode, enjoy the first movement of Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 21 in C Major Op. 53“Waldstein” performed by 2006 Honens Laureate Hinrich Alpers.

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Today, enjoy a performance from 2018 Honens Semifinalist Tzu-Yin Huang of J.S. Bach's Partita No. 3 in A minor BWV 827 live at the 2018 Honens International Piano Competition.

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In this episode, we're happy to share 2015 Honens Finalist Artem Yasynkyy performing Gérard Pesson's La Lumière n’a pas de bras pour nous porter and Josef Hofmann's Mazurka in A minor Op. 16 No. 1 live at the 2015 Honens International Piano Competition.

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This week, we are pleased to showcase 2018 Honens Finalist Han Chen performing Franz Liszt's Réminiscences de Don Juan S. 418,a 19th century mashup of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Don Giovanni, live at the 2018 Honens International Piano Competition.

Watch the video edition of this excerpt at honens.com/home.

In this episode of Open Lid, CBC Music Radio Host Katherine Duncan hosts a conversation between 2018 Honens Prize Laureate Nicolas Namoradze and RBC Olympic Gymnast Jackson Payne on the art of competing. 

In this episode of Honens @ Home, we're pleased to share 2018 Honens Finalist and winner of the 2018 Audience Award, Llewellyn Sanchez-Werner performing Claude Debussy's Violin Sonata in G minorlive at the 2018 Honens International Piano Competition with Canadian violinist Jonathan Crow.

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Today, we're pleased to feature 2012 Honens Prize Laureate Pavel Kolesnikov performing Felix Mendelssohn's Molto allegro e vivace from Sonata for cello and piano No. 2 in D Major Op. 58 live at the 2012 Honens International Piano Competition with cellist Johannes Moser.

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In this episode of Honens @ Home, we're pleased to feature 2015 Honens Prize Laureate Luca Buratto performing R. Schumann's Davidsbündlertänze Op. 6 No. 14 Zart und singenlive at the 2015 Honens International Piano Competition.

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This week on Honens @ Home, 2018 Honens Prize Laureate Nicolas Namoradze performs R. Taki arr. N. Namoradze's Moon Refracted in Toyko, Japan.

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Today, we're pleased to feature 2018 Honens Semifinalist Megan-Geoffrey Prins performing Jeanne Zaidel-Rudolph's Catch me if you can live at the 2018 Honens International Piano Competition.

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In the first episode of Open Lid, Honens Artistic Director Jon Kimura Parker and 2018 Prize Laureate Nicolas Namoradze dive deep in conversation about Namoradze's first three Etudes. 

In this episode, 2018 Honens Semifinalist Adela Liculescu performs Christoph Willibald Gluck's (arr. Sgambati) Melody in D minor from Orfeo ed Euridice and Domenico Scarlatti's Sonata in D minor K. 141 live at the 2018 Honens International Piano Competition.

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In this episode of Honens @ Home, Canadian pianist and Honens Artistic Director Jon Kimura Parker performs Alexina Louie's Memories in an Ancient Gardenfrom  Scenes from a Jade Terrace,recorded in his teaching studio at Rice University.

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This week, enjoy the second movement of Antonín Dvořák's Piano Trio No. 4 in E minor Op. 90 "Dumky" performed by the Gryphon Trio, recorded at the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts at Queen’s University. 

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This week on Honens @ Home, we're thrilled to share the incredible pair, Duo 19:21 performing W. Lutoslawski's Variations on a Theme by Paganini live at the Dairy Arts Center for the Boulder International Chamber Music Competition.

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In this episode, we feature 2018 Honens Finalist Han Chen performing Gerard Finzi's Who is Silvia?, O Mistress Mine, and It was a lover and his lass from Let Us Garlands Bring Op. 18 with baritone Phillip Addis at the 2018 Honens International Piano Competition.

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Today on Honens @ Home, we're happy to feature 2015 Honens Finalist Artem Yasynskyy performing Vladimir Horowitz's Carmen Fantasy, variations on a theme from Bizet’s Carmen live at the 2015 Honens International Piano Competition.

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Today we're pleased to feature 2018 Honens Prize Laureate Nicolas Namoradze performing Prokofiev's Violin Sonata No. 1 in F minor Op. 80 with Canadian violinist Jonathan Crow live at the 2018 Honens International Piano Competition.

Watch the video edition of this excerpt at honens.com/home.

Today on Honens @ Home, we're happy to feature 2018 Honens Finalist Llewellyn Sanchez-Werner performing Beethoven's Sonata No. 32 in C minor Op. 111 live at the 2018 Honens International Piano Competition.

Watch the video edition of this excerpt at honens.com/home.

Today on Honens @ Home, we're happy to feature 2015 Honens Prize Laureate Luca Buratto performing J. Brahms' Geistliches Wiegenliedlive at the 2015 Honens International Piano Competition.

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In this episode, we feature Honens Prize Laureates Katherine Chi (2000), Minsoo Sohn (2006), and Georgy Tchaidze (2009) performs C. Debussy arr. A. Caplet's Jeux de vagues from La Mer live at the 2012 Honens International Piano Competition.

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We're pleased to share 2018 Honens Prize Laureate Nicolas Namoradze performing Robert Schumann's Humoreske Op. 20 live at the 2018 Honens International Piano Competition.

Watch the video edition of this excerpt at honens.com/home.