FINALE

The 57th International Piano Competition Ferruccio Busoni, by now in its 60th year, goes into the final stages. Founded in 1949, the competition was initially held every year, but since 2002, it takes place every two years. Last year, out of more than 200 applications, 150 candidates were admitted to the pre-selection round, and 137 pianists finally showed up in Bolzano to be scrutinized by an international jury composed of seven eminent piano experts. (Sergio Perticaroli - chair, Bernd Goetzke, Andrei Jasinsky, Dennis Lee, Jerome Lowenthal, Alexander Shtarkman, Ying Wu). 24 finalists were selected last year, and a further 3 candidates were admitted in view of their first or second prize at other piano competitions that are affiliated with the World Federation of International Music Competitions. The 27 finalists can expect a competition with some substantial new features.

The main jury, chaired by Lilya Zilberstein (Busoni Competition winner 1987), is of a very high calibre and includes the likes of Cristina Ortiz, Brazil’s most successful pianist, Salvatore Sciarrino, the internationally renowned composer, and the chamber music pianist Joseph Kalichstein – to name but a few of this 11 head strong jury, which provides a compelling snapshot of today’s international music scene.

A second jury, consisting of four representatives from some of the most prestigious music magazines from Japan, Italy, Germany and England, will, for the first time, award the International Critics Award. An award, that should provide the winners of the competition, as well as the competition as a whole, with high international visibility.

Particular attention is given to raising the profile of contemporary piano music. A special committee (composed of the English pianist Nicolas Hodges, the Italian composer Luca Francesconi, and the Austrian-Italian pianist Marino Formenti) has drawn up a list of 8 major contemporary compositions for piano of the past 5 years. The works on this list provide the selection of test pieces for contemporary piano music and may also be used for the piece of choice. The most convincing performance of contemporary piano music will be rewarded with a new prize, sponsored by Bolzano based entrepreneur Josef Gostner. In addition, the winner of this prize will win a collaboration with the Ensemble Modern Frankfurt and will be invited to perform at the Music Biennale in Venice.

The, already ample, bouquet of concerts that awaits the winner, has been added to and now includes the remarkable opportunity to perform at the Festival "Raritäten der Klaviermusik" in Husum, the BASF Concert series in Ludwigshafen, and a concert tour in South America, consisting of 5 concerts.

The Mozart piano concertos in the first test with the Bolzano String Academy will be conducted by Patrick Lange this year.
The Finalissimo with the Haydn Orchestra, under the direction of Arthur Fagen, will take place, for the first time, at the Civic Theatre in Bolzano and in collaboration with the Merano Music Festival. The Finalissimo and adjoining award ceremony will be broadcast on live television and radio by RAI - Sender Bozen.