XV International Chopin Piano Competition
The XV International Chopin Piano Competition (Polish: XV Międzynarodowy Konkurs Pianistyczny im. Fryderyka Chopina) was held from 2 to 24 October 2005 in Warsaw, organized by the Fryderyk Chopin Society. The competition was won by Rafał Blechacz of Poland, who prevailed against 80 competitors from 18 countries.[1]
| The Fifteenth International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition | |
|---|---|
 Official poster | |
| Date | 2–24 October 2005 |
| Venue | National Philharmonic, Warsaw |
| Hosted by | Fryderyk Chopin Society |
| Winner |  Rafał Blechacz |
| Website | konkurs15.chopin.pl |
This was the first competition that was completely broadcast on TV, radio and on the internet.[1]
Awards
For the first time, the competition introduced a preliminary round, as selecting participants from submitted recordings only was deemed not wholly reliable.[1]
In the most decisive showing in the history of the competition, Rafał Blechacz took First Prize and the special prizes for the best performance of a polonaise, mazurka, and concerto.[1] One of the judges, Piotr Paleczny, said that Blechacz "so outclassed the remaining finalists that no second prize could actually be awarded."[2] Another judge, John O'Conor, called Blechacz "one of the greatest artists I have had a chance to hear in my entire life".[3] Blechacz was the first Pole to win the prize since 1975, when Krystian Zimerman won.
The following prizes were awarded:[1]
| Prize | Winner | ||
|---|---|---|---|
 |
US$25,000 | Rafał Blechacz | Poland |
 |
not awarded | ||
 |
US$15,000 | Dong-Hyek Lim |  South Korea |
| Dong-Min Lim | South Korea | ||
| 4th | US$10,000 | Shohei Sekimoto |  Japan |
| Takashi Yamamoto | Japan | ||
| 5th | not awarded | ||
| 6th | US$6,000 | Ka Ling Colleen Lee |  Hong Kong |
| F | US$2,000 | Andriej Jaroszynskij |  Russia |
| US$2,000 | Jacek Kortus | Poland | |
| US$2,000 | Rachel Naomi Kudo |  United States | |
| US$2,000 | Rieko Nezu | Japan | |
| US$2,000 | Yuma Osaki | Japan | |
| US$2,000 | Yeol Eum Son | South Korea | |
In addition, three special prizes were awarded independently:
| Special prize | Winner | |
|---|---|---|
| Best Performance of a Concerto | Rafał Blechacz | Poland |
| Best Performance of Mazurkas | Rafał Blechacz | Poland |
| Best Performance of a Polonaise | Rafał Blechacz | Poland |
Jury
The jury consisted of:
- Vera Gornostayeva
- Lidia Grychtołówna
- Adam Harasiewicz ( V)
- Krzysztof Jabłoński
- Andrzej Jasiński (chairman)
- Choong-Mo Kang
- Vladimir Krainev
- Hiroko Nakamura
John O'Conor- Janusz Olejniczak
- Piotr Paleczny (vice-chairman)
- John Perry
Sergio Perticaroli- Ewa Pobłocka (5th X)
Bernard Ringeissen- Regina Smendzianka
- Józef Stompel
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Đặng Thái Sơn ( X)
Arie Vardi
Fanny Waterman
Zhou Guangren
References
- "The 15th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition". Fryderyk Chopin Institute. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
- "Polish pianist wins prestigious Chopin competition". ABC News. 22 October 2005. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
- Bennion, Jackie. "More About the Winner, Rafal Blechacz". PBS Frontline/World. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
Further reading
- Ekiert, Janusz (2010). The Endless Search for Chopin: The History of the International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw (1st ed.). Warsaw: Muza. ISBN 978-83-7495-812-7.
- Arendt, Ada; Bogucki, Marcin; Majewski, Paweł; Sobczak, Kornelia (2020). Chopinowskie igrzysko. Historia Międzynarodowego Konkursu Pianistycznego im. Fryderyka Chopina 1927–2015 [The Chopin Games. The History of the International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition 1927–2015] (in Polish) (1st ed.). Warsaw: Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego. ISBN 978-83-235-4127-1.
- Ossowski, Jerzy; Brodska, Halina (2010). The International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition in photographs. Warsaw: Fryderyk Chopin Institute. ISBN 978-83-61142-36-2.