Interview et confidences
Martha Argerich, Pasionaria of young pianists
The Argentine pianist, president of the Young Chopin competition, plays in Lausanne on August 20 and 21 with the 2025 winners. Consulting to an inspiring artist.
Two evenings, on August 20 and 21 in Lausanne, bring together the winners and members of the young Chopin competition, including Martha Argerich, president of the jury.
Young Chopin competition
- The legendary pianist Martha Argerich chairs the jury for the young Chopin competition in Lugano.
- The festival brings together promising talents aged 7 to 18.
- Two exceptional evenings are scheduled in the Paderewski room in Lausanne.
- The winners will continue their training with master classes in Warsaw.
It is difficult to imagine today the planetary impact that had the 1ᵉʳ Price of Frédéric Chopin competition From Warsaw awarded to Martha Argerich, an unprecedented mixture of extreme accuracy and freedom. In 1965, the most legendary of the piano competitions crowned the most indomitable interpreters, a young Argentina who had only made a bite, at 16, of Geneva and Bolzano competitions in 1957. The shock wave of sixty years ago is fortunately still perceptible, and even if Martha Argerich admits today that Chopin remains for her “impossible love” pianists who follow his way.
Martha Argerich wishes to salute the immense educational work of Magdalena Hirsz, pianist and founder of Young Chopin competition. This competition, including the 4e Edition took place this spring in Lugano, targets young people from 7 to 18 years old. The laureates and members of the jury meet for two days of festival in Lausanne, on August 20 and 21. Martha Argerich will play there on the 20th with his colleague and friend Akiko Ebi.
We know that the musician does not like to speak of herself. His thoughts seem constantly turned to others. She prefers by far expressing himself in concert than in interview! It also multiplies generosity the services and a crazy energy for its 84th birthday. “The truth is that I don’t offer me a rest!” She will barely throw. Because if we decode, friendship and sharing take precedence over her. How to justify, if not, that it is currently imposing itself a transcription to two pianos of the “big fugue” of Beethoven? “A madness, I had never watched the score and I only have ten days to learn it!” It is his birthday present to Steven Kovacevich, his daughter’s father Stéphanie.
In Lugano last March, Martha Argerich (at the center) with the winners of the young Chopin competition and the members of the jury. Part of these artists play in Lausanne on August 20 and 21.
Young Chopin competition
The telephone exchange is, as always at home, without filter. When asked if Chopin’s music speaks to children, Martha Argerich marks a time of silence: “I also ask myself the question. I don’t have the answer. ” His memories flock. Chopin’s first work she played was the “waltz minute” when she was 3 years old. But, spontaneously, she first talks about her meeting with Friedrich Gulda in Vienna in 1955, at 14: “I had played for him the” first ballad “and he had said to me:” It’s horrible! ” Then he started playing it himself, exclaiming: “It’s also horrible!” I will always remember! ” Three years later, she will nevertheless make a dazzling recording («Martha Argerich Chopin The Complete Recordings on DG»).
The Young Chopin competition: a mine of hopes
During the final of the young Chopin competition in Lugano, the members of the jury went on stage. From left to right: Mischa Maisky, Martha Argerich, Magdalena Hirsz, Martín García García, Cédric Pescia and Alberto Nosè.
Young Chopin competition
No doubts on the other hand on the young Chopin competition: “I find that it is a very good idea,” underlines the president of the jury, and the festival in Lausanne is an interesting experience to be heard and share the scene with pianists of all ages. The winners will then be able to follow Master Classes in Warsaw who prepare them for registration in the Grand Competition Chopin. It gives me a lot of hopes. ” Among the winners, she notes the talent of Martina Meola (1ᵉʳ Ex aequo category 2, 12-15 years): “His version of the” first ballad “was really something very special. What maturity! The Russian Ivan Chepkin (1ᵉʳ Price Category 3, 15-18 years) also impressed me a lot. ”
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Godmother of the Young Chopin competition
The godmother of the Young Chopin competition is delighted to follow the trajectories of pianists thus promoted and which are now flying on their own. Thus Arielle Beck, winner of the first edition of the competition in 2018. La Française also shares with Martha Argerich the poster of Variations Musicas de Tannaythe eldest on August 22 with Tedi Papavramthe youngest solo on the 23rd. “I played this summer in Germany in a festival whose theme was the generations that are transcend. This is what is important. ” Next April, the pianist will be again in Lausanne in the new series The great recitalin tandem with Dong-Hyek Lim. The Korean had shone in a certain 2005 Chopin competition.
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