The 2013 Van Cliburn Competition winners were announced on Sunday, June 9th. The winners include gold medalist Vadym Kholodenko, silver medalist Beatrice Rana, and crystal medalist Sean Chen.
After Sunday's final round at the Cliburn Competition, 26-year-old Ukrainian pianist Vadym Kholodenko was awarded the gold medal. At a press event Sunday night, Vadym was asked how he was feeling. He responded:
Kholodenko: Not disappointed. [group laughter] In my opinion, we all six finalists [have] done their job...and who won which prize, was part of the jury's work. I appreciate this work, and I'm really thankful for this. But in life? Not so important.
His final round performance was an elegant and witty interpretation of a Mozart piano concerto - including his cadenza for the first movement, described by Performance Today host Fred Child as "Fugue-y and smart, with themes from both the concerto AND Mozart's great g-minor symphony."
20-year-old Italian pianist Beatrice Rana offered up a stunning performance of Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 2 in the final round of the 2013 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, and it garnered her the silver medal at Sunday's award ceremony. Seemingly unflappable, she was asked if she really felt as calm as she looked:
Rana: Not always. [laughter] But, the music helps in this sense...because I've been dreaming of being here for so many years. I practiced hard for coming here, and I didn't want to regret anything of my experience here in Ft Worth.
This year's Van Cliburn International Piano Competition was the first without the presence of the man himself. Van Cliburn passed away earlier this year, in February. Silver medalist Beatrice Rana was asked if she was disappointed to have missed the opportunity to meet Cliburn:
Rana: Yes, he is such an idol to every pianist. I just wanted to shake the hand of Mr. Cliburn, just in reality and...but what I found out here is that everybody behaves like Mr. Cliburn is still here, and they just behave in the way that he would like to do.
Everyone at the Cliburn Competition, from fellow competitors to jury members to the "Backstage Mom" handing out hugs and pep talks, continues to give credit to the legacy of the great Van Cliburn at the competition bearing his name.
24-year-old American Sean Chen was awarded third prize, the crystal medal, at the 2013 Van Cliburn Competition in Ft Worth, Texas on Sunday, June 9th. Performance Today host Fred Child said that in his final round performance Chen brought every bit of the Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3 to life, commenting that "it was just above a whisper and gently moving at times, elsewhere a thrilling, over-the-top Romantic romp, played with glee and zeal and panache."
It's been three weeks of dynamic performances, plus lots and lots of stress for the participants in the 2013 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. Sean Chen put into words what many of his fellow competitors were thinking:
Chen: This experience has been really awesome, but kind of the most stressful thing I've ever done in my life. [laughter] It's just the nature of the beast and I would happy to not have to go through it again.
Kholodenko: I am also!
Rana: I agree!
Sean Chen, ready to chill out, it seems. It sounds as though his fellow medalists Beatrice Rana and Vadym Kholodenko are as well!
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