Shame

One more post on the Maria Callas competition, and this is as far as I'll go giving them publicity. You see, as I said in the last post, I was expecting better things from this jury. I wasn't however, counting on the organizers, and the fact -because it is a fact- that they did want to push some participants. Nevermind how I know it, I just mix in things and situations -far more than I would like to.

In few words, here's my theory on competitions. There are many kinds of pianists in these places: the great ones, who in general escape from the jury's decisions and make it to later rounds. Some very good to mediocre who have people in the jury to help them. Then, there are the mediocre who pass to later rounds in order to be sacrificed for the previous ones. Sometimes there are some lucky good ones -or even very good- who escape from all these plans and make it to later rounds as well -with much luck. In all, the results can be easily fixed -mostly in the first two rounds when usually the interest of audiences around the globe is low...

In this competition, I didn't see any of these in extended degree from the jury. Some got help, but that's normal. The organizers however, well, this is another story -it didn't however work out exactly the way they wanted. It is indeed a shame for this young Russian guy Igor Rudyn, not to be in the final. Similar things happened in the previous rounds. No international competition should want low level participants. Not that the finalists are of low level -are they the best among the participants? After having heard most of the competition -10 out of 14 in the 1st round, 8 out of 11 in the 2nd, all semi-finalists, I can doubt about that; and for a fact I know that some of the jurors are as well surprised...

Enough with them, it's the last time I follow it, I hope. I just want to listen to the finals tomorrow, and hope that it will be worthy... Cheers!