The pursuit of excellence in the world of classical music has reached a crescendo as the 2023 Cooper International Piano Competition enters a decisive phase. Following two days of captivating semifinal performances, where each pianist rendered intricate 40-minute programs, a select group of seven prodigious talents have been chosen to advance to the highly anticipated Concerto Round. This pivotal stage, scheduled for Wednesday, will spotlight the young pianists in complete concerto performances accompanied by the piano. These virtuosos, hailing from diverse corners of the globe, encompass an age spectrum spanning from 13 to 18 years old, collectively representing seven different countries.
The esteemed finalists who have secured their place in the Concerto Round are as follows:
Andrew Sijie Li, 15, hailing from Boston, Massachusetts | Representing Canada & Hong Kong
Performing L. V. Beethoven’s Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 37
Sophia Shuya Liu, 14, Montreal, Quebec | Representing Canada
Presenting C. Saint-Saëns’ Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 22
Yanyan Bao, 16, Zhuhai, Guangdong | Representing China
Showcasing F. Chopin’s Concerto No. 2 in F Minor, Op. 21
Filip Trifu, 18, Vienna | Representing Austria
Delivering R. Schumann’s Concerto in A Minor, Op. 54
Seoeun Lee, 14, Suwon, Gyeonggi, South Korea
Enchanting the audience with F. Chopin’s Concerto No. 1 in E Minor, Op. 11
Taige Wang, 13, New York, New York | Representing the United States
Presenting S. Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43
Pyotr Akulov, 16, Moscow | Representing Russia
Captivating with F. Liszt’s Concerto No. 1 in E-flat Major, S. 124
The entrancing compositions will resound through Warner Concert Hall on Wednesday, August 2, in two sessions at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. These performances, an embodiment of artistic prowess, will be accessible to both a live audience and global viewers through livestreaming. Further details and the event schedule are available on the official Cooper Competition website.
Subsequent to the Concerto Round on August 3, the distinguished jury panel will unveil the three exceptional pianists who will ascend to the Finals in Cleveland, scheduled for Friday, August 4. This pinnacle of the competition will illuminate the talents of these young artists as they collaborate harmoniously with The Cleveland Orchestra, under the masterful baton of David Robertson, at Severance Music Center’s Mandel Concert Hall.
The culminating crescendo of the evening will see one participant crowned as the revered Cooper champion, an honor accompanied by a substantial grand prize of $20,000.
