Geneva, Switzerland – The 77th edition of the Concours de Genève concluded in Geneva, Switzerland, with the Flute competition’s final round held at Victoria Hall on November 4. The finalists showcased their exceptional talents alongside the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, under the baton of conductor Kaspar Zehnder. The Violin Channel, as the official media and broadcast partner, live-streamed this year’s flute competition, making it available for playback.
The coveted first prize was awarded to Elizaveta Ivanova, who captivated the audience with her remarkable performance of Mozart’s Andante in C Major, K315, and Carl Nielsen’s Concerto for flute and orchestra. Her outstanding achievement earned her a prize of CHF 20,000.
Elizaveta Ivanova, hailing from St. Petersburg, began her musical journey at the State Conservatory under the guidance of Olga Chernyadeva. She further honed her skills under the tutelage of Felix Renggli at the Hochschule für Musik in Basel. Her talent has already been recognized with victories in various international competitions, including Cluj, Crusell, and Larrieu. Currently serving as a co-soloist in the Frankfurt Opera Orchestra, her future in the world of music appears incredibly promising.
The second prize was jointly awarded to Mario Bruno and Yuan Yu, each receiving CHF 12,000 in recognition of their exceptional performances. Mario Bruno additionally claimed the Audience Prize, Young Audience Prize, and the Students’ Prize.
The laureates of the competition can anticipate a two-year career development program provided by the Sartory Artists agency, offering them an international concert tour opportunity. Furthermore, they will be part of the Concours de Genève Prizewinners Workshop, where various aspects such as performance, health, career management, image, and social media are addressed.
The esteemed Flute jury featured prominent figures in the world of music, including Silvia Careddu (Chair), Denis Bouriakov, Magali Mosnier, Loïc Schneider, Seiya Ueno, Henrik Wiese, and Hyeri Yoon.
Reflecting on the competition, Jury Chair and acclaimed flautist Silvia Careddu expressed, “Throughout this 77th edition of the Concours de Genève, we have been able to listen to and discover all the wonderful talents. We wish all our finalists and all the participants of the Competition a wonderful career. Ad maiora and all the best in your musical lives.” The event celebrated the exceptional talent that continues to enrich the world of classical music.