Laureate of the 19th Chopin Competition

There are concerts we wait for. And there are those we don’t even get the chance to wait for-because the tickets disappear before we finish reading the program! On November 14th, Szczecin Philharmonic will host one of the laureates of the19th International Frédéric Chopin Piano Competition-a pianist whose name we do not yet know today.

The Chopin Competition is one of the world's oldest and most prestigious music competitions, devoted entirely to the works of a single composer. It takes place every five years, always in Warsaw. The first edition was held in 1927, initiated by Jerzy Żurawlew. At that time, 26 participants took part. In modern times, the final round often features over 80 contestants selected from hundreds of candidates worldwide.
It is the only competition where hundreds of thousands of people follow the preliminaries and every stage online. In 2021, the broadcasts had over 10 million views. Both professors of music academies and TikTokers comment on the competition. For three weeks, Warsaw becomes the center of the piano music world.

However, the Chopin Competition is more than just an artistic event. It's a rite of passage. Winning-or even simply reaching the finals-can change a young pianist's life overnight. We all know the names of those who went through this competition: Krystian Zimerman, the 1975 winner and now a living legend; Rafał Blechacz, who won the 2005 edition, receiving not only the first prize but every additional award-a feat never before achieved. And earlier: Adam Harasiewicz, Halina Czerny-Stefańska, and Piotr Paleczny-jury members, mentors, and key figures in this great tradition.

During the concert, we will hear one of Frédéric Chopin's piano concertos -either in E minor or F minor. Both were written when the composer was still very young yet already keenly aware of his musical voice. Alongside the concerto, we will hear the Overture to the opera Jagiełło in Tenczyn by Józef Elsner-a composer, teacher, and the man who had the courage to say: Chopin is a genius. It was Elsner who taught young Frédéric musical structure, form, and reverence for craftsmanship.

The final piece will be Suite in E-flat major, Op. 9, by Zygmunt Stojowski-a Polish composer and pianist who rose to international fame at the turn of the century. He was a favorite of American audiences and taught Mischa Elman and Sergei Rachmaninoff, among others. His music blends romantic lyricism with the elegance of the French school and vivid orchestration. The evening will be led by Przemysław Neumann, and the Symphony Orchestra of the Szczecin Philharmonic -as always- will not be a background but a true partner in this exceptional musical conversation.

Chopin's Piano Concerto in F minor, performed by Alexander Gadijev (piano), winner of the 2nd Prize at the 18th Chopin Competition in Warsaw, and the National Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Andrzej Boreyko: