Cliburn Redux!

Appearing on PBS this month is the documentary from the 13th Piano competition A Surprise in Texas.  I was the assistant conductor for the finals and took my Zoom H2 mike and recorded some fascinating behind the scenes audio with some of the major players including an in depth interview with conductor James Conlon and some priceless audience reaction.  Click below for all of the related posts (go from bottom to top). This is the stuff that did not appear on the web or in the documentary, only here!!! CLIBURN SOUNDOFF!

Cliburn Soundoff! – Conlon Pt. 2/Son/Vacatello/Compare clips/Bray/Yang

James talks about communication between soloist and conductor, a lesson still applied by a past competitor.  Vacatello and Son dress their chamber concertos.  Exclusive: Another comparison this time between Zhang and Son with Prokofiev 2 (tomorrow I compare Tsujii and Bozhanov in Rachmaninov 2) and I wrap up with Buddy Bray who gets specific about the jury and speculates on what Van Cliburn is thinking.  Plus the final part of my chat with Joyce Yang who shares a conversation she had with Di Wu…tomorrow more Conlon and Michael Shih concertmaster of the FWSO…Listen!

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Cliburn Soundoff! – Conlon speaks/Zhang dresses/Chopin Compare/Bray/Yang

The heat is definitely on with an incredible night of music making, this thing is too close to call!  Part 1 of my interview of James Conlon, an excerpt from Haochen Zhang and Mozart 20, a comparison of the same two spots in Chopin 1 from Bozhanov and Tsujii (this you will only get here), Buddy Bray who is inside with the Jury and Joyce Yang 2005 silver medalist here to check out the new crop…listen!

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Cliburn Soundoff! – Richard on Webcast/final rehearsals/BIG ANNOUNCEMENT – Audio

In the final part of my chat with Richard Rodzinski we talk about the grueling schedule and how it will benefit a pianist, plus our perspectives on the web-cast and its educational benefits.  There’s also excerpts from 4 of the finalists final rehearsals and BIG ANNOUNCEMET (drum roll), starting tomorrow I will post part one of my sit down with Conductor James Conlon, it was a far reaching conversation….

Follow my tweets from the rehearsals!

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Cliburn Soundoff! – Post Cliburn/Vacatello/Piano issues/Zhang/Wu – Audio!

Yesterday was the last full day of rehearsals and tonight the performances begin.  My continuing chat with Richard focuses on the grueling schedule and how that helps a Pianist post Cliburn.  I was able catch finalist Haochen Zhang (who is 19 today!) asking The USA chief Steinway technician Ron Coners about an issue with the keys.  I then interviewed Ron who used to be the tech for Horowitz!   More excerpts from rehearsals with James Conlon 1 on 1 including the practicalities of tempo and collaboration…listen below!

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Cliburn Soundoff! – Rodzinski/Lam/Announcement – AUDIO!

This week I will post daily from the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition where for the 4th time I am assisting James Conlon. After rehearsing the orchestra the last two days James takes over and I do the assistant thing which gives me time to do interviews, so this will be mostly Audio postings. Today the 1st part of my talk with ED Richard Rodzinski, a quick chat with Semi finalist Andrea Lam and the announcement of the finalists!……

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