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!
Van Cliburn
Cliburn Soundoff! – Vacatello/Son/Rodzinski/Tsujii/Conlon/Bozhanov – Audio
From the Cliburn, more from my chat with Richard focusing on how new media can affect an artist’s performance, candid clips from 4 of the finalists including a couple of excerpts from their 1 on 1 rehearsals with James Conlon who arrived yesterday plus an interesting clip with finalist Yeol Eum Son and Cliburn general manager Maria Guralnik about the practicalities of being a non US resident about to be flooded with concert engagements. Some of this you will not see or hear on the web-cast!….
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!……