Zhu Wang opened the evening with Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 18, a work he himself describes as a true musical narrative, leading the listener from an atmosphere of despair and darkness to a conclusion of triumph and hope. He was followed by Jacky Xiaoyu Zhang with Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3, Op. 30, considered one of the most demanding works in the piano repertoire due to its extraordinary technical and expressive challenges. The British pianist recalls associating this work since childhood with the film Shine (1996), the biographical drama of Australian pianist David Helfgott, which he discovered through its soundtrack.
To conclude the final, Roman Lopatynskyi performed Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5, “Emperor”, a work of affirmative and triumphant character that has, throughout history, become a symbol of resistance and resilience. The artistic maturity of his interpretation convinced the jury, securing him First Prize and earning a standing ovation from the audience. His victory carries an even deeper significance as it comes in the final year in which the pianist was eligible to compete. At 32 years old, Roman Lopatynskyi reached the age limit defined by the competition regulations, thus concluding his participation in this international competition in the best possible way. This distinction adds to a career already marked by major awards in some of the most prestigious international piano competitions, among those 1st Prizes at Horowitz Kyiv, Tbilisi and Enescu Bucarest competitions.
