Waiting for a miracle and the probability of the birth of a new legend at Concours Clara Haskil

VEVE. Japanese pianist Mao Fujita won the Clara Haskil Competition.

Each music competition is, to one degree or another, the expectation of a miracle, the hope of meeting a unique talent. Concours Clara Haskil, which takes place every two years in the Swiss city of Vevey, takes a special place among other competitions. The name of Clara Haskil, who was called a legend during her lifetime, sets the highest bar. Overcome it is not given to everyone. The jury verdict “pas de prix” (“no winner”) was heard in Vevey five times: in 1963, 1969, 1983, 2003 and 2015. The representative of our country - Evgeny Korolev - won here only once, in 1977. Although by that time he had already left the USSR, having left for the homeland of his wife, pianist Lyupka Hadzhigeorgieva, to Yugoslavia, and then to Germany.

Triumphant Concours Clara Haskil-2017 Mao Fujita has all the makings for an exceptionally successful career. The portfolio of the 18-year-old scholarship student at the Tokyo College of Music High has many awards: a victory at the Vienna Piano Competition International Rosario Marciano Piano Competition, Wagner & Verdi Award (2013), first prizes in The World Classic competitions 2010 in Taiwan, Zhuhai International Mozart Competition for Young Musicians in China (2015), Hamamatsu International Piano Academy Competition in Japan (2016), Japan Classical Music Competition Grand Prix, victory at the 64th student music competition, The Aiko Iguchi Award, Nomura Award. He successfully performed at various festivals in Poland, Italy, Switzerland.

Fujita is from geeks, like Haskil. Mao met with black and white keys at 3 years old. Clara entered the Bucharest Conservatory as early as 6 years old. Exceptional giftedness promised her a brilliant future. But poor health (progressive scoliosis and a pituitary tumor), shyness and self-doubt did not allow him to fully take place. The flight to Switzerland from German-occupied France helped open a new, happier chapter in her life. Concerts, collaboration with Philips, financial stability after many years of need and uncertainty. The audience, initially disoriented by the stoop of the figure and the fragile appearance of the gray-haired woman, was delighted and shocked after the first bars. The tragic accident that interrupted her life a month before her 66th birthday did not allow many of Haskil’s plans to be realized. Concours Clara Haskil was established in 1963 in memory of the great musician.

The potential of Mao Fujita, a convincing performance in the finals left no doubt about the validity of the jury’s choice. His inspired, technically perfect game allows you to forget about the competition and enjoy the music of Mozart, of which Clara Haskil herself was a brilliant interpreter, to think about the birth of a new legend.

The cash equivalent of the prize is 25,000 Swiss francs or $ 26,000.

Elena Tanakova © Gallerix.ru