At Cliburn Competition, Pianists From South Korea, Russia and Ukraine Triumph

Young artists participated in what is called the Olympics for playing the piano for 17 days. This is the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in Texas, one of the most prestigious contests in classical music.

The results for Saturday are as follows: Korean, Russian and Ukrainian pianists won this year’s contest.

Among the winners is Yunchan Lim, 18, from Siheung, South Korea, who became the youngest gold medalist in Cliburn history and won a prize of $ 100,000. Anna Geniushene, 31, born in Moscow and won a silver medal (and $ 50,000). Kieu’s Dmytro Choni, 28, won the bronze medal ($ 25,000).

“I was very tired,” Lim, who played the Beethoven and Rachmaninoff concerto in the final round, said in a telephone interview. “I practiced every day until 4 am.”

“The Texas audience is the most passionate in the world,” he added.

The war in Ukraine is approaching this year’s contest. The contest began in early June and was attended by 30 athletes from around the world, including 6 from Russia, 2 from Belarus and 1 from Ukraine.

Held every four years in Fort Worth, Cliburn was criticized in some areas for allowing Russians to compete. The decision came as US cultural institutions faced pressure to cut off relations with Russian artists in the aggression.

Citing the legacy of American Van Cliburn, who won the Tchaikovsky International Competition in Moscow in 1958 during the Cold War, Cliburn upheld the decision and was seen as a sign that art could transcend politics. rice field.

Ukrainian rival Choni said he was proud to represent his country at the tournament. He said at the beginning of Saturday’s awards ceremony he was almost crying when Vadym Kholodenko, also from Ukraine, played the Ukrainian national anthem.

“It was very moving,” Choni said in a telephone interview. “The current situation probably puts some additional pressure on me, but it’s just an honor for me to be here.”

Russian pianist Geniuschene, who left Russia for Lithuania after the invasion and was critical of the war, said he was uplifted to see different nations among the winners.

“It’s a big achievement,” she said in a telephone interview. “We all deserve to be on stage.”