(Pic: Georgi Anichenko and Yura Lee)Cellist Georgi Anichenko and violinist Yura Lee win Vodacom-sponsored 5th Unisa International String Competition.
Tonight saw the second performance of the finalists in the Vodacom-sponsored 5th Unisa International String Competition with Yura Lee from the Republic of Korea being the only female among the six finalists. The others were Andrey Baranov, Alexander Ramm and Anton Pavlovskiy from Russia with Hrachya Avanesyan from Armenia and Georgi Anichenko from Belarus.
In these final rounds, the competitors had to present a concerto with the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Conrad van Alphen. Last night’s performance saw Anton Pavlovskiy and Georgi Anichenko playing the Dvořák Cello Concerto in B Minor Op 104 and Yura Lee performing Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D Major Op 35 (see separate story)
Tonight we saw new versions of the Dvořák and Tchaikovsky concertos with the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E Minor Op.64 offering a welcome change.
Performing the Mendelssohn was Hrachya Avanesyan (23). Breaking from the plain black dress code chosen by the other contestants, he introduced a sense of style with an elegant black shirt trimmed with beadwork and red binding. His demeanour seemed moody and intense but his playing was controlled, intelligent and masterful - particularly in the scurrying passages of the scherzando theme of the last movement.
Giving us his interpretation of the Dvořák was Alexander Ramm. At 21 and the youngest member of the finalists, he gave a performance that I really thought would see him the winner. Slight of build – whether coaxing, pulling or demanding as the mood required – he produced a beautiful tone from his instrument matched with passion and power without flamboyant or dramatic movements.
More passion and power – and a highly technical performance - came from violinist Andrey Baranov who is 24, as are the rest of the finalists. Here was a mature and strong performance of the Tchaikovsky concerto, matching the orchestra’s level of sound. He has an undeniable technical mastery of his violin but the performance was sometimes too mechanical for my liking. I lacked the turbulent emotion needed for Tchaikovsky.
All kudos to Conrad van Alphen and the Johannesburg Philharmonic for sterling work over the two days of the finals when they performed the same work a number of times. However, each performance required careful attention to the competitors’ tempo, phrasing and mood. The competitors were fortunate to have such sensitive and supportive backing.
The first prize winners –violin and cello respectively – were Ura Lee and Georgi Anichenko who each won R200,000 as well as a concert tour of South Africa to be sponsored by Vodacom. Watch out for them in your part of the world, you will be astonished at the level of performance from such young artistes.
Gaining second, third, fourth and fifth prize were Andrey Baranov; Hrachya Avanesyan; Alexander Ramm and Anton Pavlovskiy. Each finalist received a medal and a certificate.
Special prizes were awarded for performances in the first three rounds. Andrey Baranov (violin) and Anton Pavlovskiy (cello) won R10,000 each for best performance of the South African composition in the first round, sponsored by the South African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO).
Ura Lee (violin) and Georgi Anichenko (cello) won R10,000 each for best performance of a sonata by Mozart or Beethoven in the second round, sponsored by the Desmond Willson Memorial Trust.
Andrey Baranov (violin) and Anton Pavlovskiy (cello) won R15,000 each for best recital in the third round, sponsored by the Desmond Willson Memorial Trust. They also won R7,500 each for best performance of work by JS Bach sponsored by the James Verwey Memorial Trust.
Former KZN violinist Jacqueline Wedderburn-Maxwell received R20,000 as the most promising South African competitor, sponsored by the Desmond Willson Memorial Trust.
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