Welcome to a programme of highlights from the Michael Hill International Violin Competition in 2023. We are in Queenstown at the Memorial Hall and it’s round two of the competition. In this round the 16 competitors have to perform a piece by NZ composer Michael Norris - a piece especially commissioned for the competition. They also have to play a major sonata and another show-off piece.
How to judge music is a good question. And it’s even harder when it comes down to fabulous young violinists, who are among the best of the world. The hard task falls onto this panel of judges: James Ehnes from Canada, Ning Feng from China, Bella Hristova from Bulgaria, Piers Lane from Australia, Natalia Lomeiko from Russia and New Zealand, Anthony Marwood from the United Kingdom, and last but not least Wilma Smith from New Zealand.
Eva Rabchevska at the Michael Hill International Violin Competition. Photo: James Roberts
Let’s start with a violinist from Ukraine. Eva Rabchevska now performs Gabriel Fauré’s Sonata in a Major Op. 13. The Pianist is Somi Kim. Then she plays Sonata No.6 for solo violin by Eugène Ysaÿe.
Jiayi Chen performs at the Michael Hill International Violin Competition. Photo: James Roberts
Next, a violinist from China, Jiayi Chen. She plays Beethoven's Sonata number 6 Op. 30 No 1 and Ernst's Fantasy Brilliante on Rossini’s Othello. With her on stage is pianist Sarah Watkins.
Tainyu Liu performs at the Michael Hill International Violin Competition. Photo: James Roberts
Let’s stay with violinists from China. Next is Tianyu Liu, with Maurice Ravel’s Sonata for violin and piano No 2 in G and Carmen Fantasy by Franz Waxman. Somi Kim is the Pianist.
Karen Su performs at the Michael Hill International Violin Competition. Photo: James Roberts
We have one more performer in this programme of highlights from the Michael Hill International Violin Competition: Karen Su from the United States. She plays us the New Zealand piece which was written especially for this competition. It was composed by Michael Morris and it’s called Waipounamu. The violinist has to play to a backing track, which was recorded by Taonga puoro players.
Then she’s joined on stage by pianist Sarah Watkins. Together they play Wieniawski’s Polonaise Op. 4
Music recorded at the Queenstown Memorial Hall on 4nd June 2023.
Producer: Adrian Hollay
Engineer: Adrian Hollay.
