CONCERT REVIEW: Horowitz Competition winners in Washington (04/21/02)

CONCERT REVIEW: Horowitz Competition winners in Washington

by Zdanna Krawciw

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - On Sunday, March 24, three young pianists presented an impressive program at the Lyceum in Alexandria, Va. The concert was sponsored by The Washington Group Cultural Fund under the patronage of the Embassy of Ukraine. The performers were the winners of the fourth International Competition for Young Pianists in Memory of Vladimir Horowitz which was initiated in Kyiv in 1994. A total of 416 young pianists from 25 countries have participated in the competition since its inception.

This year's recipient of the first prize in the Junior Group, 14 year-old Kyrylo Keduk of Belarus, was the first performer. His rendition of the Chopin Polonaise, Op. 71, exhibited his polished technique and his adeptness at producing a wide range of dynamic shading. The charming Polichinelle and one of the Études Tableaux by Rachmaninoff further displayed Mr. Keduk's technical mastery. A warm singing tone came through in Glebov-Olovnikov's lovely miniature, the Adagio "Little Prince and the Rose." Mr. Keduk's program concluded with the most challenging piece of the set, Liszt's Tarantella, in which once again the performer delighted the audience with his precise finger technique and his singing tone in the contrasting slow section.

The second performer, 18-year-old Dmytro Onishchenko of Ukraine, was the first-place winner in the Intermediate Group. He opened his program with the hauntingly beautiful "Meditation" by Tchaikovsky. According to the program notes, one of Mr. Onishchenko's interests is writing poetry and throughout his performance his poetic nature came through. His stirring rendition of Nyzhankivsky's impressionistic Little Suite "Letters to Her" brought out the myriad colors and the exquisite cantabile lines of this interesting music. It is worth noting that this little-known work compared favorably with the well-known masters represented in this program. Mr. Onishchenko's last offering was Liszt's brilliant "Spanish Rhapsody." In his interpretation of this showpiece, he not only met all the technical challenges but also demonstrated superb control over a wide range of expression and a great sense of rhythm.

Twenty-year-old Mariya Kim of Ukraine, winner of the first prize in the Senior Group, was the last performer. She opened her program with Chopin's Andante Spianato and Grande Polonaise Brillante which proved her to be an accomplished pianist and a seasoned performer. In the Andante, the graceful runs were at once crisp and delicate; there were subtle rubatos incorporated in the melodic passages, but the rhythm was preserved throughout and the mood was never overly sentimental. Ms. Kim's interpretation of the contrasting Polonaise, benefited from the unhurried tempo and was distinguished by its warm fluid tone and the attention paid to the rhythmic nuances. The concert concluded with Kosenko's Poem, Op. 5, a complex work with an interesting harmonic structure. Ms. Kim's rendition was powerful, moving and musically mature.

Thc appreciative audience rewarded each of the performers with tumultuous, well-deserved applause. A short reception after the program provided an opportunity for the audience to meet the performers.

The piano recital on March 24 was one of a set of five concerts sponsored by The Washington Group Cultural Fund in the 2001-2002 music series. The high caliber of the performances at these concerts has earned praise for the project and has attracted a devoted audience in the greater Washington area.

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