There are concerts you wait for-and those you don’t get the chance to, because the tickets disappear before you even finish reading the program! On 14 November, the Szczecin Philharmonic will host Kevin Chen, Second Prize Winner of the 19th International Chopin Piano Competition. Together with the Szczecin Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Przemysław Neumann, the artist will perform Fryderyk Chopin’s Piano Concerto in E minor-the very piece that captivated audiences and jurors alike during the final stage of the Warsaw competition. The Chopin accolade is yet another milestone in the extraordinary career of this young Canadian pianist. Kevin Chen is also the winner of such prestigious competitions as the Arthur Rubinstein Piano Master Competition in Tel Aviv, the Concours de Genève, and the Franz Liszt International Piano Competition in Budapest, to name only the last few. Born in 2005, Chen is currently honing his artistry in Hanover under the guidance of Arie Vardi, and is rapidly making his mark on the international concert scene.
The Chopin Competition is one of the world's oldest and most prestigious music competitions, devoted entirely to the works of a single composer. It takes place every five years, always in Warsaw. The first edition was held in 1927, initiated by Jerzy Żurawlew. At that time, 26 participants took part. In modern times, the final round often features over 80 contestants selected from hundreds of candidates worldwide.
It is the only competition where hundreds of thousands of people follow the preliminaries and every stage online. In 2021, the broadcasts had over 10 million views. Both professors of music academies and TikTokers comment on the competition. For three weeks, Warsaw becomes the center of the piano music world.
However, the Chopin Competition is more than just an artistic event. It's a rite of passage. Winning-or even simply reaching the finals-can change a young pianist's life overnight. We all know the names of those who went through this competition: Krystian Zimerman, the 1975 winner and now a living legend; Rafał Blechacz, who won the 2005 edition, receiving not only the first prize but every additional award-a feat never before achieved. And earlier: Adam Harasiewicz, Halina Czerny-Stefańska, and Piotr Paleczny-jury members, mentors, and key figures in this great tradition.
During the concert, we will hear Frédéric Chopin's Piano concerto in E minor written when the composer was still very young yet already keenly aware of his musical voice. Alongside the concerto, we will hear the Overture to the opera Jagiełło in Tenczyn by Józef Elsner-a composer, teacher, and the man who had the courage to say: Chopin is a genius. It was Elsner who taught young Frédéric musical structure, form, and reverence for craftsmanship.
The final piece will be Suite in E-flat major, Op. 9, by Zygmunt Stojowski-a Polish composer and pianist who rose to international fame at the turn of the century. He was a favorite of American audiences and taught Mischa Elman and Sergei Rachmaninoff, among others. His music blends romantic lyricism with the elegance of the French school and vivid orchestration. The evening will be led by Przemysław Neumann, and the Symphony Orchestra of the Szczecin Philharmonic -as always- will not be a background but a true partner in this exceptional musical conversation.
Polonaise-Fantaisie in A-flat major, Op. 61, and Piano Concerto in E minor, Op. 11 by Chopin, performed by Kevin Chen (piano) – Second Prize Winner of the 19th International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw – and the National Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Andrzej Boreyko.
