CMIM 2023: our predictions

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by Béatrice M. Cadrin,
Rasha Masalkhi and Andrea Rush

Béatrice Cadrin has extensive experience as a freelance violinist with ensembles in Quebec, Germany and California. Rasha Masalkhi is a tenured violinist with the Ensemble Obiora. Andrea Rush lives in Toronto, is a former violist with Orchestra Toronto, and former violist with the Strings Attached Orchestra, both local community orchestras. 

This year, as with every iteration of the Concours musical international de Montréal (CMIM), La Scena Musicale has called upon a team of experts to make predictions about the candidates. The 2023 edition of the competition will be dedicated to the violin. Listed below are the artists they have selected, out of the 24 who will compete from April 22 to May 4.

Yeyeong Jin (South Korea)

Yeyeong Jin, 20, is a brilliant violinist currently studying at the Juilliard School with Itzhak Perlman and Li Lin. “The beauty of her sound and the delicacy of her interpretation are remarkable,” says Andrea Rush. “She is an excellent ambassador for the Perlman music program. The influence of the master is evident in her outstanding performances.” For Rasha Masalkhi, Yeyeong Jin is the overwhelming favourite. “She will win! She is technically very strong and is an accomplished artist,” says Rasha. “However, the Brahms I heard from her did not seem as brilliantly interpreted as the rest of her repertoire.” According to Béatrice Cadrin, Yeyeong Jin is clearly the candidate who has (almost) all the qualities required to win the 2023 competition.

Prediction: 1st prize (Béatrice), 1st prize (Rasha), 2nd prize (Andrea)

Bohdan Luts (Ukraine)

The Ukrainian violinist has been admitted to the International Menuhin Music Academy in Switzerland. In 2022, at just 17 years old, he won first prize in the prestigious Carl Nielsen International Competition in Denmark, and at the second Alberto Lysy International Violin Competition in Gstaad. “His playing imbues the music with a depth of feeling that far exceeds his young age,” says Andrea Rush. “He easily draws his bow across a wide range of timbres, with clear intentions.” Rasha Masalkhi adds: “He has great maturity despite his young age.” Born on Nov. 28, 2004, the Ukrainian will be just over 18 years old at the time of the competition. A first prize for Bohdan Luts would be a gamble on the future, but a realistic one.

Prediction: 1st prize (Andrea), 2nd prize (Rasha), 3rd prize (Beatrice)

Andrea’s choice: Michael Shaham (Israel)

““He holds the violin as if it were an extension of his heart,” she says. “His playing embodies a distinct and warm quality; it mirrors a pure soul. He comes from a musical family and considers his father to be one of his most important teachers. He is exceptionally talented and his technique is flawless.”

Prediction: 3rd Prize (Andrea)

In addition, the performances of Leonard Fu (Germany) and Nathan Meltzer (USA) left a strong impression on Andrea Rush. “Mr. Fu’s technical mastery is fascinating. He plays with presence and confidence, with passionate lyricism,” she says. “Mr. Meltzer is also a confident performer, with an unabashed sense of fun and flawless technique. There is no doubt that he will connect with the audience.” Béatrice Cadrin adds that “he is extremely solid from a technical standpoint.”

Béatrice’s choice: Leonard Fu (Germany)

Photo: Rostami Rabet

In this edition, the experience of former candidates could be an asset, observes Béatrice Cadrin, provided that they are at their best and that they respond in the moment that counts.

This is what she wishes for Leonard Fu. The 26-year-old violinist participated in the 2019 edition of the competition. His musical interests vary widely, from historical performance to premièring works by contemporary composers, a significant asset when it comes to performing the required piece: L’inconnu.e bouleversante, for solo violin, by Canadian-American composer Luna Pearl Woolf. “I am in awe of his interpretation of Bach’s Chaconne. Leonard Fu says new things with a piece that has been played over and over again, in concert and on recordings.”

Prediction: 2nd Prize (Béatrice)

Among the candidates who she thinks could surprise audiences, is Claire Bourg (USA). “In Ysaÿe’s Sonata for Solo Violin, she has remarkable bow control and consistency of tone on the held notes. She is 28 years old and, therefore, close to her last competition. She will certainly want to give it her all.” As for Yesong Sophie Lee (USA), “her interpretation of Ravel’s Tzigane is stunning. She has a taste for risk and it is beautiful to see. She pushes intonation to the limit to create folk sounds. To have this audacity at 20 years old is absolutely remarkable.”

Rasha’s choice: Zhixin Zhang (China)

Two other candidates are favoured by Rasha Masalkhi: Zhixin Zhang (China)—for the variety of his repertoire, and his ability to switch easily from a Paganini caprice to a Bach Chaconne, or a Beethoven sonata; and Dongyoung Jake Shim (South Korea)—for his remarkable interpretation of Bach’s music. This violinist won the first prize, and the Bach Prize, at the Stulberg International String Competition in 2020, and has already performed at various chamber music festivals. “He is a magnificent chamber musician,” says Béatrice Cadrin. “In a Beethoven sonata, he captured my attention from the first three notes.”

Translation by Eva Stone-Barney

This page is also available in / Cette page est également disponible en: Francais (French)

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