The three finalists in the National Concerto Competition 2023 (L-R) Madeleine Xiao, Henry Meng, and Yuzhang Wu (all from Auckland). Photo: National Concerto Competition
- CHOPIN: Piano Concerto No 1 in E minor Op 11
- RACHMANINOV: Piano Concerto No 3 in D minor Op 30
- RACHMANINOV: Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini
The 55th National Concerto Competition took place in March of 2023, featuring three of New Zealand's top pianists under the age of 25. The annual event began in 1968 and alternates each year between keyboard and other instruments. The competition received 29 applications which were then narrowed down to six semi-finalists in December of 2022, and then again down to three finalists for the concerto round: Madeleine Xiao, Yuzhang Wu, and Henry Meng.
The winner of the career-launching $10,000 first prize was Yuzhang Wu, a year 12 school student from Auckland. Yuzhang also won the Junior Jury prize.
Benjamin Northey, conductor of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra (CSO) on Saturday night, had high praise for all three finalists:
"Big congratulations to the three wonderful young pianists who performed with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra in the final of the New Zealand National Concerto Competition last night. Yuzhang Wu was awarded first prize after a thrilling Rachmaninov Paganini Variations. Madeleine Xiao played a beautiful singing Chopin 1 and Henry Meng a powerful and excellently shaped Rach 3.
"Was incredibly proud of the fine and sensitive playing by the CSO musicians in support of these three finalists."
The National Concerto Competition is an annual event presented by Music Canterbury
Recorded and produced by David Houston for RNZ Concert.
Madeleine Xiao, pianist. Third prize winner at the 2023 National Concerto Competition. Photo: Supplied/publisher
3: Madeleine Xiao was given the 3rd place prize for her performance of Chopin's Piano Concerto No 1 in E Minor Op. 11
"I have chosen to play this concerto as Chopin is a composer who speaks to me like no other and this concerto is just so captivating. As I play this piece I am able to set myself free and build a connection with the music. Since first hearing this work many years ago, it’s always been something I wanted to play. Now, actually working on it, I’ve grown to appreciate it even more. I have loved exploring this piece and digging deep into the music, unravelling all the unique and intricate layers it has to offer.
I decided to enter this competition as it is an excellent opportunity to help me to grow and develop into a better musician. It will provide me with many new skills and experiences which can benefit my future music-making. This competition has already been a fantastic journey, and I am incredibly grateful to have this opportunity to work with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra performing this wonderful work."
- Madeleine Xiao
Henry Meng, pianist. Second prize winner at the 2023 National Concerto Competition Photo: Supplied/publisher
2: Henry Meng was awarded second place for his performance of Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No 3 in D minor.
"Rachmaninoff is one of my favourite composers. His best output consistently contains vibrantly expressive artistry of a high emotional saturation; opulent, lush textures permeate his work, which brings a transcendent level of multifacetedness quintessentially representative of that precarious era in classical musical history where chromatic music reached its peak. Rachmaninoff writes such emotionally provocative musical lines, in expertly manipulating complex harmonies—as well as crafting extravagantly long melodies—to produce deeply touching moments as found in works such as this one, his second Piano Concerto, and the eighteenth variation of his Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini, which will actually be played by a fellow pianist in this concert.
This Concerto changed my life. It is notorious for being one of the most difficult works in the standard pianistic repertoire, but I play it chiefly because it is, above all else, beautiful. I have never been more emotionally affected by a work of music. Shortly after I became obsessed with it so many years ago, I promised myself I would play the entire thing with an orchestra—and now, having had the miraculous luck to clear both the preliminary and semi-final stages of this competition, I can finally realise my wish—with you."
- Henry Meng
Yuzhang Wu, pianist. First prize and Junior Jury winner at the 2023 National Concerto Competition. Photo: Supplied/publisher
1: Yuzhang Wu won First Prize by Jurors Terence Dennis and Glenn Riddle, as well as the Junior Jury Prize, awarded by young piano students invited to the competition.
"I was learning the Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini, a gorgeous and captivating Concerto, I thought, “why not put it in the National Competition?” One of the most prestigious competitions in New Zealand is the National Concerto Competition. The chance of performing one of my favourite concertos with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra was simply too tempting to resist. Before learning this piece, I was looking into solo piano works by Rachmaninoff, such the Preludes and Etude Tableaux. By coincidence, I heard the renowned Variation 18, which captivated me in right away. The more I listened, the more appealing it became."
- Yuzhang Wu
National Concerto Comp winner for 2023 Yuzhang Wu with her teachers Jian Liu and Bryan Sayer. Photo: supplied by Yuzhang Wu
