Photo: MHIVC
Welcome to another program of highlights from the 2023 Michael Hill International Violin Competition. We are well into round two now.
The judges in 2023 are all fantastic musicians, and among them are three previous winners of the competition. They are Natalia Lomeiko, who won in 2003; Bella Hristova, who won in 2007, and Ning Feng, who took out the grand prize in 2005. The other members of the jury are Piers Lane from Australia, Wilma Smith from New Zealand. Anthony Marwood from the United Kingdom and James Ehnes from Canada.
Audrey Park performs at the Michael Hill International Violin Competition. Photo: James Roberts
And speaking the grand prize. It’s a big sum of cash, a recording on the classical music label Atoll, and a tour through NZ with Chamber Music NZ, as well as a performance with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.
Here is American violinist Audrey Park with Poèm by Ernest Chausson. With her on stage is Somi Kim at the piano. Then, they have music by Edvard Grieg. It’s his Sonata No. 3 in C.Minor Op., 45.
Yuri Tanaka performs at the Michael Hill International Violin Competition. Photo: James Roberts
Now we move on to a violinist from Japan. It’s Yuri Tanaka, who studies in Berlin. Together with Sarah Watkins at the piano, she plays Caprice after a study in the form of a waltz by Saint-Saëns.
One of the requirements of the 2023, Michael Hill International Violin Competition is to perform a new piece, which was written especially for this competition. It’s by New Zealand composer Michael Norris. It features a backing track to which the violinist has to play. The track consists of performances of Taonga puoro musicians. Here is Yuri Tanaka with Waipounamu by Michael Norris.
Claire Wells performs at the Michael Hill International Violin Competition. Photo: James Roberts
Another violinist from the United States now. It’s Claire Wells. Together with Somi Kim she plays Janáček’s Sonata and Carmen Fantasy by Pablo de Sarasate.
Ayaka Uchio performs at the Michael Hill International Violin Competition. Photo: James Roberts
We have time for one more competitor. That’s Ayaka Uchio from Japan. Together with Sarah Watkins she plays Prokofiev’s Sonata No. 2 in D and Polonaise brilliant Op., 21 by Henryk Wieniawski.
Music recorded at the Queenstown Memorial Hall on 5th June 2023.
Producer: Adrian Hollay
Engineer: Adrian Hollay
