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36. Graf Murzha

Murzha performed better, than during the first round, though much worse than during the rehearsal in winter or than he could perform at all. His technical unstableness surprised a lot. The sound of his violin appeared to be quite unfocused. This is even more surprising for Murzha has a great experience of playing at the Grand hall. Tchaikovsky’s “Meditation” was performed pretty nice. Still, if he could get to the third round this way and will keep performing like this, he will never get neither the third prize (the one he has got at the last “Tchaikovsky”), norr any higher one indeed.

1. Akiko Tanaka II

Just like Murzha, Tanaka showed more interesting performing than it was at the first round. This doesn’t mean, though, that her performance sounded interesting in general. Her playing can perfectly be described as “schoolish”. Schinitke’s Sonata may be taken as an example. Her pianist performed wonderfully in this piece, which showed the contestant’s playing in even more unattractive light. While playing Bizet-Vaxman’s ”Karmen” Tanaka didn’t show neither temperament, nor flexibility.

3. Anastasia Khitruk (USA)

Just like at the first round, Khitruk appeared to be very technically skilled. This is true if we can forget about her problems with sound. It is natural to seek for colors and warmness in the sound of violin. None of these were available in Khitruk’s playing and that’s why it was a very boring performance. By the way, her musical skills were asleep as well. Her second round can be well described with a word “coldness”. Ravel’s “La Gitana” – beautiful music – didn’t seem to touch the violinist in any way, at least it seemed so from the audience. Khitruk is probably playing “with her head”, and that’s something that had to show up. Very professional playing, but nothing interesting at all.

6. Rodion Zamuruev

It seems that this performance was the best today. Even the broken string couldn’t destroy the good impression from Zamuruev’s performance. This violinist’s sound is not so loud, though it is extremely warm and coloristic and this is what distinguishes Zamuruev from other contestants who performed today. It looked like Zamuruev was a bit more nervous than it was needed. This particulary showed up while he was playing Tchaikovsky’s “Meditation”. He also played Ravel’s “La Gitana”, and his performance was by no means better than Khitruk’s.

12. Elena Revich

Unfortunately, Revich performed worse, than during the first round and worse than she always performs. For example, she suddenly showed serious sound problems. She could hardly make the sound get to the audience. If the violinist has a nice sound – that’s great, but if no one can hear the violinist standing ten steps before – that’s really bad. No one could say that Revich “fights” to get into the third round, but this could be mentioned among her positive qualities. She even tried to show her musical skills and sometimes (Saent-Saens’ “Introduction and Rondo-cariccioso) it was impressive. The absolute lack of populism could also be mentioned as Revich’s plus (not like Khitruk). Still, generally Revich performed not really good, first of all from the technical point of view.

Anonymous

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Vasiliev Yuri – the musical journalist.

12 June, Rodion Zamuruev is an excellent musician, who could play very well in such unfavorable for violin playing conditions especially Bach and Waltz – scherzo of Tchaikovsky.

Efrem Podgaitz – the composer.

The first day there was only one violinist, it was Rodion Zamuruev, and the others are pupils, which have passed the test with the different level of the readiness and different success.

David Movsisian of Armenia. Unfortunately there were so few clear notes to tell about anything.

Ernis Assanaeliev of Kirgizstan. It is very well that he has came here, he got a possibly to listen how to play. It is very useful for him.

Rodion Zamuruev has played not only best of others. I compare his playing not only with the others, which have played today, but with “Chakona” of Bach and “Capricious” of Paganini playing I have ever listened. I remember our famous virtuosos like Stadler or Repin… Nobody has ever played “Capricious” so clear. I’ve forgotten that I’m on the competition. He could be compared to Heifetz only. It was real music, not an attempt to make out something. The instrument is his only problem. I don’t know why but he hasn’t got the violin from the State collection and was asked for an insurance note of about $1,5 million.

The level of the first day didn't seem high to me. Though it isn't bad. There weren’t any real fails, except for the contestant from Kirgizstan who couldn't play at all. Still, I haven't heard somebody interesting yet.

I liked Hitruk of the USA and Zamuruev. Hitruk has a very interesting persual of music, unusual thinking and very clear intonation. Unfortunately, it is a problem for contemporary violinists. And today only two contestants played clearly.

The lack of diversity and the poverty of the sound are the main defects of this day. It seems that the violin hasn't got any range and no resonator. It seems like they play the wooden boards.

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June 20

13. Albena DANAILOVA (Bulgary)

Danailova’s performing was rather strong. Although the violinist was trying hard to fill the hall with her sound, probably she did not know for sure how to manage this. Thus, a huge amount of cracks made her playing a bit hard to listen to. Anyway, Brahms’ Third Sonata and Tchaikovsky’s “Melody” were performed just fine when she wasn’t trying to affect the audience with a vast sounding. Wieniawsky’s “Variations on the original theme” were performed rather boring, though with some delicacies: particularly, the fantastic down bow staccato and the fast tempo of performing.

14. Dmitry Andreev (Russia)

Compared to the previous contestant Andreev seemed to be rather withered. Brahms was performed aggressively and vigorously, alike with Sarasate. Though from the audience it looked like that Andreev is too scared, that’s why his performance seemed to be unstable.

16. Yigiong PAN (China)

After her performance this contestant was honored with a five minute ovation. Her playing is very bright, though she seems to take too much from his teacher, maestro Eduard Grach, and what she already took not always have to do with a good taste. As of now Pan is best with pieces like Sarasate’s “Zigenunerveizen”. Though Tchaikovsky’s “Melody” was played with almost naturally “Russian style”, there were still an effect of “a la russ”. Anyway, judging by the reaction of the audience – Pan will sure get to the 3^rd round.

19. Nurit Pacht (USA)

This contestant appeared to be too mannerist. Besides, the weak and boring sound haven’t added quality to her performance. Owning neither technical, nor musical skills, Patch was not interesting at all.

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June 21

20. Bin HUANG (China)

This contestant has a huge experience as a competition fighter. Unfortunately, Huang’s musical intentions were not clear (could well be there were no intentions at all), that’s why the audience had no choice but to concentrate at the violinist’s technical achievments. From this point of view Huang played almost totally perfect, thus showed an absolute “competitive” performance. Still, those who seek the competition for not only sport experiences, but for musical ones too, wouldn’t like her playing for sure.

22. Kaoru Yamamoto (Japan)

Bright, though very specific performance. This violinist shows her lyric nature quite often, sometimes this even prevents her from adequately reproduce the composer’s intentions. For example, she lacked vigor in Prokofiev’s Sonata. Generally, Yamamoto has got a weak sound which is surely too small for the Grand hall.

23. Alexander TROSTYANSKY (Russia)

Trostyansky’s performance can be described by only one word – a mastership! Violinist amazed the audience with musical inventiveness and diversity of sound. Captious critic could probably say that Trostyansky’s playing sometimes lacks “in-depthness”. From time to time Trostyansky also shows too weak sound – that’s something which is usual for Irina Bochkova’s students. Still, all that is overridden by his passion to the music: there were not a single note just “for the fun of it”, and such passion is rare nowdays.

29. Elizabeth ZELTSER (USA)

Zeltser played better compared to her first round. Though she seems to be too dependant: first, from her teacher, Segei Kravchenko, second, from her pianist, who lead her all the way through the competition so far. This makes the audience think of her playing as of “schoolish” or something. The audience greeted Zeltser warmly, but still she can’t be called an interesting violinist.

Anonymous

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24 June

49. Jaso Sasaki

This violinist play his second round exactly like he did the first round – nothing interesting, that is. Sasaki played with a very active pianist, and standing next to her he looked much like an “accompanying person”, rather than a real soloist. All in all – good technical skills along with no musical ideas worth mentioning.

 50. Dina Nesterenko

The audience’s view on this violinist divided, though, in general, she was greeted warmly. Nesterenko stands out with some sort of a “childish” performing, and it looks like she wants to make stress on herself being a child. She could probably make a sensation on a Youth Tchaikovsky competition. There is nothing bad to say about her performance. Nesterenko plays very sincerely, though obviously immaturely, and sometimes too artless.

53. Natasha Lomeiko (Great Britain)

Lomeiko played much better than during the first round. This violinist leaves a very good impression after her performance, for most because of her good sound, which is rare on this competition. Also, she seems to be a very good musician and if she gets to the final round this may be of a great help to her.

56. Francesco Manara (Italy)

Just like Lomeiko, Manara’s second round was better than the first one. He seems to be a very delicate musician, though in the Grand hall, where the second round was held, some of his drawbacks could be seen better. This violinist probably was not taught very well, for his right hand is pretty tensed and this doesn’t let him to have a sound, sufficient for the Grand hall. Maybe he could be named a “chamber musician”, still his sound is not various enough for that. Whatever the results of this competition would be, sooner or later Manara should do something to his right hand.

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