Three finalists of Norah Sande Award. L – R We Cherry Ge, Radu-Gabriel Stoica, Erica Sin U Sou.
Fourteen brilliant young classical pianists on the brink of their professional careers took part in the internationally renowned annual Norah Sande Award, held at Eastbourne’s Birley Centre over the first weekend in July. A truly international field, players from China, Romania, Macau, Germany, Italy, Singapore and Britain (including local Eastbourne prodigy Joshua Slater) competed for the £2000 first prize.
As I have reported previously, the Norah Sande competition always provides a revelatory moment. This year Chinese runner-up Wei Cherry Ge performed an exceptional rendition of Messiaen’s Catalogue d’Oiseaux, 7e Livre, Courlis Cendre, [Catalogue of Birds, 7th book, the Curlew], a stunning virtuoso piece of exceptional difficulty.
In 1958 French avant-garde composer Olivier Messiaen (1908 -1992) compiled his ‘Birds’, musical descriptions of French species, their landscapes, climate and seasons. Fittingly for Eastbourne the 7th book refers to a coastline with lighthouse and the cruel harking calls of seagulls. The calls of various birds are interspersed with eruptions by the elements and an explosive warning from the lighthouse of impending disaster.
The ‘Birds’ requires a huge range of expression and unusual sonorities, a formidable challenge both intellectually and physically, but accomplished with masterly virtuosity by Wei Cherry Ge. Hers was a veritable tour-de-force which I was convinced would secure the first prize.
Radu-Gabriel Stoica and Wei Cherry Ge
However, the judges were bowled over by the playing of the only male of the three finalists, Radu-Gabriel Stoica from Romania. His excerpts from Robert Schumann’s Carnaval, was a bravura performance of subtlety and bravado. Radu is currently studying ‘Masters in Performance’ at the Royal College of Music in London. As well as the £2000 first prize, Radu will be invited to perform a concerto with the Eastbourne Symphony Orchestra later this year.
Erica Sin U Sou
Third place went to the diminutive Erica Sin U Sou from Macao. Whilst other competitors were soberly dressed, mainly in black, she appeared in a glittering full-length gown covered in silver sequins giving the impression she was lit up with fairy lights. Disappointingly however, when it came to the prize giving the dress was nowhere to be seen.
Erica had the most impressive curriculum vitae with numerous competition awards and mentions of distinction but apart from the dress she didn’t shine on the day with a standard repertoire of Chopin, Britten and Beethoven.
Birley Centre auditorium
The Birley Centre is the ideal venue for piano recitals and the Norah Sande Award will be back next July; be sure not to miss the enthralling, often electrifying experience, with the chance to witness greatness in the making from such talented youngsters.
