Gilles Vonsattel
Biography
A "wanderer between worlds" (Lucerne Festival), "immensely talented" and "quietly powerful pianist" (New York Times), Swiss-born American Gilles Vonsattel is an artist of extraordinary versatility and originality. Comfortable with and seeking out an enormous range of repertoire, Vonsattel displays a musical curiosity and sense of adventure that has gained him many admirers. Recipient of an Avery Fisher Career Grant and winner of the Naumburg and Geneva competitions as well as the 2016 Andrew Wolf Chamber Music Award, he has in recent years appeared with the Boston Symphony, Tanglewood, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Munich Philharmonic, Gothenburg Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, and Detroit Symphony Orchestra, while performing recitals and chamber music at the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Ravinia, Tokyo’s Musashino Hall, Wigmore Hall, Bravo! Vail, Music@Menlo, the Gilmore festival, the Lucerne festival, and the Munich Gasteig. His 2014 New York solo recital was hailed as “tightly conceived and passionately performed…a study in intensity” by The New York Times.
As a soloist he has also appeared with the Warsaw Philharmonic, Calgary Philharmonic, Edmonton Symphony, l’Orchestre Symphonique du Québec, Boston Pops, Nashville Symphony, Musikkollegium Winterthur, Staatskapelle Halle, and L’orchestre de chambre de Genève. Chamber partners include musicians such as James Ehnes, Frank Huang, Ilya Gringolts, Nicolas Altstaedt, David Shifrin, David Finckel, Stefan Jackiw, Jörg Widmann, Gary Hoffman, Carter Brey, David Requiro, Paul Huang, Anthony Marwood, Paul Neubauer, Paul Watkins, Philip Setzer, Emmanuel Pahud, Karen Gomyo, David Jolley, and Ida Kavafian. He has appeared in concert with the Emerson, Pacifica, Orion, St. Lawrence, Ebène, Danish, Miró, Daedalus, Escher, and Borromeo Quartets. Mr. Vonsattel is Principal Pianist of Camerata Pacifica, a member of the Swiss Chamber Soloists, and plays alongside Ida Kavafian and David Jolley in Trio Valtorna. Deeply committed to the performance of contemporary works, he has premiered numerous works both in the United States and Europe and worked closely with notable composers such as Jörg Widmann, Heinz Holliger, and George Benjamin. His recording for the Honens/Naxos label of music by Debussy, Honegger, Holliger, and Ravel was named one of Time Out New York’s 2011 classical albums of the year, while a 2014 release on GENUIN/Artist Consort received a 5/5 from FonoForum and international critical praise. His latest solo release (2015) for Honens of Scarlatti, Webern, Messiaen, Debussy, and George Benjamin’s Shadowlines received rave reviews in Gramophone, The New York Times, and the American Record Guide. Upcoming recordings include Richard Strauss' Panathenäenzug and Kurt Leimer's Concerto for Left Hand with the Bern Symphony Orchestra and Mario Venzago, for the Schweizer Fonogramm label.
Recent projects include Berg’s Kammerkonzert with the Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana, a tour with Jörg Widmann and the Irish Chamber Orchestra, Mozart concerti with the Vancouver Symphony and Florida Orchestra, performances at Seoul’s LG Arts Centre and at the Beijing Modern Music Festival, collaborations with Kent Nagano with L’Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal and the Munich Philharmonic (Bernstein’s Symphony No. 2, The Age of Anxiety) as well as numerous appearances internationally and throughout the United States with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. Mr. Vonsattel received his bachelor’s degree in political science and economics from Columbia University and his master’s degree from The Juilliard School, where he studied with Jerome Lowenthal. He is Associate Professor of Piano at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and on the faculty of Bard Conservatory. Gilles Vonsattel is a Steinway Artist.
Events
76e CONCOURS DE GENÈVE | PIANO 2022
FINAL ROUND WITH ORCHESTRA
THURSDAY 3 NOV. 2022, 19:00, VICTORIA HALL
Zijian Wei (China)
Franz Liszt
Concerto n°1 in E-flat Major
Kaoruko Igarashi (Japan)
Sergueï Prokofiev
Concerto n°3 in C Major, Op.26
--- INTERMISSION (20 MINUTES) ---
Kevin Chen (Canada)
Frédéric Chopin
Concerto n°1 in E minor
Sergey Belyavsky (Russia)
Sergueï Prokofiev
Concerto n°3 in C Major, Op.26
With the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
conducted by Maržena Diakun
The Final Round is followed by the official prize-giving ceremony (approx. 11 PM).
The Final Round is live streamed on our website, YouTube, Facebook, as well as via medici.tv and amadeus.tv
Live radio broadcast on RTS-Espace 2
Finalists had to choose one of the following concertos:
- Ludwig van Beethoven: Concerto n°3 in C minor Op. 37
- Ludwig van Beethoven: Concerto n°4 in G Major Op. 58
- Ludwig van Beethoven: Concerto n°5 in Eb Major Op. 73
- Béla Bartók: Concerto n° 3 Sz 119
- Johannes Brahms: Concerto n°1 in D minor Op. 15
- Frédéric Chopin: Concerto n°1 in E minor
- Frédéric Chopin: Concerto n°2 in F minor
- Franz Liszt: Concerto n°1 in Eb Major
- Franz Liszt: Concerto n° 2 in A Major
- Serge Prokofiev: Concerto n° 2 in G minor Op. 16
- Serge Prokofiev: Concerto n° 3 in C Major Op. 26
- Maurice Ravel: Concerto in G
- Camille Saint-Saëns: Concerto n° 2 in G minor Op. 22
- Camille Saint-Saëns: Concerto n° 4 in C minor Op. 44
- Robert Schumann: Concerto in A minor Op. 54
- Piotr Tchaikovsky: Concerto n° 1 in B flat minor
76e CONCOURS DE GENÈVE
PIANO SEMI-FINAL ROUND
PART 2 : CHAMBER MUSIC
Salle Franz Liszt, Geneva Conservatoire
Session 1 : Saturday 29 Oct,14.30 PM
Ms Miyu Shindo, 20 years old, Japan
L.v. Beethoven: Cello sonata in G maj, Op. 5, N°2
A. Schönberg: 4 Lieder, Op.2
Mr Zijian Wei, 24 years old, China
L.v. Beethoven: Cello sonata in G maj, Op. 5, N°2
F. Poulenc: Tel jour telle nuit
Session 2 : Saturday 29 Oct, 17.30 P.M
Ms Kaoruko Igarashi, 28 years old, Japan
L.v. Beethoven: Cello sonata in A maj, Op. 69
F. Liszt: Tre Sonetti di Petrarca
Mr Sergey Belyavsky, 28 years old, Russia
L.v. Beethoven: Cello sonata in A maj, Op. 69
F. Liszt: Tre Sonetti di Petrarca
Mr Jae Sung Bae, 22 years old, Korea
L.v. Beethoven: Cello sonata in D maj, Op. 102, N°2
F. Liszt: Tre Sonetti di Petrarca
Session 3 : Sunday 30 Oct, 14.30 PM
Ms Adria Ye, 24 years old, USA
L.v. Beethoven: Cello sonata in C maj, Op. 102, N°1
A. Berg: 7 frühe Lieder
Mr Yonggi Woo, 28 years old, Korea
L.v. Beethoven: Cello sonata in C maj, Op. 102, N°1
F. Liszt: Tre Sonetti di Petrarca
Session 4 :Sunday 30 Oct, 17.30 P.M
Mr Vsevolod Zavidov, 17 years old, Russia
L.v. Beethoven: Cello sonata in A maj, Op. 69
A. Schönberg: 4 Lieder op. 2
Mr Kevin Chen, 17 years old, Canada
L.v. Beethoven: Cello sonata in A maj, Op. 69
C. Debussy: Prose lyrique
76e CONCOURS DE GENÈVE
PIANO SEMI-FINAL ROUND
PART 1: SOLO RECITAL
Salle Franz Liszt, Geneva Conservatoire
Session 1 : Thursday 27 Oct, 2.30 PM
2.30 PM - Ms Miyu Shindo, 20 years old, Japan
F. Chopin: Sonata n°3 in B minor, Op.58
L.v. Beethoven: Sonata n°24 in F-sharp Major, Op.78 "For Therese"
A. Scriabin: Sonata n°2 in G-sharp minor, Op.19
F. Liszt: Réminiscences de Don Juan, S. 418
--- 5 minute break ---
3.45 PM - Mr Zijian Wei, 24 years old, China
J. Haydn: Sonata n°46 in E Major, Hob.XVI:31
S. Rachmaninov: Sonata n°2 in B-flat minor, Op.36
S. Barber: Excursions Op.20
F. Liszt: Fantasie über Themen aus Mozarts Figaro und Don Giovanni, S. 697
Session 2 : Thursday 27 Oct, 6.30 PM
6.30 PM - Ms Kaoruko Igarashi, 28 years old, Japan
F. Schubert/Liszt: Auf dem wasser zu singen, Du bist die Ruh', Gretchen am Spinnrade, Erlkönig
L.v. Beethoven: Sonata n°29 "Hammerklavier", Op.106
--- 5 minute break ---
7.45 PM - Mr Sergey Belyavsky, 28 years old, Russia
S. Prokofiev: Sonata n°6 in A Major, Op.82
V. Silvestrov: Bagatelle n°3, Op.1
R. Schumann: Carnaval, Op.9
F. Liszt: Réminiscences de Don Juan, S. 418
--- 15 minute break ---
9.15 PM - Mr Jae Sung Bae, 22 years old, Korea
G.F. Haendel: Suite n°3 in D minor, HWV 428
C. Franck: Prélude, Choral and Fugue in B minor, FWV 21
F. Liszt: Sonata in B minor, S.178
Session 3 : Friday 28 Oct, 2.30 PM
2.30 PM - Ms Adria Ye, 24 years old, USA
F. Schubert: Sonata in G Maj, D.894
S. Prokofiev: Sonata n°8 in B-flat major, Op. 84
--- 5 minute break ---
3.45 PM - Mr Yonggi Woo, 28 years old, Korea
D. Scarlatti: Sonata in C-Sharp minor, K. 247
D. Scarlatti: Sonata in F Major, K. 107
D. Scarlatti: Sonata in F Major, K. 6
F. Chopin: Sonata n°3 in B minor, Op.58
M. Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition
Session 4 : Friday 28 Oct, 6.30 PM
6.30 PM - Mr Vsevolod Zavidov, 17 years old, Russia
F. Schubert: Impromptu n°1 in C Major, Op. 90
F. Schubert: Impromptu n°4 in A-flat Major, Op. 90
A. Scriabin: Sonata n°4 in F-sharp Major, Op. 30
M. Ravel: Gaspard de la nuit
I. Stravinsky: Three movements from Petrouchka
--- 5 minute break ---
7.45 PM - Mr Kevin Chen, 17 years old, Canada
L.v. Beethoven: Sonata n°28 in A Major, Op. 101
F. Mendelssohn: Variations sérieuses, Op.54
B. Bartók: 3 Studies, Op.18
F. Liszt: Années de Pèlerinage – Troisième année -Les jeux d’eaux à la Villa d’Este, S. 163/4
F. Liszt: Réminiscences de Don Juan, S. 418
76e CONCOURS DE GENÈVE | PIANO 2022
ONLINE RECITAL (max. 40 candidates - max. duration 45 min.)
Free 45 minute recital, must include a work from the "contemporary" list (see below).
The choice of works, their originality and the relevance of their arrangement are an element of the judgement.
SESSION 1 - MONDAY 12 SEPTEMBER, 10:00 AM GMT+2
Akane Yoshida, 29 years old, Japan
- A. Berg : Sonata Op.1
- A. Webern : Kinderstück
- K. Stockhausen: Klavierstück IX
- J. Brahms : 7 Fantasien, Op.116
Yunkeon Ji, 20 years old, Korea
- D. Scarlatti: Sonata in A minor, K.175
- D. Scarlatti: Sonata in F minor, K.466
- S. Prokofiev: 10 pieces from Romeo and Juliet, Op.75 - The Young Juliet
- S. Prokofiev: 10 pieces from Romeo and Juliet, Op.75 - Mercutio
- S. Prokofiev: 10 pieces from Romeo and Juliet, Op.75 - Montagues and Capulets
- F. Liszt: Après une lecture du Dante - Fantasia quasi sonata, S.161/7
- R. Saunders: Shadow
Yun Wei, 28 years old, China
- F. Couperin: "Les Ombres Errantes" from Pièces de clavecin, livre IV, ordre XXV
- R. Saunders: Shadow
- M. Ravel: Gaspard de la nuit - Scarbo
SESSION 2 - MONDAY 12 SEPTEMBER, 2:00 PM GMT+2
Zijian Wei, 24 years old, China
- W. Blank: Lightnings
- F. Liszt: Ballade n°2 in B minor, S.171
- M. Ravel: La valse
Aurore Grosclaude, 23 years old, Switzerland
- C.P.E Bach: Sonata in A major, Wq.55 H.186
- L.v. Beethoven: Fantasia in G minor, Op. 77
- W. Blank: Lightnings
- R. Schumann: Variations on the name Abegg in F Major, Op. 1
- J.P. Rameau : Gavotte from the suite en La
- T. Escaich: Jeux de doubles
Robert Bily, 25 years old, Czech Republic
- P. Boulez: 12 Notations
- C. Debussy: Images - Reflets dans l'eau
- F. Chopin: Scherzo n°2 in B-flat minor, Op.31
- S. Prokofiev: Sonata n°7 in B-flat Major, Op.83
SESSION 3 - TUESDAY 13 SEPTEMBER, 10:00 AM GMT+2
Yonggi Woo, 27 years old, Korea
- G. Ligeti: Etude n° 4 - Fanfares
- G. Ligeti: Etude n°5 - Arc-en-ciel
- G. Ligeti: Etude n°10 - Der Zauberlehrling
- F. Chopin: Scherzo n°2 in B-flat minor, Op.31
- R. Schumann: Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13
Motohiro Sato, 29 years old, Japan
- G. Kurtág: 8 Klavierstücke, Op.3
- J.S. Bach: French Suite n°5 in G major, BWV 816
- A. Webern: Klavierstück "Im Tempo eines Menuetts"
- C. Franck: Prélude, Choral et Fugue, FWV 21
Melvil Chapoutot, 25 years old, France
- G. Ligeti: Etude n°10 – Der Zauberlehrling
- L.v. Beethoven: Sonata n°31 in A-flat Major, Op.110
- G. Ligeti: Etude n°2 – Cordes à vide
- I. Stravinsky: Trois mouvements de Petrouchka
- G. Ligeti: Etude n°5 – Arc en ciel
SESSION 4 - TUESDAY 13 SEPTEMBER, 2:00 PM GMT+2
Kyubin Chung, 25 years old, Korea
- Kurtag: 8 Klavierstücke, Op.3
- A. Berg: Sonata, Op. 1
- J. Brahms: Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel, Op.24
Sung Ho Yoo, 26 years old, Korea
- D. Scarlatti: Sonata in B minor, K.87
- D. Scarlatti: Sonata in D Major, K.96
- R. Schumann: Novelette n°8 in F-sharp minor, Op.21
- U. Chin: Etude n°2 - Sequenzen
- U. Chin: Etude n°5 - Toccata
- U. Chin: Etude n°6 - Grains
- F.Chopin: Polonaise in A-flat Major, Op.53
Kaoruko Igarashi, 28 years old, Japan
- K. Stockhausen: Klavierstück IX
- M. Ravel: Gaspard de la nuit - Scarbo
- F. Liszt: Réminiscences de Don Juan, S. 418
SESSION 5 - WEDNESDAY 14 SEPTEMBER, 10:00 AM GMT+2
Adria Ye, 24 years old, United States
- J.S.Bach: Ricercar a 6 from the Musical Offering, BWV 1079
- R. Schumann: Kreisleriana, Op.16
- E. Carter: Caténaires
Federico Gad Crema, 23 years old, Italy
- D. Scarlatti: Sonata in D minor, K.213/L.108
- A. Scriabin: Fantaisie in B minor, Op.28
- B. Furrer: Voicelessness. The Snow Has No Voice
- F. Chopin: Fantaisie in F minor, Op.49
Martin Jollet, 26 years old, France
- G. Fauré: Nocturne n°6, Op.63
- W. Blank: Lightnings
- C.P.E Bach: Sonata in G minor, Wq. 65/17 H.47
- N. Medtner: Sonata Skazka n°1, Op.25
- R. Schumann/Tausig: Der Kontrabandiste
SESSION 6 - WEDNESDAY 14 SEPTEMBER, 2:00 PM GMT+2
DongKyu Leo Kim, 28 years old, Korea
- J. Haydn: Sonata in C Major, H.XVI:50
- L.v. Beethoven: Andante Favori in F Major, WoO 57
- K. Stockhausen: Klavierstück IX
- F. Rzewski: Song of Insurrection n°7
Chanyeon Jung, 20 years old, Korea
- G. Ligeti: Etude n°5 – Arc-en-ciel
- G. Ligeti: Etude n°10 – Der Zauberlehrling
- G. Ligeti: Etude n°11 – En suspens
- F. Chopin: Sonata n°3 in B minor, Op. 58
Shih-Yu Tang, 27 years old, Taïwan
- J. Brahms: 4 Klavierstücke, Op.119
- C. Schumann: 4 Characteristic Pieces, Op.5
- P. Boulez: 1st Sonata
- A. Scriabin: Fantaisie in B minor, Op.28
SESSION 7 - THURSDAY 15 SEPTEMBER, 10:00 AM GMT+2
Eka Bokuchava, 29 years old, Georgia / Switzerland
- W.A. Mozart: Rondo in D Major, K.485
- F.Liszt: Sonata in B minor, S.178
- B. Furrer: Voicelessness. The Snow Has No Voice
Jae Sung Bae, 22 years old, Korea
- J.S. Bach: Toccata in C minor, BWV 911
- P. Boulez: 12 Notations
- L.v. Beethoven: "Eroica Variations", Op.35
Antoine Preat, 25 years old, France / Belgium
- J.P. Rameau: Gavotte et six doubles
- F. Schubert: Sonata in A Major, D.664
- I. Albeniz: Iberia - El Corpus Christi en Sevilla
- H. Dutilleux: 3 Préludes
SESSION 8 - THURSDAY 15 SEPTEMBER, 2:00 PM GMT+2
Boyang Shi, 29 years old, China
- F. Schubert: Impromptu n°1 in C Minor, Op.90
- F. Schubert: Impromptu n°4 in F minor, Op.142
- E. Carter: Caténaires
- F. Chopin: Nocturne n°2 in F-sharp Major, Op.15
- I. Stravinsky/Agosti: L'oiseau de feu
Sebastian Iivonen, 24 years old, Sweden
- B. Furrer: Voicelessness. The Snow Has No Voice
- D. Scarlatti: Sonata in D minor, K.1
- D. Scarlatti: Sonata in B minor, K.27
- F. Chopin: Mazurka n°4 in A minor, Op. 17
- F. Chopin: Ballade n°3 in A-flat Major, Op.47
- D. Shostakovich: Prelude & Fugue n°24, Op.87
Vsevolod Zavidov, 16 years old, Russia
- G. Ligeti: Etude n°4 - Fanfares
- G. Ligeti: Etude n°5 - Arc-en-ciel
- G. Ligeti: Etude n°6 - Automne à Varsovie
- M. Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition
SESSION 9 - FRIDAY 16 SEPTEMBER, 10:00 AM GMT+2
Sergey Belyavsky, 28 years old, Russia
- F. Chopin: 12 Etudes, Op.10
- B. Furrer: Voicelessness. The Snow Has No Voice
- C. Saint-Saens/Liszt/Horowitz: Danse Macabre
Seongju Kim, 27 years old, Korea
- J.S. Bach: Prelude & Fugue n°3 in C-sharp Major, BWV 872
- E. Carter: Caténaires
- F. Liszt: Après une lecture du Dante - Fantasia quasi sonata, S.161/7
- M. de Falla: Fantasia Baetica
SESSION 10 - FRIDAY 16 SEPTEMBER, 2:00 PM GMT+2
Youl Sun, 22 years old, Korea
- J. Haydn: Sonata in F Major, Hob.XVI:23
- A. Scriabin : Sonata n°4 in F-sharp Major, Op.30
- P. Boulez: 12 Notations
- F. Liszt: Réminiscences de Don Juan, S 418
Yuanhan Lu, 17 years old, China
- György Kurtag: 8 Klavierstücke op.3
- J.S.Bach: Prelude & Fugue in F-sharp minor, BWV 883
- J. Haydn: Sonata in D Major, Hob.XVI:42
- F. Mendelssohn: Variations sérieuses, Op.54.
- S. Prokofiev: Sonata n°6 in A Major, Op.82, 4th mvt
SESSION 11 - SATURDAY 17 SEPTEMBER, 10:00 AM GMT+2
Anna Han, 26 years old, United States
- G. Kurtág: 8 Klavierstücke, Op.3
- B. Bartók: 3 Etudes, Op.18
- R. Schumann: Fantasie in C Major, Op.17
Miyu Shindo, 20 years old, Japan
- G. Ligeti: Etude n° 2 - Cordes à vide
- G. Ligeti : Etude n°10 - Der Zauberlehrling
- G. Ligeti : Etude n°12 - Entrelacs
- F. Chopin: Sonata n°2 in B-flat minor, Op.35
- F. Chopin: Ballade n°4 in F minor, Op.52
SESSION 12 - SATURDAY 17 SEPTEMBER, 2:00 PM GMT+2
Hyojin Shin, 25 years old, Korea
- J. Haydn: Sonata in D Major, Hob.XVI:42
- G. Ligeti: Etude n°4 - Fanfares
- G. Ligeti: Etude n°5 - Arc-en-ciel
- G. Ligeti: Etude n°10 - Der Zauberlehrling
- F. Chopin: Sonata n°3 in B minor, Op.58
Yeram Park, 26 years old, Korea
- C. V. Alkan: Etude n°12, Op. 39 "Le Festin d'Esope"
- G. Ligeti: Etude n°4 - Fanfares
- G. Ligeti: Etude n°11 - En suspens
- G. Ligeti: Etude n°13 - L’escalier du diable
- L.v. Beethoven: Sonata n°21 in C Major, Op.53
SESSION 13 - SUNDAY 18 SEPTEMBER, 10:00 AM GMT+2
Maximilian Kromer, 26 years old, Austria
- R. Schumann: Toccata in C, Op.7
- O. Messiaen: Vingt Regards sur l'Enfant-Jésus - No.XV: Le Baiser de l'Enfant-Jésus
- G. Ligeti: Etude n°8 - Fem
- G. Ligeti: Etude n°13 - L’escalier du diable
- G. Ligeti: Etude n°5 - Arc-en-ciel
- F. Kreisler/S. Rachmaninov: Liebeslied
- F.Kreisler/Rachmaninov: Liebesfreud in C Major
Yiheng Wang, 25 years old, China
- D. Scarlatti: Sonata in D minor, K.1
- E. Carter: Caténaires
- L.v.Beethoven: Sonata n°24 in F-sharp Major, Op.78
- I. Stravinsky: Trois mouvements de Petrouchka
SESSION 14 - SUNDAY 18 SEPTEMBER, 2:00 PM GMT+2
Mari Kawakami, 28 years old, Japan
- K. Stockhausen: Klavierstück IX
- F. Schubert: Sonata in A Major, D.664
- A. Schönberg: Suite Op.25
Kevin Chen, 17 years old, Canada
- J. S. Bach: Prelude & Fugue n°3 in C-sharp Major, BWV 848
- F. Schubert: Sonata n°14 in A minor, D 784
- G. Ligeti: Etude n°10 - Der Zauberlehrling
- G. Ligeti: Etude n°12 - Entrelacs
- G. Ligeti: Etude n°13 - L'escalier du diable
- M. Ravel: La Valse