PROGRAMME OF THE FINAL ROUND

PART 1 - COMPULSORY WORK

Sarah Strohm, 20 years old                            
Léo Albisetti: Nouvel Élan for viola and chamber orchestra

Ayaka Taniguchi, 23 years old 
Léo Albisetti: Nouvel Élan for viola and chamber orchestra

Brian Isaacs, 25 years old 
Léo Albisetti: Nouvel Élan for viola and chamber orchestra    

--- Intermission ---

PART 2 - CONCERTO AT CHOICE

Sarah Strohm, 20 years old                                  
Béla Bartók : Viola Concerto (Bartok/Dellamaggiore) 

Ayaka Taniguchi, 23 years old 
Béla Bartók : Viola Concerto (Bartok/Dellamaggiore) 

Brian Isaacs, 25 years old 
Paul Hindemith : Viola Concerto « Der Schwanendreher » 

With the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
Conducted by Cornelius Meister.

Presented by Charlotte Gardner and Julian Sykes

The Final is followed by the Awards Ceremony

SESSION 1 – SATURDAY, 08 NOVEMBER, 16:00

Brian Isaacs

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791)
Divertimento, KV 563
Allegro, Adagio, Menuetto: Allegretto

Lena Neudauer, violin
Christian Poltéra, cello

Luciano Berio (1925–2003)
Naturale, for viola, percussion, and electronics

See detailed programme →

Marianna Bednarska, percussion
David Poissonnier, electronics

Kinga Wojdalska

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791)
Divertimento, KV 563
Allegro, Adagio, Menuetto: Allegretto

Lena Neudauer, violin
Christian Poltéra, cello

Luciano Berio (1925–2003)
Naturale, for viola, percussion, and electronics

Marianna Bednarska, percussion
David Poissonnier, electronics

See detailed programme →

SESSION 2 – SATURDAY, 08 NOVEMBER, 19:00

Eric Seohyun Moon

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791)
Divertimento, KV 563
Allegro, Adagio, Menuetto: Allegretto

Lena Neudauer, violin
Christian Poltéra, cello

Luciano Berio (1925–2003)
Naturale, for viola, percussion, and electronics

Marianna Bednarska, percussion
David Poissonnier, electronics

See detailed programme →

Sarah Strohm

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791)
Divertimento, KV 563
Allegro, Adagio, Menuetto: Allegretto

Lena Neudauer, violin
Christian Poltéra, cello

Luciano Berio (1925–2003)
Naturale, for viola, percussion, and electronics

Marianna Bednarska, percussion
David Poissonnier, electronics

See detailed programme →

SESSION 3 – SUNDAY, 09 NOVEMBER, 16:00

Wassili Wohlgemuth

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791)
Divertimento, KV 563
Allegro, Adagio, Menuetto: Allegretto

Corina Belcea, violin
Lionel Cottet, cello

Luciano Berio (1925–2003)
Naturale, for viola, percussion, and electronics

Till Lingenberg, percussion
David Poissonnier, electronics
Christophe Egea, electronics assistant

See detailed programme →

Ayaka Taniguchi

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791)
Divertimento, KV 563
Allegro, Adagio, Menuetto: Allegretto

Corina Belcea, violin
Lionel Cottet, cello

Luciano Berio (1925–2003)
Naturale, for viola, percussion, and electronics

Till Lingenberg, percussion
David Poissonnier, electronics
Christophe Egea, electronics assistant

See detailed programme →

SESSION 4 – SUNDAY, 09 NOVEMBER, 19:00

Alessandra Yang

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791)
Divertimento, KV 563
Allegro, Adagio, Menuetto: Allegretto

Corina Belcea, violin
Lionel Cottet, cello

Luciano Berio (1925–2003)
Naturale, for viola, percussion, and electronics

Till Lingenberg, percussion
David Poissonnier, electronics
Christophe Egea, electronics assistant

See detailed programme →

Emad Zolfaghari

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791)
Divertimento, KV 563
Allegro, Adagio, Menuetto: Allegretto

Corina Belcea, violin
Lionel Cottet, cello

Luciano Berio (1925–2003)
Naturale, for viola, percussion, and electronics

Till Lingenberg, percussion
David Poissonnier, electronics
Christophe Egea, electronics assistant

See detailed programme →

Open to the public
Sessions at 16:00 & 19:00 

As part of the Semi-Finals, candidates are invited to submit a project that highlights their artistic personality. This project may take a variety of forms, including a purely musical proposal, a tour concept, or even a collaboration with other art forms such as literature, the visual arts, or dance.

The objective of this assignment is to provide the Jury and the public with a deeper understanding of the candidates’ artistic vision and the motivations that drive them in their musical journey. The project must be both engaging and realistic, and be suitable for a festival, concert season, theatre or tour.

Candidates have one month to prepare and develop their artistic project from the announcement of the semifinalists to the start of the competition in Geneva. Two individual online work sessions are organised with the Competition’s coaches: Eugénie Guibert and Andreas Vierziger. The purpose of these individual sessions is to answer candidates’ questions and guide them in the development of their proposal. Subsequently, candidates must submit a presentation of their project in the form of a text, PowerPoint presentation, video or any other medium.

Upon arrival in Geneva, each candidate is required to defend their project during a public interview, conducted by journalist Charlotte Gardner. The Jury will then assess each project based on its artistic interest, originality and relevance to the artist's early career.

Read the programme

Open to the public (free entry)

——

SESSION 1 – SATURDAY 08 NOVEMBER, 11h00

• Wassili Wohlgemuth, 24 years old
• Ayaka Taniguchi, 23 years old
• Alessandra Yang, 21 years old
• Emad Zolfaghari, 21 years old

——

SESSION 2 – SUNDAY 09 NOVEMBER, 11h00

• Brian Isaacs, 25 years old
• Kinga Wojdalska, 27 years old
• Eric Seohyun Moon, 28 years old
• Sarah Strohm, 20 years old

——

Conservatoire de Genève
Place de Neuve 5
1204 Genève

SESSION 1 – THURSDAY 06 NOVEMBER, 16:00

Brian Isaacs

Edvard Grieg (1843–1907) (arr. T. Riebl)
Violin Sonata No. 3 in C minor, Op. 45
1. Allegro molto ed appassionato
2. Allegretto espressivo alla Romanza
3. Allegro animato

Grażyna Bacewicz (1909–1969) (arr. S. Kamasa)
4 Caprices for Viola solo

Franz Schubert (1797–1828) (arr. B. Isaacs)
Fantasy in C major, D. 934
1. Andante molto
2. Allegretto
3. Andantino
4. Allegro vivace
5. Allegretto
6. Presto

Pianist: Andrei Banciu

Read programme note by Brian Isaacs → 

Kinga Wojdalska

Paul Hindemith (1895–1963)
Sonata for solo Viola, Op. 25 No. 4
1. Sehr lebhaft. Markiert und kraftvoll

Thomas Tallis (1505–1585) (arr. K. Wojdalska)
Hear the Voice and Prayer

Rebecca Clarke (1886–1979)
Passacaglia on an Old English Tune
Grave, ma non troppo lento

Béla Bartók (1881–1945) (arr. K. Kashkashian/K.Wojdalska)
Romanian Folk Dances, Sz. 56
1. Joc cu bâtă. Allegro moderato
2. Brâul. Allegro
3. Pe loc. Andante

Grażyna Bacewicz (1909–1969) (arr. S. Kamasa)
Sonata for solo Violin, No. 2
Adagio. Allegro, Presto

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)
Violin Partita No. 2, BWV 1004
Sarabande

Paul Hindemith (1895–1963)
Sonata for solo Viola, Op. 25 No. 4
2. Sehr langsame Viertel

Johann Paul von Westhoff (1656–1705) (arr. K. Wojdalska)
Violin Sonata No. 3
Imitazione delle Campane

Grażyna Bacewicz (1909–1969) (arr. K. Wojdalska)
Polish Capriccio

Béla Bartók (1881–1945) (arr. K. Kashkashian/K.Wojdalska)
Romanian Folk Dances, Sz. 56
4. Buciumeana. Molto moderato
5. Poarga românească. Allegro
6. Mărunțel. Allegro

Nicola Matteis (c.1650–1714) (arr. K. Wojdalska)
Ayres for Violin
Passagio rotto, Adamento veloce

Paul Hindemith (1895–1963)
Sonata for solo Viola, Op. 25 No. 4
3. Finale. Lebhafte Viertel

Pianist: Sofya Pisetsky

Read programme note by Kinga Wojdalska →

SESSION 2 – THURSDAY 06 NOVEMBER, 19:00

Eric Seohyun Moon

Rebecca Clarke (1886–1979)
Morpheus

Ondřej Štochl (b. 1975)
Il sogno fragile

Paul Hindemith (1895–1963)
Sonata for solo Viola, Op. 11 No. 5
4. Passacaglia (In Form und Zeitmass einer Passacaglia)

Franz Schubert (1797–1828)
“Arpeggione” Sonata, D. 821
1. Allegro moderato
2. Adagio
3. Allegretto

Pianist: Andrei Banciu

Read programme note by Eric Seohyun Moon →

Sarah Strohm

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)
Violin Partita No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004 (transcr. in G minor)
Chaconne

Igor Stravinsky (1882–1971)
Elégie for solo viola, K072

Georges Enescu (1881–1955)
Concert Piece for Viola and Piano

Paul Hindemith (1895–1963)
Sonata for Viola and Piano (1939)
1. Breit. Mit Kraft
2. Sehr lebhaft
3. Phantasie. Sehr langsam, frei
4. Finale (mit zwei Variationen). Leicht bewegt

Pianist: Thomas Hoppe

Read programme note by Sarah Strohm →

SESSION 3 – FRIDAY, 07 NOVEMBER, 16:00

Wassili Wohlgemuth

Alexandre Glazunov (1865–1936)
Elegy for Viola and Piano, Op. 44

Igor Stravinsky (1882–1971)
Elegy for solo Viola, K072

Dmitri Shostakovich (1906–1975)
Viola Sonata in C Major, Op. 147
1. Moderato
2. Allegretto
3. Adagio

Pianist: Jacopo Giovannini

Read programme note by Wassili Wohlgemuth →

Ayaka Taniguchi

Georges Enescu (1881–1955)
Concert Piece for Viola and Piano

Věra Gaigerová (1903–1952)
Suite for Viola and Piano, Op. 8
1. Allegro agitato
2. Andantino
3. Scherzo. Presto
4. Moderato

Henri Vieuxtemps (1820–1881)
Capriccio in C minor for solo Viola, Op. posth.
Lento, con molta espressione

Paul Hindemith (1895–1963)
Sonata for Viola and Piano (1939)
1. Breit. Mit Kraft
2. Sehr lebhaft
3. Phantasie. Sehr langsam, frei
4. Finale (mit zwei Variationen). Leicht bewegt

Pianist: Thomas Hoppe

Read programme note by Ayaka Taniguchi →

SESSION 4 – FRIDAY, 07 NOVEMBER, 19:00

Alessandra Yang

Johannes Brahms (1833–1897)
Sonata in F minor, Op. 120, No. 1
1. Allegro appassionato
2. Andante un poco adagio
3. Allegretto grazioso
4. Vivace

Benjamin Britten (1913–1976)
Lachrymae, Op. 48a (Reflections on a song of Dowland)

György Kurtág (b. 1926)
Signs, Games, and Messages
Zerren-reissen, Flapping Slapping
...eine Blume für Tabea...
Perpetuum Mobile

Paul Hindemith (1895–1963)
Viola Sonata, Op. 11 No. 4
1. Fantasie
2. Thema mit Variationen
3. Finale (mit Vatiationen)

Pianist: Iren Seleljo

Read programme note by Alessandra Yang →

Emad Zolfaghari

Antonín Dvořák (1841–1904)
In Folk Tone, Op. 73, N°1 
Dobrú noc, má milá

Garth Knox (b. 1956)
Viola Spaces
8. Bow Directions “Up, Down, Sideways, Round”

Henri Vieuxtemps (1820–1881)
Viola Sonata in B-flat Major, Op. 36
1. Maestoso
2. Barcarolla (Andante con moto)
3. Finale scherzando (Allegretto)

Paul Hindemith (1895–1963)
Sonata for solo Viola, Op. 25 No. 1
1. Breit Viertel
2. Sehr frisch und straff (Viertel)
3. Sehr langsam
4. Rasendes Zeitmaß. Wild. Tonschönheit ist Nebensache
5. Langsam, mit viel Ausdruck

Astor Piazzolla (1921–1992) (arr. Brett L. Allen)
Le Grand Tango

Pianist: Andrei Banciu

Read programme note by Emad Zolfaghari →

PROGRAMME

The eight semi-finalists must perform a 50-60 minute recital at free choice

• Repertoire may include works for solo viola and/or for viola and piano.
• Works already performed in the Online Recital may not be repeated.

NB: Candidates are encouraged to choose a varied, cohesive programme that highlights their musical personality and interpretative skills. They will need to provide a programme note (due after the preselection stage).

Open to the public 
Sessions at 4PM & 7PM

——

Salle Franz Liszt, Conservatoire de Genève
Place de Neuve 5
1204 Genève

SESSION 1 - MONDAY 8 SEPTEMBER, 10:00 AM GMT+2

Haneul Park, 24 years old

• J. N. Hummel: Viola Sonata in E-flat Major, Op. 5 No. 3 – II. Adagio cantabile, III. Rondo con moto 
• D. Fujikura : Engraving
• R. Schumann: Fantasiestücke, Op. 73

Kyungsik Shin, 27 years old

• J. N. Hummel: Viola Sonata in E-flat Major, Op. 5 No. 3 – II. Adagio cantabile, III. Rondo con moto 
• R. Schumann: Märchenbilder, Op. 113
• U. Mamlock: From my garden

Brian Isaacs, 25 years old

• G. Knox: Three Weddings and a Fight
• J. N. Hummel: Viola Sonata in E-flat Major, Op. 5 No. 3 – I. Allegro moderato
• R. Schumann: Märchenbilder, Op. 113

SESSION 2 - MONDAY 8 SEPTEMBER, 2:00 PM GMT+2

Anna Sypniewski, 26 years old

• J. N. Hummel: Viola Sonata in E-flat Major, Op. 5 No. 3 – I. Allegro moderato
• G. Ligeti: Sonata for solo Viola – Hora lungǎ, Loop
• R. Schumann: Fantasiestücke, Op. 73

Junyan Du, 17 years old

• R. Schumann: Märchenbilder, Op. 113
• J. N. Hummel: Viola Sonata in E-flat Major, Op. 5 No. 3 – I. Allegro moderato
• G. Ligeti: Sonata for solo Viola – Hora lungǎ, Loop

Kinga Wojdalska, 26 years old

• J. N. Hummel: Viola Sonata in E-flat Major, Op. 5 No. 3 – I. Allegro moderato
• E. Carter: Figment IV
• H. Sitt: Albumblätter Op. 39
• G. Kurtág: Signs, games and messages – Hommage a John Cage, György Kroó in memoriam, For Imre Földes at 60

SESSION 3 - TUESDAY 9 SEPTEMBER, 10:00 AM GMT+2