"Hold your nerve!" at the Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy University Competition 2018 in the subjects of piano and composition
Press release from 01/08/2018
The public competitions of the Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy University Competition, which will be held this year in the subjects of piano and composition, will begin on 17 January 2018. The Konzerthausorchester Berlin, conducted by Corinna Niemeyer, has been secured as a partner for both the piano final concert and the prizewinners' concert.
27 students are taking part in the piano competition. The first round in this category will be held on 17 and 18 January, the second round one day later.
Seven students will compete in the composition category. The works they have written will be performed by students from their own universities on 19 January. Previously, compositions in the Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy University Competition were only judged according to the score. The innovation in the form of performances of the works by ensembles from the composers' universities serves to create a larger platform for the students and to present the music written for the competition directly to the audience. All competitions start at 10 a.m. and admission is free.
The competition participants have the chance to demonstrate their skills in front of high-calibre juries. "Give your best artistically and keep strong nerves!" advises pianist Lilya Zilberstein, who will chair the jury in the piano category. Christian Jost will chair the jury for composition. He hopes for "works that reflect the enriching diversity of contemporary composing."
The final piano concert will take place on 20 January 2018 in the Great Hall of the Konzerthaus Berlin. A maximum of four of the best students in this discipline will perform. Depending on their personal preference, they will play the Piano Concerto No. 1 op. 25 or the Piano Concerto No. 2 op. 40 by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy together with the Konzerthausorchester Berlin under the baton of conductor Corinna Niemeyer.
The students of both subjects who were awarded a first prize will perform in the prizewinners' concert on 21 January 2018 in the concert hall of the Berlin University of the Arts (UdK) in Hardenbergstraße. The performance will be broadcast live online by the UdK Berlin's "betont" label. The programme includes works by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, the world premiere of the work "Études de dessin" for solo piano by Kit Armstrong , which was composed for the competition, and at least one world premiere of a work that has won a prize in the composition category. The Konzerthausorchester Berlin under the direction of Corinna Niemeyer has also been engaged for this concert.
Since spring 2016, the artistic director of the competition has been Sebastian Nordmann, artistic director of the Konzerthaus Berlin. The patron is Andris Nelsons, Music Director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) and newly appointed Kapellmeister of the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig from February 2018. The competition is organised by the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, the Rectors' Conference of German Music Universities and the Berlin University of the Arts.
The dates at a glance
17 to 19 January 2018, from 10 a.m.
Public Piano Competition
Concert Hall of the Berlin University of the Arts
Hardenbergstraße/corner of Fasanenstraße
10623 Berlin
Note: Access only via Fasanenstraße 1 B, 10623 Berlin
Admission free
19 January 2018, from 10 a.m. until probably 12 p.m.
Public composition competition
Joseph-Joachim-Konzertsaal der Universität der Künste Berlin
Bundesallee 1-12
10719 Berlin
Admission free
20 January 2018, 5 pm
Piano final concert
Konzerthausorchester Berlin
Conductor: Corinna Niemeyer
Great Hall of the Konzerthaus Berlin
Gendarmenmarkt
10117 Berlin
Admission: 12 euros, concessions 8 euros
21 January 2018, 7 pm
Concert of the prizewinners
Konzerthausorchester Berlin
Conductor: Corinna Niemeyer
Concert Hall of the Berlin University of the Arts
Hardenbergstraße/corner of Fasanenstraße
10623 Berlin
Admission: 12 euros, reduced 8 euros
Tickets for the concert
Tickets for the concert on 20 January 2018 at Konzerthaus Berlin:
www.konzerthaus.de or phone (030) 2030 92101
Tickets for the concert on 21 January 2018 in the concert hall of the UdK Berlin:
www.reservix.de or phone (030) 3185 2374
Press enquiries and accreditations
Claudia Assmann
Tel. (030) 3185 2456
presse(at)fmb-hochschulwettbewerb(dot)de
www.fmb-hochschulwettbewerb.de
Partners and sponsors of the competition
- Konzerthaus Berlin
- Friends of Young Musicians Berlin
- Friends of Young Musicians Germany
- emphasises
- Elsa-Wera-Arnold-Foundation
- Hotel Savoy Berlin
- Music publisher Ries&Erler
- Kassel Music Days
- Kulturradio vom rbb
- Deutschlandradio Kultur
- reservix