Competitor's shock as orchestra mistakenly performs incorrect piano concerto during solo contest
The 2019 Tchaikovsky Competition, held in Moscow, was not without its share of unexpected moments. One such incident involved pianist Tianxu An, a competitor in the final round of the competition.
On 19 January 2024, during Tianxu An's performance, an administrative error caused the orchestra and conductor to launch into Rachmaninov's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini instead of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No.1, the piece Tianxu An was scheduled to perform.
Despite the mix-up, Tianxu An demonstrated his musical versatility by switching between Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov in a short span of time. However, he tried to signal the conductor to correct the mistake but was unable to do so before the piano entry.
The incident caused significant stress and disruption to Tianxu An's performance. The Tchaikovsky Competition offered him the opportunity to re-play his program, but he declined.
The incident was reported by Kyle Macdonald and was later investigated by the Tchaikovsky Competition. The investigation concluded that the blame lay with an employee of the orchestra.
Interestingly, the winner of the 2019 Tchaikovsky Competition was 22-year-old French pianist Alexandre Kantorow. Despite the mix-up, Tianxu An's performance at the competition was widely recognised for its skill and adaptability.
While this incident may have caused some confusion, it serves as a reminder of the human element in performances such as the Tchaikovsky Competition. Mistakes can happen, but it's how artists respond to them that truly defines their art.
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