What is interesting about the 1st Stage is that the repertoire includes a specified piece, the 1st movement from one of Bach’s sonatas, and a choice from the pieces by composers from the Romantic period. This is where we see a variety of pieces, each of which reflects the individuality of the contestant who chose the piece based on their own decision.

The 9th performer on the first day was Alessandro Taverna (Italy: age 26), a semi-finalist of the previous Hamamatsu Competition who became popular among the audience but just couldn’t make it to the Final Stage. To my recollection, Taverna gained such overwhelming popularity in the previous Competition by the performance of Stravinsky’s ‘Petrouchka,’ which he played in the 3rd Stage taking full advantage of his excellent sense of rhythm. What was impressive about his performance in the 1st Stage of this year’s Competition was his last piece, Chopin’s Scherzo No. 4. Taverna’s unique and romantic rendering of the music was combined with his glittering notes to create his own world of Chopin.

The second half of the Stage started after an 80-minute recess. The first performer in this section was Nariya Nogi (Japan: age 20). Actually, Nogi had been sick since a few days before and had a high fever when he was playing.
His performance began with a mellow Bach with a solid sound, continued on to Beethoven’s ‘Tempest’ and was concluded with ‘Funerailles’ from ‘Harmonies poetiques et religieuses’ by Liszt. Powerful and feverish, Nogi’s Liszt left me with a vivid impression of the thick piano sound. Having known that he had a fever, I was impressed with the performance in which Nogi looked as if he were pouring hot magma into the music, as well as feeling a little bit anxious about him playing in a bath of sweat...

The choice of a Romantic piece that Zhu Hao (China: age 23) made for his repertoire was also impressive -- ‘Liebesfreud’ by Kreisler/Rakhmaninov. Zhu played this piece so passionately that he looked like a totally different person from the one who played the preceding pieces by Bach and Haydn, but yet he made his ‘Liebe’ not overly sweet.

The following performer was Ibragim Yazhi (Sudan: age 24) who studies at Moscow State Conservatory of Music -- the first contestant from Africa! Yazhi played his Bach piece neatly with a round sound. Following Beethoven’s ‘Waldstein,’ his last piece was Liszt’s Mephisto Waltz No.1. The piece’s unique rhythm and fluctuating tempo were expressed well in the powerful performance. However, as Yazhi approached the final part of the piece, he was interrupted by the bell indicating that he ran out of time. Looking a little startled, Yazhi stood up, bowed confusedly and left the stage.

In the final block of the first day, I found the Bach piece played by Liu Ji (China: age 19) impressive for his murmuring, glittering piano like the flowing of water. Following Liu was Ivan Rudin (Russia: age 27). On the stage, Rudin walked quickly toward the piano and, as he sat down, paused for a while to concentrate before he finally started to play. In contrast to Liu, Rudin began his Bach with a thick piano sound -- I asked myself, “Is this the Russian pianism taking a form in this young pianist who studied under Professor Dorensky, Professor Naumov, Professor Zelikman at Moscow State Conservatory of Music?” His Haydn, by contrast, was a sweet sonata which demonstrated the performer’s adeptness in controlling the sound.

Seventeen contestants, who was fortunately or unfortunately assigned to the first day by the Drawing of Lots, finished their performances. We had really different types of pianists on the first day of the 1st Stage, which makes me feel even more excited about the next four days.

47 Tami Lin (Canada: age 13)
- It’s impressive that you play Islamey as a 13-year-old.
(With a pondering look on her face) Is it? I don’t really think so.
- Do your parents also play any instruments?
My mother doesn’t play but she loves classical music. My father doesn’t play either, but he can fix the violin (which Tami’s sister plays)!
- You have skipped five grades. What are you moving so fast for (laugh)?
(Tami’s mother answered for her.) Her teacher tells her she is too young to get married (laugh).
[Tami’s mother joined the interview. Mrs. Lin was a friendly lady, who gave me the impression that Tami is growing in a happy family.]

19 John Fisher (Australia: age 25)
- Your Mozart Piano Sonata No. 10, 1st movement, had a very clear sound.
Thank you.
- From your performance, I had the impression that you love Mozart.
(Looking very happy) That’s right, I love him.
- At which age did you start playing the piano?
When I was 4. My mother was a pianist, so she taught me naturally....
- You played Balakirev’s Islamey, which Tami Lin also played. What is your impression about this piece?
There is oriental fantasy in Islamey, and I like the different colors that this piece has. I’m interested in oriental music and I love Kurosawa films, too.
[As you see from the picture, John was a very shy person. He answered my questions in a bashful tone.]

81 Alessandro Taverna (Italy: age 26)
- How do you feel after the performance?
I feel that there is a special ambience in the hall of the Hamamatsu Competition. The audience has a very high level of concentration. I enjoyed every moment of the performance.
- What did you think about the piano and the hall?
All the pianos were great, but I chose a Yamaha as I liked the sound of it. The hall is very big, and I thought the sound of this piano would be perfect for this big space.
- As this Competition was right after the Leeds, I was worried that you might not come to Hamamatsu!
That’s right. This is my 4th competition this year and it was a little hard to make up my mind. But I decided to enter the Hamamatsu Competition as this would be my last chance (due to age limit).
- Your Chopin is very impressive. You always give a fresh rendering to the composer’s pieces.
You may be right. I always try to be as free as possible when I play. When you play the music you need to let the music talk to the audience, which is the most important thing. So, I always try to make that happen in my own way. By the way, my most favorite concerto is Chopin No. 1.
- This time you were assigned to play on the first day!
Well...(laugh). It’s hard to say.... Honestly speaking, I would have preferred to play on one of the later days. Let’s see how it turns out.
- (Looking at Taverna who is soaked with sweat yet wearing a coat over his stage jacket) By the way, you have already put your jacket back on, haven’t you?
Oh! I was wearing this jacket on the stage...
- Yes, I know that (laugh). You looked hot during the performance, you’re all in a sweat and you have already put on a coat!
Oh, that’s what you mean. I’m not really cold, but...you know, it’s about managing your condition so you can take the stage in good shape..., or it’s simply because I’m going outside.

[Responding to my request for a photo, Taverna quickly put down his backpack and kindly posed for the photo. After that, he was leaving without his backpack before he was called back by the attending staff member. What a nice and amusing young man!]

62 Nariya Nogi (Japan: age 20)
- How is your condition?
Not very good. I have been sick for a few days and I still have a high fever...
- It must have been hard to be assigned to the first day.
I’m okay as I did my best. I think I shouldn’t be worried too much about the result.
- Your impassioned Liszt was very impressive. How did it come that you chose this piece?
Do you think so? Actually, I think that maybe I should have played the piece in one of the later rounds. I don’t really know why I chose this piece for the 1st Stage (laugh).
- But it was still impressive, sounding passionate as if you were putting all the heat of your body into the music!
Thank you. I’m glad you felt that way.

91 Ibragim Yazhi (Sudan: age 24)
- How did you play?
I think it was OK. Of course I was a little nervous, though. I practiced a lot and thanks to that I made few mistakes. I was actually more nervous than how my piano sounded (laugh). But it was not good that I had to stop playing in the last part of my performance. I don’t mind personally, but I don’t know if it is a good idea to stop the music halfway through...
- Is this your first visit to Japan?
Yes! I found that Japanese people are polite to others as well as to themselves. I have never seen a country like this. It’s great. The streets are clean everywhere, which was a bit of a shock to me (laugh). This time, my parents are with me, and they are very happy. I really hope that this will not be my last visit here.
- What made you decide to enter the Hamamatsu Competition?
I finished the Moscow State Conservatory of Music this year, and I was looking for what to do next. So, participating in this competition was a push for me to keep moving without stopping. Of course, coming to Japan was also a big reason.
- Did you ever play in any other competitions?
I was in the 4th place in a competition in Italy when I was little. But I’m not a ‘competition pianist,’ so I have never played in big and high-level competition like this. I usually play in concerts. But it was good for me to play today. I will just wait for the result, and in the meantime I will practice!

56 Mikhail Morozov (Russia: age 22)
- You made an impassioned performance as you kept wiping off the sweat. You played each note very carefully. Your performance gave me the impression that you cherish the sound and you have a sincere attitude toward music.
Thank you.
- I heard some Japanese people in the audience cheer, “Mischa, gambare! (Go Mischa!)”
It’s my third time in Japan. I have also participated in the Hamamatsu Piano Academy.

69 Ivan Rudin (Russia: age 27)
- How did you play today?
I just tried to concentrate on myself. This Competition is wonderfully organized. It is perfect in every aspect, thanks to the audience and the staff.
- The sound of the opening part of your Bach was very impressive. It sounded Russian, I would say.
Was it? Did the music conjure up the Russian scenery?
- But you are going to play almost no Russian pieces in the subsequent stages.
Right, except for just one piece by Rakhmaninov in the 2nd Stage. I think the important thing for me is to play various types of pieces, not just Russian ones. In a sense, Russian pianists like me can play Russian music better than those from other countries because of our soul and mentality. But in my case, I like Bach, Brahms and Schumann and sometimes I feel they are closer to me than some Russian composers are.
- Were you nervous?
Yes, actually. I was more nervous than I had expected.
- You walked pretty fast on the stage.
Oh, I always do. I always walk fast. But anyway, I was more nervous than usual. Maybe because I couldn’t sleep well last night due to jet lag... I don’t know why.