VC LIVE | Germany's 2021 ARD International Violin Competition [WATCH NOW]

Held in Munich, Germany from September 7 - 12, 2021, all rounds of the competition will be streamed LIVE on The Violin Channel and be available for playback.

 

27-year-old Japanese violinist, VC Artist Seiji Okamoto has been awarded 1st prize at the 2021 ARD International Violin Competition, in Munich, Germany.

Seiji will receive €10,000 and will also be offered a number of important debut performances and recording opportunities to help bolster the start of his careers.

Second and third prizes were awarded to Dmitry Smirnov from Russia and Alexandra Tirsu from Moldova/Romania.

“We have had a pandemic for 18 months. We must now set an example, give the young musicians a chance to return to musical life — to present themselves again to the audiences, to meet and to compare, and to find a goal that is worth working hard towards," Competition Director Elisabeth Kozik has this week told The Violin Channel.

"We all need to see and to believe that life goes on now," she said.

This year's violin category jury comprises of Mihalea Martin (President), Frank-Michael Erben, Liza Ferschtman, Philippe Graffin, Rachel Podger, John Storgårds, and Hanna Weinmeister.

 

 

 

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2021 | 10:00 AM (ET)

2021 ARD INTERNATIONAL VIOLIN COMPETITION

HERCULES CONCERT HALL, MUNICH, GERMANY

FINAL ROUND

Dmitry Smirnov (Russia) | Radoslaw Szulc & Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra

• Frank Martin Violin Concerto

 

Alexandra Tirsu (Moldova/Romania) | Radoslaw Szulc & Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra

• Hindemith Violin Concerto

 

Seiji Okamoto (Japan) | Radoslaw Szulc & Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra

• Hindemith Violin Concerto

 

 

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 10, 2021 | 10:00 AM (ET)

2021 ARD INTERNATIONAL VIOLIN COMPETITION

PRINZREGENTEN THEATRE, MUNICH, GERMANY

SEMI-FINAL ROUND

 

Seiji Okamoto (Japan) | Daniel Giglberger & Munich Chamber Orchestra

• Mozart | Violin Concerto No. 1 in Bb Major
• Lisa Streich | Falter

Dayoon You (South Korea) | Daniel Giglberger & Munich Chamber Orchestra

• Mozart | Violin Concerto No. 1 in Bb Major
• Lisa Streich | Falter

Fumika Mohri (Japan) | Daniel Giglberger & Munich Chamber Orchestra

• Mozart | Violin Concerto No. 4 in D Major
• Lisa Streich | Falter

Alexander Won-Ho Kim | Daniel Giglberger & Munich Chamber Orchestra

• Mozart | Violin Concerto No. 4 in D Major
• Lisa Streich | Falter

Dmitry Smirnov (Russia) | Daniel Giglberger & Munich Chamber Orchestra

• Haydn | Violin Concerto No. 4 in G Major
• Lisa Streich | Falter

Alexandra Tirsu (Moldova/Romania) | Daniel Giglberger & Munich Chamber Orchestra

• Haydn | Violin Concerto No. 1 in C Major
• Lisa Streich | Falter

 

 

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 12, 2021 | 10:00 AM (ET)

2021 ARD INTERNATIONAL VIOLIN COMPETITION

HERCULES HALL, MUNICH, GERMANY

FINAL ROUND

 

 

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 8, 2021 | 9:30 AM (ET)

2021 ARD INTERNATIONAL VIOLIN COMPETITION

BAVARIAN BROADCASTING STUDIO, MUNICH, GERMANY

ROUND TWO DAY 2 - PART TWO

 

 

 

Dmitry Smirnov (Russia) & pianist Marco Scilironi

• • • Beethoven | Violin & Piano Sonata No. 10 in G Major

    • Boulez | 'Anthèmes' I for solo violin

    • Debussy | Violin & Piano Sonata in G minor

 

Alexander Won-Ho Kim (South Korea) & pianist Boris Kusnezow

• • • Beethoven | Violin & Piano Sonata No. 3 in E-flat Major

    • Benjamin | Three Miniatures for solo violin

    • Schubert | Fantasie in C Major

 

Alexandra Tirsu (Moldova/Romania) & pianist Katarzyna Wieczorek

• • • Mozart | Violin & Piano Sonata in B-flat Major KV 454

    • Boulez | 'Anthèmes' I for solo violin

    • Enescu | Violin & Piano Sonata No. 3 in D Major

 

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 8, 2021 | 4:00 AM (ET)

2021 ARD INTERNATIONAL VIOLIN COMPETITION

BAVARIAN BROADCASTING STUDIO, MUNICH, GERMANY

ROUND TWO DAY 2 - PART ONE

 

 

Seiji Okamoto (Japan) & pianist Katarzyna Wieczorek

• Beethoven | Violin & Piano Sonata No. 3 in E-flat Major

• Boulez | 'Anthèmes' I for solo violin

• Schumann | Violin & Piano Sonate No. 2 in D minor

 

Filip Zaykov (Czech Republic) & pianist Boris Kusnezow

• Beethoven | Violin & Piano Sonata No. 3 in E-flat Major

• Widmann | Études' for solo violin No. 1 and No. 3

• Brahms | Violin & Piano Sonata No. 3 in D minor

 

Judyta Kluza (Poland) & pianist Katarzyna Wieczorek

• • • Mozart | Violin & Piano Sonata in C Major Major KV 403

    • Benjamin | Three Miniatures for solo violin

    • Enescu | Violin & Piano Sonata No. 3 in D Major

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 7, 2021 | 9:30 AM (ET)

2021 ARD INTERNATIONAL VIOLIN COMPETITION

BAVARIAN RADIO STUDIO, MUNICH, GERMANY

ROUND TWO DAY 1 - SESSION TWO

 

 

Fumika Mohri (Japan) & pianist Boris Kusnezow

• • • Beethoven | Violin & Piano Sonata No. 8 in G Major

    • Benjamin | Three Miniatures for solo violin

    • Prokofiev | Violin & Piano Sonata No. 3 in D Major

 

Fabiola Tedesco (Italy) & pianist Katarzyna Wieczorek

• • • Beethoven | Violin & Piano Sonata No. 8 in G Major

    • Berio | 'Sequenza' VIII for solo violin

    • Prokofiev | Violin & Piano Sonata No. 1 in F minor

Youjin Lee (South Korea) & pianist Boris Kusnezow

• • • Mozart | Violin & Piano Sonata in B-flat Major KV 454

    • Berio | 'Sequenza' VIII for solo violin

    • Debussy | Violin & Piano Sonata in G minor

Louis Vandory (Germany) & pianist Tatiana Chernichka

• • • Mozart | Violin & Piano Sonata in E-flat Major KV 380

    • Benjamin | Three Miniatures for solo violin

    • Schubert | Fantasie in C Major

 

 

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 7, 2021 | 4:00 AM (ET)

2021 ARD INTERNATIONAL VIOLIN COMPETITION

BAVARIAN RADIO STUDIO, MUNICH, GERMANY

ROUND TWO DAY 1 - SESSION ONE 

 

For the opening live round of this year's competition, each candidate will present a 60-minute recital with piano.

The recital should compose a full violin and piano sonata by Mozart or Beethoven, a full romantic or 20th Century violin and piano sonata and a solo violin miniature contemporary work by George Benjamin, Luciano Berio, Pierre Boulez, Isabel Mundry Salvatore Sciarrino, or Jorg Widmann.

 

 

Louisa Staples (Great Britain) & pianist Boris Kusnezow

• • • Beethoven | Violin & Piano Sonata No. 4 in A minor

    • Berio | 'Sequenza' VIII for solo violin

    • Brahms | Violin & Piano Sonata No. 2 in A Major

 

Dayoon You (South Korea) & pianist Katarzyna Wieczorek

• • • Beethoven | Violin & Piano Sonata Op. 2 No. 2 in A Major

    • Berio | 'Sequenza' VIII for solo violin

    • Ravel | Violin & Piano Sonata No. 2 in G Major

 

Eva Rabchevska (Ukraine) & pianist Boris Kusnezow

• • • Beethoven | Violin & Piano Sonata No. 6 in A Major

    • Berio | 'Sequenza' VIII for solo violin

    • Fauré | Violin & Piano Sonate No. 1 in A Major

Hiu Sing Fan (Hong Kong) & pianist Katarzyna Wieczorek

• • • Mozart | Violin & Piano Sonata in B-flat Major KV 454

    • Boulez | 'Anthèmes' I for solo violin

    • Brahms | Violin & Piano Sonata No. 2 in A Major

 

Hosted annually since 1952, the 2021 competition categories are violin, voice, horn, and piano duo. The violin category is open to those born between 1992 and 2004.

Previous ARD Competition category first prize winners include Yuri Bashmet, Christian Tetzlaff, Antoine Tamestit, Natalia Gutman, Christoph Eschenbach, Nobuko Imai, Jessye Norman, and Mitsuko Uchida — all springboarding on to major international careers.

The 2020 edition of the competition was cancelled due to the COVID pandemic.