Witold Lutosławski International Cello Competition

Witold Lutosławski
International Cello Competition
Purpose of competition
Witold Lutosławski International Cello Competition in Warsaw is the first, and up to date
the only international cello competition in Poland. The intention of this competition is
to give young Polish cellists, up to age 24, an opportunity to present themselves to prominent cellists and cello professors from Poland and abroad and to compare their art
of performance with their coleague-musicians from all over the world. This is thought
to help establishing international cross-links between young musicians and prominent
cello professors.
Differences from other cello competitions
This is the only cello competition, that we know of, in Poland and in Europe which limits
the age of the participants to maximum 24 years and thus it is directed entirely to young
students at the start of their artistic careers. Very advanced program of the Competition
permits for selection of the most talented young cellists who have a chance to begin
careers as soloists.
In the Program of the Competition there are all works of Witold Lutoslawski dedicated
to cello. The Competition gives unique opportunity for young cellist to perform
Lutoslawski’s concerto with orchestra in the final round.
Taking part in our Competition is meant to gather experience and serve as preparation
for participation in big, most important international cello competition.
Repertoire
The Program of the Competition offers to Participants a choice from the most important
and representative works of cello repertoire in a wide stylistic range, from baroque
to contemporary music. We consider that both classical XIX century and contemporary
XX century music should be studied by every young ambitious cellist. Therefore, in the
2nd round the Participants have to present themselves in romantic or classical and
contemporary repertoire. In our opinion this is a good test to prove the power and
artistic creativity and perfect craftmenship.
Witold Lutosławski International Cello Competition
1
The length of performances are the following:
1st round - approximately 30 min.
2nd round - approximately 45 min.
final round - depends on the length of the chosen concerto.
Since February 2000 The Witold Lutosławski Internationa Cello Competition is a member
of The World Federation of International Music Competitions and since December 2000
it is a member of The European Union of Music Competitions for Youth
History - Development
1996 - announcement of the competition
Chairman of the Jury
1997 - 2005 Kazimierz Michalik
2007, 2009, Kazimierz Kord
2011 Miroslaw Jacek Blaszczyk
2013 Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi
1997: The First International Cello Competition in Warsaw (23 participants)
I + II Stage
Karol Szymanowski Music School
Official pianist: Robert Marat
III Stage
The Frederic Chopin Academy of Music
The Jelenia Góra Philharmonic Orchestra
Miroslaw Blaszczyk - conductor
1999: II Witold Lutoslawski International Cello Competition (28 participants)
I + II Stage
Karol Szymanowski Music School
Official pianist: Maria Szwajger-Kułakowska
III Stage
The Frederic Chopin Academy of Music
Orchestra of the Academy of Music
Marcin Nałęcz-Niesiołowski - conductor
Witold Lutosławski International Cello Competition
2
2001: III Witold Lutoslawski International Cello Competition (27 participants)
I + II Stage
Karol Szymanowski Music School
Official pianist: Barbara Halska
III Stage
The Frederic Chopin Academy of Music
Orchestra of the Academy of Music
Paweł Przytocki - conductor
2003: IV International Cello Competition. Witold Lutoslawski (36 participants)
I + II Stage
Karol Szymanowski Music School
Officials pianists: Agnieszka Kozło, Scott Feigen
III Stage
National Philharmonic - Concert Hall
Polish Radio Orchestra
Wojciech Rajski - conductor
2005: V Witold Lutoslawski International Cello Competition (37 participants)
I Stage
Karol Szymanowski Music School
II Stage
National Philharmonic - Chamber
Officials pianists: Agnieszka Kozło, Maria Sterczyńska
III Stage
National Philharmonic - Concert Hall
Polish Radio Orchestra
Wojciech Rajski - conductor
Witold Lutosławski International Cello Competition
3
2007: VI Witold Lutoslawski International Cello Competition (36 participants)
I Stage
Karol Szymanowski Music School
II Stage
National Philharmonic - Chamber Hall
Officials pianists: Agnieszka Kozło, Grzegorz Gorczyca
III Stage
National Philharmonic - Concert Hall
Polish Radio Orchestra
Massimiliano Caldi - conductor
2009: VII Witold Lutoslawski International Cello Competition (40 participants)
I Stage
Karol Szymanowski Music School
II Stage
National Philharmonic - Chamber Hall
Officials pianists: Agnieszka Kozło and Miguel Angel Ortega Chalvadas
III Stage
National Philharmonic - Concert Hall
National Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra
Krzysztof Urbański - conductor
2011: VIII Witold Lutoslawski International Cello Competition (52 participants)
I Stage
Karol Szymanowski Music School
II Stage
National Philharmonic - Chamber Hall
Officials pianists: Agnieszka Kozło and François Killian
Witold Lutosławski International Cello Competition
4
III Stage
FNational Philharmonic - Concert Hall
National Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra
Piotr Dąbrowski - conductor
2013: IX Witold Lutoslawski International Cello Competition (36 participants)
I Stage
Karol Szymanowski Music School
II Stage
National Philharmonic - Chamber Hall
Officials pianists: Agnieszka Kozło, Dominik Zabłocki
Officials cellists: Magdalena Bojanowicz, Mikołaj Pałosz
III Stage
National Philharmonic - Concert Hall
National Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra
Rafal Janiak - conductor
Nagrody
The equivalent of EUR 15 000 - since 2005.
(The equivalent of $ 10 000 - to 2003.)
For the best performance of "Grave" by Witold Lutosławski - 1000 EUR (previously $ 500)
For the best performance of "Variations Sacher" by Witold Lutosławski - 1000 EUR
For the best performance of a song written for the Competition:
Andrzej Bauer - 2005 - 600 Euro
Paweł Szymański - 2007 - 600 EUR
Sławomir Kupczak - 2009 - 600 EUR
Aleksander Nowak - 2011 - 750 EUR
Weronika Ratusińska-Zamuszko - 2013 - 750 EUR
Witold Lutosławski International Cello Competition
5