Oscar-nominated film director Mike Figgis (Leaving Las Vegas, Internal Affairs, The Browning Version, Time Code) is making a documentary about this year’s Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition. He and his crew have been shooting all week at the White Rock Theatre and locations in and around Hastings.
He and the competition organisers have also set up a dedicated YouTube channel for daily streaming of short films directed by Figgis covering the competition stages and other related events. To view the films and subscribe to the channel, go to You Tube and find Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition here.
An accomplished jazz musician and composer himself, the British director is keen to explore the issues surrounding the lives of young concert pianists working to establish a career and the role that competitions like this have to play in their development. He also wants to look at what can be done to encourage younger audiences to experience classical music.
“The competition has a lot of drama built into it by the very nature of how it works. It has a strong emotional appeal which I hope will make a really interesting film,” he said. “With the YouTube channel, we want to create a little TV station which will give access to young people who might not otherwise think of getting involved with classical music.” You can subscribe to the channel here.
Frank Wibaut, artistic director of the competition and chairman of the jury, said: “This is a very exciting development. It will help us to build new audiences and encourage greater participation in what is fast becoming one of the premier classical piano competitions in Europe.”
More than 30 young musicians from as far afield as Australia and Kazakhstan, aged between 16 and 30, descended on Hastings this week to take part in the competition, playing live at the White Rock in front of the distinguished international jury members Bernd Goetzke, Olivier Gardon, Dina Yoffe, Robert Palmer and Wibaut.
Stage One started last Saturday with the young pianists performing excerpts from the concerto they have chosen from the competition’s list. The orchestral part was played on a second piano. Eleven competitors then went forward to Stage Two on Wednesday, March 4, to play the whole of a Mozart or Beethoven concerto.
Six young musicians were then chosen to progress to the semi-final on Thursday, March 5 at 5pm, to give a 25-minute recital of music of their choice. This is always one of the highlights of the competition because of the extraordinary variety of pieces that are played.
On Friday, March 6 the three semi-finalists who do not go through to the final will be given a Masterclass by members of the distinguished International Jury in the elegant Recital Room at Fairlight Hall. Sadly tickets for this evening are already sold out.
The climax of the competition comes on Saturday back at the White Rock Theatre, when the three finalists will play a complete concerto with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, conducted by Brian Wright. Members of the audience are asked to take their seats by 5.50pm for a prompt 6pm start.
The winner will receive a prize of £10,000 plus the opportunity to play Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill on June 4. The total prize money adds up to £17,000.
Tickets for the semi-final and the final are available from the White Rock box office on 01424 462288 or online. For further information visit the competition website.
Photos: John Cole