An adjudicator's lot is indeed a varied one. The place, the jury, the contestants, the administration of the competition, the halls, the food and general comfort-all these are different, and so is the amount of enjoyment (or otherwise) one experiences.
Surely there can seldom, if ever, have been a pleasanter job than being on the jury for the Concorso for Oboe at the Castle of Duino (near Trieste in Italy).
The Castle itself is a vast ancient structure of many periods. The tower is Roman (built by Diocletian) and inside is a very beautiful staircase designed by Palladio. The castle is perched on a high hill, which overlooks the sea and a picturesque ruin on another hill nearby. The colourful gardens run right down to the sea, where one can bathe, if one prefers the open water to the large swimming pool at the top of the steep descent.
Inside the castle has been carefully modernized. Each member of the jury had a lovely room with private bathroom and every possible comfort. Coffee etc., was always provided for the breaks and our excellent meals were taken either in the Castle itself or alfresco in a charming small restaurant in the village a short walk away.
Although we understood that the Prince and Princess della Torre e Tasso have to let out the castle for various functions to enable them to keep the ancient building in good repair (a very costly business!), we all felt as if we were guests, being charmingly entertained in their beautiful home. The two young sons and the enchanting 4-month old daughter added to the family feeling.
Apart from all this comfort and care, the competition was well run and musically extremely worth while. the jury heard the contestants in the
Castle itself, in a very large room arranged as a small concert hall, acoustically very good indeed.
Among the oboists (who came from 15 different countries) there were some very fine players, and the general standard was high. The International jury in alphabetical order consisted of:
Alessandro Bonelli (Italian) who had a great deal to do with the organization of the competition and was a charming "host" to the jury as well as being a perceptive and fair member of it.
Viatcheslav Lupatchev (Russian), known as Slava, an excellent player with a warm and ebullient personality (who gave a delightful party for the jury with caviar and vodka he had brought from Russia).
Pierre Pierlot (French), who is really too well known from his numerous recordings to need any introduction.
Myself, (English).
Dan Stolper (U.S.A.), well known soloist of distinction, teacher and editor of this magazine.
It was a particular pleasure to be with this old friend: Renato Zanfini (Italian), who made many recordings with the Virtuosi di Roma and who enlivened proceedings with his ready wit.
Omar Zoboli (Swiss), whose remarkable recording of five Pasculli works must be known to many of us.
Most of the jury were old friends, so the atmosphere was very happy and the judging without acrimony! The system of marking, choice of repertory and rules in general were modeled on the Munich Competition, arguably the most prestigious in Europe, and wonderfully well run.
The repertory of Duino was exacting-difficult enough to deter any mediocre player from entering!
| 1st Round: |
1. One of the 12 Fantasies for unaccompanied flute Telemann (pub. Barenreiter) 2. Romance No. 2 Schumann 3. Aleph Castiglioni (pub. Schott) or Sequenza Berio (pub. Universal) |
| 2nd Round: |
1. Sonata in C minor Vivaldi (pub. Scott) or Sonata I in C minor Op. 1/8 Handel (pub. Nova Music) 2. One of the following: Fantasy on Rigoletto Daelli (pub. Universal) Concerto on La Favorita Pasculli (pub. Musica Rara) Capriccio Ponchielli (pub. Ricordi) 3. One of the following: 6 Metamorphoses after Ovid, Op. 49 Britten (pub. Boosey & Hawkes) Sonata Poulenc (pub. Chester) Sonatina Milhaud |
| Final Round: |
1. Concerto in C (with own cadenza) Mozart (pub. Boosey & Hawkes) 2. One of the following: Concerto (up to the end of the cadenza) Strauss Concerto (1st & 2nd movements) Martinu (pub. Eschig) Concerto (1st & 2nd movements) Zimmermann (pub. Schott) 3. Concerto Viozzi (pub. Zanibon) A rather undistinguished and unoriginal work, recently published and chosen because it would be unknown to the entrants. |
The final round was played with piano accompaniment: there would have been no space for an orchestra.
The jury decided not to award a first prize from among the 5 finalists. After the tradition of Munich we felt that the first prize winner of Duino should be someone truly exceptional and only rarely encountered. The winner this year (2nd prize) was Andrew Malcolm from New Zealand. He is a very accomplished oboist with a beautiful tone and impeccable intonation. He has excellent technical command and a very musical sense of phrasing. He lacked only a strong soloistic personality. (After the Duino competition he was to be on trial for the Ist oboe of the BBC Symphony Orchestra in London.)
3rd Prize was shared between Nicholas Daniel from England and Christian Hommel from Germany-both players of real distinction, with vital and individual soloistic personalities. The other two players in the final, both very close in marks to the winning three, were both French. Jacques Tys was intensely musical and very sensitive. His playing gave me personally great pleasure, even though his performance of the Britten Metamorphoses was not wholly satisfying.
Francoix Leleux is a young player (18 years old) of enormous potential, exceptionally gifted. His playing has minor imperfections sometimes, but it is full of vitality musically natural and always has a feeling of excitement-it is never dull. In my opinion (which was I think shared by the rest of the jury) he is a most likely winner of future competitions. I shall be on the jury again in Munich in
September 1991 and shall hope to see and hear him there.
Incidentally, he and Jerome Guichard (an excellent oboist who just did not quite make it into the Final-a young man of very warm and attractive personality) were both in the Final at the I.D.R.S. Conference in Manchester last August.
On the last night, proceedings were enlivened informally by arrangements for Trios-and more-arranged by Nick Daniel and others. Excellent playing and great fun. And Slava Lupatchev and Omar Zoboli delighted everyone with an informal recital. As nearly always in important competitions, the atmosphere among the players, and among the jury members, was extremely friendly and warm, and apart from the very serious competing a good deal of fun was had by all.
This competition will take place annually, each year for a different instrument. The first year (1988) was for flute, next year (1990) will be for cello. It is a worthy addition to the short list of really prestigious competitions in Europe.