The finals of the 12th Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition ended with an unexpected twist on Thursday. The judges decided not to announce a first place winner and gold-medalist, while choosing to elect both the Israeli competitor, Roman Rabinovich, and Ching Yun Hu from Taiwan, to share the silver medal and cash prize of 30 thousand dollars.
The bronze medal was awarded to the Georgian competitor, Khatia Buniatishvili, along with a cash prize of 20 thousand dollars.
Roman Rabinovich, Ching Yun Hu at Rubinstein competition (Photo: Ariel Besor)
Prof. Arie Vardi, chairman of the judges panel, told Ynet that "the judges' opinion was that this year no one reached the level we had anticipated for the first place winner of the competition. Therefore we decided to divide the second place prize among two very deserving candidates. I feel certain that at the next Rubinstein competition in three years there will be a first place winner."
The judges' decision was a first in 33 years of the competition's history. The precedent was set in 1986, when the silver medal was awarded to a west-German pianist. "It is certainly acceptable," Vardi continued, "for a competition not to award first prize to anyone. Of course it constitutes a statement, but it is also a result of the manner in which the finalists performed. They were very tired, and it showed."
During the final round, Ching Yun Hu and Rabinovich played Prokofiev's Concerto no. 3 in C major, Opus 26. Khatia Buniatishvili chose Brahms' Concerto no. 2 in C major, Opus 83. The three are scheduled to perform recitals throughout Israel from March 28 until April 6.
Ten additional prizes were awarded during the competition, including the 'Isrotel Audience Favorite' prize. This prize, funded by Isrotel Eilat, was awarded to Khatia Buniatishvili, who also won the 'Pnina Salzman Prize for the Best Performer of a Chopin piece'. The 'Encouragement award to a young Israeli Competitor' was awarded to Roman Rabinovich, along with the prize for 'Best Performer of the Israeli Composition'.
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