Dmytro Udovychenko Wins First Prize in 2023 Montreal Violin Competition

May 5, 2023 at 06:17 AM · Greetings,

Udovychenko’s playing is wonderful ands there is so much to like about it. However, I had to turn off the Shostakovich after a few minutes for one single reason which is that he consistently uses on off vibrato. I find this disturbing but it may just my musical weakness in which case it’s not a valid criticism. Do modern players play like this based on the theory that ‘vibrato is just an ornament so on and off is the. Norm? is this some kind of cross over from modern baroque performance practice? I am genuinely interested so I am off to listen to Oistrakh to see if he does the same thing.

Cheers,

Buri

May 5, 2023 at 06:27 AM · Me again.

https://youtu.be/x3iSCa50DFg

Well, to be fair, Oistrakh plays a very small number of notes ‘white’ but in some of the less important notes his hand still has an almost non-existent vibrato that keeps the note alive and sensible in relation to the whole. Of course there is no reason to suggest Udovychenko is lacking in artistry and there are few of any generation who can compare with Oistrakh anyway. But the difference is big enough for me to pine for the fiords. Still Hadelich for the young ‘uns for me , I think.

Cheers,

Burp

May 5, 2023 at 06:27 AM · All really talented finalists. I was digging Soobeen Lee, but I didn't get a chance to listen to earlier rounds.

May 5, 2023 at 02:51 PM · Being in the audience, the Shostakovich was really captivating - it had that special quality of a performance that people pay attention to, end-to-end.

SongHa had really nice variety of vibrato in the Prokofiev.

SooBeen’s Tchaikovsky was a gem of a performance, everything just so right.

Ruslan ripping off those Paganini licks was just jaw-dropping.

Nathan brought out ideas in the Berg I’d never noticed before,

And Michael had an amazing up bow staccato and wonderful potential.

It takes so much dedication, stamina, will, constant practice, outright sacrifice etc to just be at this level and then put it all out there. I have so much respect for these young violinists and their achievements. These were deserving violinists, playing at a very high level. To water their achievements down to a publicity stunt is quite disrespectful.

May 5, 2023 at 05:24 PM · That's the problem with watching these rounds online or after they have transpired. We aren't there in person to experience the competition as Laurie, the judges, and the live audience have.

May 5, 2023 at 07:38 PM · I am taking down any posts from fake accounts that were created today just to post disparaging remarks.

May 6, 2023 at 12:05 AM · Well, my choice was Soobeen Lee and I think my comment was fair, if not irrelevent in the general scheme of things. but choosing from so many great players always seems rather sad to me. I'd give all of them a prize. Suggesting that giants of the violin world like Gringolts and Yura Lee sit around in a small room going 'Given the current political situation, let's give it to the Ukranian,' is about as nutty/sordid as it gets.

Warmest regards,

Buri

May 6, 2023 at 03:14 AM · Well said Buri. My choice was between Soobeen Lee as well or Nathan Meltzer, but I wasn't on the jury and it's hard to pick a winner between all these great violinists. It seems like it's a "wrong place and the wrong time" kind of thing. Perhaps if they enter again in the future they might win so long as they don't age out. I don't know the age cut-off for this competition though.

May 6, 2023 at 12:24 PM · If it helps at all (which rarely my comments ever do), I always hope the American violinists will compete well. But, then, I'm not on the jury.

May 6, 2023 at 04:48 PM · I think Nathan Meltzer could've won or at least placed had he chosen a different concerto. From my understanding, they were able to pick any concerto of their choice. He played the Berg concerto beautifully, but I don't think it had the same weight as the Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich, or Prokofiev competition-wise.