Zakhar Bron attacks jury as Georgian wins the Wieniawski

Zakhar Bron attacks jury as Georgian wins the Wieniawski

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norman lebrecht

October 23, 2016

Veriko Tchumburidze, a Georgian living in Turkey, won the Wieniawski Competition in Poznan last last night.

Joint second were Bomsori Kim (South Korea) and Seiji Okamoto (Japan).
Fourth and fifth were Luke Hsu (USA) and Richard Lin (Taiwan/USA).

The final stage was marred by an ill-tempered outburst on Polish Radio by the controversial jury member Zakhar Bron, denouncing the elimination of his pupil Mone Hattori and saying some of the finalists had given ‘disastrous’ performances in the semis.

‘I am sorry, but yesterday’s concertos – Brahms and Shostakovich were a disaster. I don’t know what jury will say, but that is my opinion. Usually I wouldn’t be so rigorous and assertive in my judgement but I don’t know how much time I have in this world. That is why I wanted to clarify, that many decisions made by the jury this year was wrong”

You can listen to his comments here.

Polish media are suggesting that the result marks a severe blow for Bron’s influence in the competition industry.

 

veriko-tchumburidze

Veriko Tchumburidze, who is 20, has received support from the Güher-Süher Pekinels Young Musicians on World Stages project. She plays a 1756 violin made by Giambattista Guadagnini, on loan from a German foundation.

Comments

  • Martha says:

    Zakhar bron physically attacks Gringolts because of his students’ loss.

  • Zachar take it easy boy;)take a brake go watch her performance from video recs once more

    • David A says:

      Ok, that’s nice and I am a big fan for Turkish music education…having many friends there and playing concerts there. But just honestly: Veriko IS Georgian having at least Georgian father…as the sheer name tells. No need to deny that.

  • Bruce says:

    Well of course, the only way the result could be fair would be if a student of his was the winner 🙂

  • Les Der says:

    I think he was trying to repeat last wieniawski competition results… I think most of his students were prize winners in that one. Veriko totally deserved it this time… She’s soo good.

  • Jordan V. says:

    no words… How can a person like him speak about young musicians like this. He is a teacher, he should support the upcoming generation. Instead he publicly humiliates wonderful talented musicians. Shame on you Zahar Bron!!

  • Simone says:

    Shocking interview. But still, the results are shocking even more. 2nd prize ex aequo for Okamoto and Kim? She played MUCH better than he did. Only 5th place for Richard Lin? Its the biggest surprise of the entire competition… And Veriko should not be the first – I am sorry – she was good but not for the 1st prize… Her Shostakovich was rude, absolutely lacking any precision. But yes – was fast and loud…

    • Psimone says:

      Simone you are deaf.

    • Elisabeth Matesky says:

      To Simone ~

      Having studied with both Jascha Heifetz and Nathan Milstein, (for substantial amounts of time ~ in Los Angeles w/JH * my JH Violin Master Class filmed performance/lesson w/Heifetz – YouTube: *Khachaturian, 1st mov’t, JH-7,
      Elisabeth Matesky) and later in London, privately w/Nathan Milstein, at his Chester Square home for nearly 4 years ~), under the same Concert Artist Management as NM, Ruggiero Ricci & Henryk Szeryng, I have much international concertising performing/recording & teaching experience, so my comments here are not based on lack of knowledge re great Violin Playing Legacies or Music. It is in this regard, & with all due respect, I simply am shocked at the anger and more than bad ‘sportsmanship’ of Zhakhar Bron’s public outburst and, specifically, re his critique of Veriko’s Shostakovich First Violin Concerto in a minor, opening movement, Nocturne, saying it was ‘ … a disaster.’ Having recorded this deeply spiritual and revealing Diary of Dmitri Shostakovich’s feelings & conflicts which are ingeniously woven into his first Violin Concerto and, btw, dedicated to the late, great, late David Oistrakh, who knew a little bit (forgive my sarcasm, Mr. Bron) about the moods and inward’s of this monumental work for Violin & Orchestra, I take musical offense at Mr. Bron’s castigation of what I’ve waited to hear — an absolutely spiritual and deeply meditative & grieving approach in the Nocturne. Veriko captured these very sensitive messages behind the notes on the printed pages of the 1st mov’t Nocturne. Her musical and physical countenance was of such a rare level — almost dead in the past 20 years due to the P.R.-ising of Soloists to draw celebrity attention rather than heart and soul responses of audiences globally, for “Profit”, that Veriko’s stillness, physicality, and true Humility conveyed the gorgeous yet infused sobriety into the composer’s score ~ Very few can do this as it cannot be ‘taught’. No, Mr. Bron ~ humbleness, respect and heart-contact with the feelings of any composer, but particularly, with Shostakovich, & in this outpouring of his cries of almost desperation, were captured wondrously by this Georgian born young Musician of the Violin ~

      All of us, no matter how “high” we have climbed, technically – musically by the fruits of our own hands and hearts, either as performing artist’s or elite Artist Teacher’s, must at varying points in our Life journey’s, realise there just might be a few other’s who have God given violinistic and ‘other world’ gifts of insight and lack of self absorption enabling ‘them’ to present great Portraits in Sound in a less glitzy frame.

      Maybe the wonderful quotation ~ “Beauty adorned is beauty unadorned ~” might state my restricted ability to fully communicate one human being’s good willed message to another fellow human being, in the known name of Zhakhar Bron …

      Dear Professor Bron, Veriko, brought almost as much profundity and breadth to the Nocturne of Dmitri Shostakovich’s First Violin Concerto in a minor as its dedicatee under the inordinate stress surrounding her Final Round performance in Wieniawski’s International Violin Competition, 2016, in Poznan, Poland, in the video posted online by the Violin Channel. I truly believe my very legendary violin mentor’s, Mr.’s Heifetz & Milstein would agree …

      Thanking Norman Lebrecht for the opportunity to take part in this larger than all of us Discussion and, as in present Americanise, Debate!! Now, where is His Eminence, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, of New York’s Catholic Archdiocese??!!!

      Warm greetings from Chicago to Poland, Veriko ‘T.’, all Jury plus music lovers in Poznan and throughout the Land of the now St, Blessed Pope, John Paul II ~

      Elisabeth Matesky *

      *www.linkedin.com YouTube Google

      • Milka says:

        The vulgar behavior of Mr. Bron is the subject , whether Ms. Tchumburidze should
        have won or not is a personal opinion but by his actions Bron has put her
        in an unfortunate position of making her playing the point of controversy.
        One can deplore these competitions but this latest underbelly glimpse of what
        so called judges of violin playing are really about serves to show how pointless are
        such competitions.

  • Alan Kay says:

    Like Donald Trump, he’ll accept the results….of HIS student wins.

    • Elisabeth Matesky says:

      With all due respect to Alan Kay, me thinks paralleling a low jab from an angry and yes, hurt Jury member of the Wieniawski Int’l Violin Competition toward a true gem of a young artist or other fine artists competing to our current American Presidential nominee for Presudent of the United States, Donald J Trump, just lower’s the bar of all concerned … Mr. Trump doesn’t create an outburst unless he is personally attacked by media or the opposing Presidential nominee, and I might add, went way out of his way to postpone a huge Teump rally here in Chicago in March, 2016, and I quote, ” to keep people from being hurt.” His intent was to do the right thing for innocent folks rather than focusing on himself — center stage ~

      Let us keep American politics out of our Discussion. Trying to insert a bit of humour toward the end of my comments to Simone, was one’s sincere attempt to suggest the presence of His Eminence, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, of NY, siting between our two major party candidates for President at a very important and good willed charity dinner the night following our last Preaidential Debate, may have been mis perceived for which I apologise, but stand by as it was meant with the best intent …

      Let none forget the vital emergence of Ginette Neveu, David Oistrakh ( second prize winner to Ms. Neveu’s First); & Ida Haendel, but to name a few stellar artists to have a chance to be heard and received by audiences attending the Wieniawski International Violin Competition over numerous decades. The World of great Violin Playing has been significantly enhanced and greatly enriched thru
      the auspices of this hallowed meeting place for aspiring Violinists to honour the namesake of the Competition. Let us all agree we are meeting new Violinists and speaking with otherwise never known others here about Music and the Violin Art aspired to in order to ‘evangelise’ many interested or curious hearts to our World. Let us take up our Mantel and reflect the original intentions of those who founded the International Violin Competition in the great Henri Wieniawski’s name ~

      Warmest wishes to all impassioned lovers of Music and Future of Violin Playing!

      Elisabeth Matesky *

      *www.linkedin.com YouTube Google

    • Elisabeth Matesky says:

      With all due respect to Alan Kay, me thinks paralleling a low jab from an angry and yes, hurt Jury member of the Wieniawski Int’l Violin Competition toward a true gem of a young artist or other fine artists competing to our current American Presidential nominee for Presudent of the United States, Donald J Trump, just lower’s the bar of all concerned … Mr. Trump doesn’t create an outburst unless he is personally attacked by media or the opposing Presidential nominee, and I might add, went way out of his way to postpone a huge Teump rally here in Chicago in March, 2016, and I quote, ” to keep people from being hurt.” His intent was to do the right thing for innocent folks rather than focusing on himself — center stage ~

      Let us keep American politics out of our Discussion. Trying to insert a bit of humour toward the end of my comments to Simone, was one’s sincere attempt to suggest the presence of His Eminence, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, of NY, siting between our two major party candidates for President at a very important and good willed charity dinner the night following our last Preaidential Debate, may have been mis perceived for which I apologise, but stand by as it was meant with the best intent …

      Let none forget the vital emergence of Ginette Neveu, David Oistrakh ( second prize winner to Ms. Neveu’s First); & Ida Haendel, but to name a few stellar artists to have a chance to be heard and received by audiences attending the Wieniawski International Violin Competition over numerous decades. The World of great Violin Playing has been significantly enhanced and greatly enriched thru
      the auspices of this hallowed meeting place for aspiring Violinists to honour the namesake of the Competition. Let us all agree we are meeting new Violinists and speaking with otherwise never known others here about Music and the Violin Art aspired to in order to ‘evangelise’ many interested or curious hearts to our World. Let us take up our Mantel and reflect the original intentions of those who founded the International Violin Competition in the great Henri Wieniawski’s name ~

      Warmest wishes to all impassioned lovers of Music and Future of Violin Playing!

      Elisabeth Matesky *

      *And additional thanks to Norman Lebrecht for keeping this discussion open for
      so many to respond ~

      *www.linkedin.com YouTube Google

  • Carlos Majlis says:

    As Bartok said: competitions are for horses, not for musicians.

  • AHMET YILMAZ says:

    Veriko was magnificent.

  • LondonPianist says:

    No mention of the 6th and 7th place winners? Rude.

    • Milka says:

      Why ? the competition means absolutely nothing ..in this world there is practically
      a prize winner of sorts on every street corner trying to get a piece of the pie $$$$$.
      The only people who stand to gain from this nonsense if they gain anything at all
      would be the host city Poznan due to the temporary influx of visitors.
      That a vulgar little 2nd. rate fiddler -judge is unhappy with the results and goes public
      in denouncing the outcome shows the level to which this Poznan nonsense has sunk .

  • Balloon Boy says:

    I boom boom in pants.

  • Mark Lourie says:

    Dear Milka, allow me to disagree with you. There are few reasons as to why young people should go to Competitions:
    1. Many musicians don’t have any concerts, it is a good way for them to be seen in public. Important managers come to the oldest Competition such as Wieniawski. They are present from the first round and they do not need nor the jury’s nor the public opinion to engage one or another musician. At least it is the philosophy of the Wieniawski Competition – it’s a “platform for young musicians”
    2. All candidates that did not pass to the next round (there are four), may come and talk with jury members, to discuss their performance. If you wish some feedback from them, I am sure you can contact them on their facebook pages to find out more about the 2016 15th Competition. It was a tremendous success If you are not willing to get to the bottom of the “truth or false”, I could assume you are working for Mr. Lebrecht to help destroying the positive spirit of good values that are around in the world.
    3. Internet is not the best source to discover new names. The quality of the performances there are downloaded on compressed files that are generalizing the sound. So, you don’t get real difference between the good and excellent. Also, you can’t judge at all about the volume and coloring of the sound.
    4. Only in the Competition we are able to compare all candidates for their sound, to hear them in different styles from Bach Mozart to the 21 century repertoire. Their personalities, ability to interpret work, maturity, their technical performance etc…
    There are many more reasons. I would be glad to answers any questions you may have, by the way, are you musician? Do you play concerts?
    Look, I understand why you admire Kopachiskaya. There are artists you may love or hate, , but they have personality, and Patricia is one of them. I wish you a lot of joy in your life.
    Best regards Mark

  • Milka says:

    I do not admire Ms.Kopachiskaya for her personality nor do I believe Mr. Lebrecht
    is hell bent on destroying anything , it is your reading not mine .
    I believe these competitions serve no purpose and looking at this last batch of judges
    one would be hard pressed to accept any observations they had on the art of violin playing. C’mon Vengerov and Bron it would be laughable if it were not so ludicrous.
    It is deplorable that Penderecki lends his name to this nonsense.
    Nevertheless I also wish you the best.

  • Hristo says:

    It’s amazing to see the vitriol towards a great teacher and musician Zakhar Born. He is entitled to his opinion as much as your all are.

  • Hristo says:

    It’s amazing to see the vitriol towards a great teacher and musician Zakhar Born. He is entitled to his opinion as much as you all are.

  • Noname says:

    Zakhar Bron is a genius prof. He is completely right.
    Tchumburitze has a huge problems with taste, she plays everything aggressive, even Mozart… I’m totally agree with Bron.

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