The first day of the 17th International Frederic ChopinPiano Competition’s Grand Final In Warsaw has provided many wonderful emotions. There was even a question: if we’ve already heard the winner of the contest?

Seong-Jin Cho Photo Bartek Sadowski

The first pianist was Seong-Jin Cho, of South Korea, who, like the other participants of the first day of the final auditions, performed Frederic Chopin’s Concerto in E minor, Op. 11. He played technically impeccably, easily, as not easy Chopin’s figurations not giving him the slightest difficulty. He manifested naturalness not only in the purely pianistic, but also an artistic way. The narrative of each part has been thoroughly thought out, consistent also with the orchestra, which under the baton of Maestro Jacek Kaspszyk superbly accompanied the soloist. The classical approach to the work of Frederic Chopin, without excessive pathos and sentimentality also liked the audience. Seong-Jin Cho’s interpretation, not only because of his integrity, could surely be recorded on the disc.