The awards were presented last night at a gala where the jury’s decision was announced
The Iturbi Prize, organized by the Diputació de València, has announced the winners of the International València Piano Competition of the different categories in a gala, presented by Laura Grande and Martín Llade.
Maestro Joaquín Achúcarro with Elia Cecino
© Photo Francisco Montoro
The jury, presided by Joaquín Achúcarro, was formed by leading figures from the international piano and musical scene such as Catherine d’Argoubet, Edmon Colomer, Ana Guijarro, Paolo Pinamonti, Jorge Luis Prats, Didier Schnorhk and Josu de Solaun, has decided to award the first prize to the Italian Elia Cecino and the second and third to the Americans Anthony Ratinov Rachel Breen, after having valued the performance of each candidate throughout the competition, two recitals and two concerts with the Orchestra of Valencia, directed by Alvaro Albiach, in a total of more than three hours of performance. Cecino won 30,000 euros as winner of the contest and will record an album with the label IBS Classical; Ratinov has won 20,000 for the second prize; and Breen 10,000 for the third, performers who will perform a concert tour. The three finalists who did not enter the Grand Final: Sergey Belyavsky Anastasia Vorotnaya (Russia) and Djordje Radevski (Serbia) received 5,000 euros. Belyavsky also won 3,000 euros for the best finalist not awarded the first, second or third prize by the Valência City Council.
In the section of special prizes endowed with 2,000 euros was recognized the best performance of Spanish music made by Ratinov by the Diputación de Valencia; a piece of Chopin to Cecino by the City of Valência; a sonata by Mozart to Breen and a recital to the winner of the first prize by the Philharmonic Society of Valência; a concert by Beethoven to Cecino by Kawai-Spain; and the best contestant chosen by the public to Ratinov by Clemente Pianos.
Miguel Marzal
Levante, el mercantil valenciano
June 11, 2023
