Corriere del Veneto
The pianist from Treviso won Premio Venezia Piano Competition. Second prize to Bertolazzi.
Ability, commitment, freshness. Elia Cecino an 18-year-old young man from Treviso who graduated at the Conservatory Bruno Maderna of Cesena is the winner of the 36th Premio Venezia. This year the competition was reserved to pianists up to 24 years of age, from any country who graduated Summa cum Laude in Conservatories or Musical Institutes in the Academic year 2017-2018.
The final round took place last Saturday at La Fenice where Cecino beat his rival Giovanni Bertolazzi. He performed pieces by Liszt from Etudes d’Exècution Transcendante S.139 12 Chasse Neige, by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy Variations Sérieuses in D minor op. 54 and by Fryderyk Chopin Sonata n. 2 in B flat minor op. 35 (Grave – Doppio Movimento , Scherzo, Marcia funèbre – Lento, Finale – Presto).
«I have chosen three very different pieces so that their romantic inspiration could be immediately caught by the audience — tells Cecino — Chopin and Liszt are very extrovert and of a passionate nature while Mendelssohn is more introvert and structured.»
In the different phases of the competition, that started on October 14th, Cecino tried to range among all the styles and ages staking his ability, from Beethoven that was compulsory at the second phase, to a repertoire of Russian composers in the third phase.
«I have been playing since I was 9 and because I have taken part to numerous competitions, I have learnt to manage my emotions. I have played other times at La Fenice but the Sala Grande is by far more challenging than the Sale Apollinee. It has been very exciting: the final is the sum of all the phases that I have been taking in these days. The contest is demanding not only for the wide range of the repertoire but also for the short time between the different phases.»
In his future Cecino is going to deepen his study of the piano both with pieces from the repertoire and with new ones, using what he has studied taking part in other competitions and performing in concerts.
Who are the pianists that inspire you the most?
«Svjatoslav Teofilivic Richter for the logical aspect of his interpretations while among the youngest pianists Danili Trifonov for his extrovert attitude.»
The second prize Giovanni Bertolazzi, who graduated at the Benedetto Marcello Conservatory in Venice, won the “Premio Casella” playing music by Joseph Haydn, Sonata in F major Hob.XVI:23 (Allegro, Adagio, Finale. Presto), by Brahms from Klavierstücke op. 118, n. 2, Intermezzo in A major and by Stravinskij from the Firebird, Danza infernale, Berceuse et Finale in the transcription for piano by Guido Agosti.
Camilla Gargioni
Corriere del Veneto
October 20, 2019