Julian Norridge

For two evenings in early March, the White Rock Theatre reverberated to the sound of some truly dazzling pieces of playing by some of the world’s finest young pianists.  It was the two-day final of this year’s Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition.

One of my favourites was a stunning performance of Prokofiev’s difficult but exciting Piano Concerto No 3 by 28-year-old Taiwanese pianist, Fanya Lin. She started proceedings on the Saturday night and really got the sold-out audience on their feet.

Roman Kosyakov
PICTURE: Bob Mazzer

But for the distinguished international judges, one competitor really stood out. That was the 25-year old Russian, Roman Kosyakov. As well as obvious talent and technical ability, the jury thought he showed prodigious musicianship. Now he is returning to the town where he triumphed.

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The last time the brilliant young pianist played in Hastings on that early March evening, the town was covered in snow and ice and
was being lashed by a bitingly cold wind generated by the Beast from the East.

These freezing conditions, redolent of his native Siberia, seemed to inspire the young virtuoso. He won the £15,000 first prize and a guaranteed concert with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with a thrilling performance of Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No 1.

Hopefully Roman will be greeted by rather better weather when he returns on July 1st to give the Summer Prizewinners Picnic Recital at Fairlight Hall.

He has chosen a tantalising programme for the event. He will begin with Schubert’s 4 Impromptus D899 op.90 and then perform Liszt’s Spanish Rhapsody. This will be followed by an interval.

In the second half Roman will perform all four movements of Tchaikovsky’s Piano Sonata in
G major. The idea of a Russian performing Tchaikovsky is always appealing.

Roman is a graduate of the Moscow State Conservatory which is named after Tchaikovsky and now studies at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. As well as being this year’s HIPCC winner, he is a laureate from many other competitions, including second prize in both the Minsk 2014 International Piano Competition and the VI International Piano Competition.

The Summer Recital will begin at 2pm in the Recital Room Courtyard. But the gates will open at 12 noon to enable ticket holders to picnic in the beautiful grounds of Fairlight Hall, where drinks and refreshments will be available. This is a charming location for a truly delightful event.

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• Tickets are £20 and are available online from www.hastingsconcertocompetition.co.uk or from the Hastings Tourist Information Centre at Muriel Matters House (2 Breeds Place)
on 01424 451111.

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https://www.hastingsindependentpress.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/ART-resitalSQ-1020x1024.jpghttps://www.hastingsindependentpress.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/ART-resitalSQ-150x150.jpgHIPArtsFairlight Hall,Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition,Roman KosyakovJulian Norridge For two evenings in early March, the White Rock Theatre reverberated to the sound of some truly dazzling pieces of playing by some of the world’s finest young pianists.  It was the two-day final of this year’s Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition. One of my favourites was a stunning...The Hastings & St Leonards non-profit community newspaper