Biennial competition uncovers promising young pianists and violinists

Once every two years, the National Piano & Violin Competition (NPVC), organised by the Singapore Symphony Group, identifies the top young pianists and violinists in Singapore. Its track record has been telling, as many past winners have gone on to play vital roles in Singapore's musical life.

- Chang Tou Liang

Over two concerts, six young artists performed full-length concertos with the NPVC Orchestra (the Singapore Symphony Orchestra in all but name) led by Joshua Tan.

On Nov 29, the Piano Artist Category final became a mini version of the Chopin International Piano Competition in Warsaw, as all three finalists had elected to perform concertos by Frederic Chopin.

Opening the show was Goh Kai Cheng in the First Piano Concerto In E Minor (Op. 0).

His was a reading of power and poetry, the opening movement’s martial subject balanced by a fine cantabile and singing tone, evident in the slow movement’s Romance. The finale’s animated Polish dance seemed inexhaustible, buoyed by his boundless energy.

There were two performances of the Second Piano Concerto In F Minor (Op. 21), which was actually composed before the First, but published later. It was a shorter work with a more exposed solo part and there was more scope to emote.