Bax gold medal

22 year-old Italian pianist Alessio Bax was awarded first prize - the Princess Mary Gold Medal, 12,000 pounds sterling and a long list of prestigious concert engagements - at the 2000 Leeds International Piano Competition in the UK on 23 September 2000.

Bax, who had established himself on the international scene by the time he was 20, winning prizes in Japan, Korea and Spain, was one of three of six Leeds finalists who played Brahms' Piano Concerto No 1 in the finals, accompanied by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Simon Rattle [click to listen].

Runners-up were silver medalist Davide Franceschetti, 24 years old, again from Italy, and 22 year-old Severin Von Eckardstein from Germany, who won both the Bronze medal and the Contemporary Music Prize. 4th, 5th and 6th prizes were awarded to, respectively, Cristiano Burato (Italy), Ashley Wass (UK) and 15 year-old Tatiana Kolessova from Russia. The Schubert Music Prize was not awarded.

The Leeds competition has been held every three years since it was founded in 1961 by Fanny Waterman and Marion Thorpe. Many previous Leeds winners, including Radu Lupu, Artur Pizarro and Mitsuko Uchida, have since enjoyed successful international careers.

Information: www.leedspiano.com

Posted: 24 September 2000

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