Telekom starts Beethoven Competition 2019

The curtain rises on the International Telekom Beethoven Competition Bonn 2019. Deutsche Telekom welcomes 25 young pianists from 13 countries. The competition starts with the Welcome Concert on December 5 at 8 p.m. at Deutsche Telekom’s headquarters. The latest winner, Alberto Ferro, will prepare the audience and participants for the competition. From December 6, the pianists will compete in three rounds. The final will take place on December 13 and 14. Interested parties can follow the competition also live on www.telekom-beethoven-competition.de.

From approximately 100 applications a jury selected the participant field. The twelve female and 13 male participants are between 22 and 32 years old. They come from 13 nations, including China, Croatia and the USA. Others come from Germany, Japan, Austria, Romania, South Korea and more. Professor Pavel Gililov is chairman of the jury and president and artistic director of the competition. Professor Andreas Frölich from the Cologne University of Music and Dance and Professor Jinsang Lee complete the expert panel. Jinsang Lee teaches at the Korea National University of Arts and is pianist of the Beethoven Trio Bonn. 

The main topic of the program is Ludwig van Beethoven’s oeuvre. In each round, the participants will relate the work of the great composer to an epoch. In the newly conceived “Chamber Music Finale” on December 13, the three finalists will play one of Beethoven’s complete piano trios. In the ”Orchestra Finale” on December 14, they will interpret a piano concerto. The Beethoven Orchestra Bonn accompanies them. 

The first winner will receive prize money of 30,000 euros, the second winner 20,000 euros. The third winner will receive 10,000 euros. In addition to other audience and special prizes, the winners will be able to enjoy worldwide appearances as soloists with orchestra. Tickets are available at all advance booking offices, on the Internet at www.bonnticket.de or by telephone at 0228-50 20 10. Free admission to the first three rounds and the semifinals is free. For more information, visit www.telekom-beethoven-competition.de.