Dutch pianist Nikola Meeuwsen makes history at Queen Elisabeth Competition
Nikola Meeuwsen from the Netherlands won the prestigious Queen Elisabeth Competition for piano at the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels on Saturday. He is the first Dutch pianist to take the top prize. Second place went to Japanese pianist Wataru Hisasue, while Belgian pianist Valère Burnon claimed third place.
“It feels unreal, like a dream,” Meeuwsen told VRT Canvas after the announcement. “I’m speechless.” The 23-year-old performed Sergei Prokofiev’s Second Piano Concerto last Wednesday.
“It felt like running a marathon,” he told the Dutch newspaper Trouw. 'You give it your all every time. It’s an overwhelming experience, but overall I’m very happy. Just reaching the final of such an iconic competition is an incredible honour.”
"It feels unreal, like a dream. I'm speechless"
On Tuesday, Burnon delivered a powerful performance, interpreting the compulsory piece by Kris Defoort as well as Rachmaninoff’s Third Piano Concerto. “Of course I’m happy,” Burnon told RTBF after the results were announced. "Unfortunately, I didn’t break any records, but I’m still very satisfied."
No Belgian pianist had reached the final of the renowned competition since 2007. Burnon achieved the best result for a Belgian pianist since Jean-Claude Vanden Eynden came third in 1964.
Best Belgian results at the Queen Elisabeth Competition
Second place
Yossif Ivanov, violin, 2005
Lorenzo Gatto, violin, 2009
Thomas Blondelle, voice, 2011
Jodie Devos, voice, 2014
Third place
Shadi Torbey, voice, 2004
Jean-Claude Vanden Eynden, piano, 1964
Fourth place
Johan Schmidt, piano, 1987
Frans Brouw, piano, 1952
This year's final saw seven male and five female pianists compete. Japan had the most finalists, with four. France had three finalists, while the Netherlands, the United States, China and Russia each had one.
The unranked finalists will perform again at Flagey in Brussels on Wednesday 4 and Thursday 5 June. On Monday 9 June, pianists Hinnewinkel, Kamei and Tanin will perform with the Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, conducted by Martijn Dendievel, at the Palais des Beaux-Arts. This concert will also be performed in Liège on 11 June and in Bruges on 14 June.
The closing gala, featuring Meeuwsen, Hisasue and Burnon, will take place in Brussels on 11 June, with the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra conducted by Marc Albrecht. This concert will also be performed in Bruges on 7 June, in Ghent on 8 June, in Hasselt on 9 June and in Antwerp on 10 June. Burnon will also perform at the Musiq3 Festival in Flagey on 27 June.
© BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK
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