Day 1 – Classic Violin Olympus Grand Finale Opening Day

Celebrating creativity, technical knowledge, artistry, and performative skills, CVO launched its highly-anticipated 2025 Grand Finale in Dubai on April 26, bringing about an unforgettable first day and setting a new benchmark for international violin competitions, with a record-breaking total prize fund of €320,000 and participation from the world’s most talented emerging violinists.

Fostering a diverse and dynamic pool of contestants from different cultural backgrounds, CVO held six preliminary contests in some of the world’s largest and most culturally immersive cities, including New York, Tokyo, Dubai, London, Rome, and Vienna. The top two performers from each qualifying event were pushed through to the final round in Dubai to compete for the €320,000 prize fund and international recognition.

Reinventing the format of a routine classical music competition, the Grand Finale was a marathon consisting of six phases. Finalists began by showcasing their musical skills through thrilling orchestral performances with the Madrid Philharmonic Orchestra and Armenian State Symphony Orchestra under the surveillance of a prestigious 25-member jury comprised of leading conductors and music directors from around the globe. They also engaged in a concertmaster challenge, leading the orchestra and performing Beethoven’s Triple Concerto for Violin, Cello, and Piano alongside acclaimed soloists Itamar Golan, Alexander Chaushian, and a full orchestra. Furthermore, competitors interpreted a piece by a contemporary composer, performed a solo encore, and engaged in a Q&A session with the jury.

Jury member Daye Lin commented on CVO's schedule and the opportunity to hear all 12 finalists participating in six phases of the programme, saying, ''I think the programme is brilliant because in this competition every musician can show all their talent – not only as a soloist, but you can find them as a concertmaster with the orchestra, and also with chamber music because we have the triple concerto so we can see how they work together. And then we have the encore piece, which shows the candidates’ high technique, and different candidates choose different programmes, so that’s also telling.  I think that it is really hard for everyone, but also shows everything to the audience and the juries. I believe that all of them have a brilliant future.''

He continued, ''The inclusion of the contemporary work by Shor is also noteworthy. Nowadays, I know that there are many competitions that include new pieces and a resident composer. It’s very important because classical music should always be expanding. It should not just be Bach, Beethoven and others who have perished; we need more contemporary music and fresh new pieces to expand the market. And I really just enjoy the new pieces by Maestro Shor, these three violin concertos. They are fantastic, so so beautiful.''

Resonating with Lin's remarks, Christopher Widauer added, ''I think it's an interesting concept to run a competition without an age limit, and to try to bring in the criteria for the entire personality of the performer. So, not only is there virtuosity, but also personality. Another interesting aspect is the broad range of members from all over the field on the jury, including orchestra managers, musicians, composers, performers, and conductors. It's very interesting to me, and this will, of course, also reflect in the voting and the feedback that we can give to the candidates.''

The opening days of the Grand Finale began with intense sessions featuring some of the world's most successful contemporary violinists. Sessions one's lineup included Andrey Baranov (Switzerland), winner of the 2012 Queen Elisabeth Violin Competition and a prizewinner of more than twenty other international competitions, including Indianapolis, Seoul, Sendai, etc; Boris Brovtsyn (Austria), recognised as one of his generation's most profound and versatile musicians; Xiao Wang (China/USA), first-prize winner of the 2012 Szigeti International Violin Competition and 2016 New York Concert Artist; and Soyoung Yoon (South Korea/Spain), first-prize winner of the International Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition and the Yehudi Menuhin International Competition for Young Violinists. 

The second half featured Yuki Hirano (Japan), a first prize winner at the All Japan Student Music Competition and recipient of the Suntory Foundation for the Arts Award; Lorenz Karls (Sweden/Austria), winner of numerous awards at national and international competitions, among them 7 top prizes from member competitions of “World Federation of Music Competitions”; Karisa Chiu (USA), a virtuoso who has performed as a soloist in some of the most renowned concert halls around the world such as Severance Hall, Alice Tully Hall, and the Casals Forum; and Elli Choi (USA), one of the most talented violinists of her generation who has performed throughout North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

The morning began with a powerful lineup of performances featuring Xiao Wang and Soyoung Yoon, who served as both soloists and concertmasters with the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra. They were joined by Andrey Baranov and Boris Brovtsyn, who performed alongside Alexander Chaushian and Itamar Golan with the Madrid Philharmonic Orchestra. Highlights included commanding interpretations of several significant pieces such as Jean Sibelius’ Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47, Dmitri Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No. 1, Ludwig van Beethoven's Triple Concerto Op. 56 in C Major and Composer-in-Residence Alexey's Shor's Violin Concerto No. 6 in "Carpe Diem". 

Later in the day, session two featured an array of spirited performances, welcoming Yuki Harano and Lorenz Karls acting as both soloists and lead violinists with the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, as well as Karisa Chiu and Elli Choi performing alongside Alexander Chaushian and Itamar Golan with the Madrid Philharmonic Orchestra. The contestants brought unique interpretive perspectives and bold personalities to the stage, performing works like Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake", Act II, No. 5 Pas D'Action and Alexey Shor's Violin Concerto No. 5 in C minor. Both sessions concluded with a solo encore and a Q&A session with the esteemed jury members, offering deeper insights into the finalists' creative processes and personalities.

Following an intense concert, violinist Elli Choi shared her thoughts about her experience at CVO and what makes this competition stand out, saying, ''Today, I played Shor's violin concerto number five, the Beethoven triple that everyone had to play, and then a Bach encore. The thing about having multiple pieces and roles is that they're kind of a test, which I think is very necessary and relevant because the jury can see how the violinist can adapt to different scenarios. Of course, we all want to watch a soloist who is an artist who is well-versed in all kinds of material; it makes sense. But it is tiring, I have to say. I realise now that it's so mentally tolling because you're constantly thinking about how other people will perceive it. When you're playing in concert, you also think about the public and how the audience will react to your music, but in a competition setting, it is more hostile.''

She continued, ''I actually liked the fact that all the other competitors are also winners because that makes me strive more, too. I want everyone to play at a high level, and I want the competition to be, you know, like neck and neck. I think that's more fun for the audience, the jury, and the people watching; so yeah, this competition is wonderful.''

Making waves in the realm of violin playing, Classic Violin Olympus provided an exceptional platform to the most talented young musicians of our time. Watch this space to stay updated with its upcoming events!