Cultured Views

The Sydney International Piano Competition 2008 is over - now the work REALLY starts for the competitors!

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This significant event in the life of aspiring concert pianists is over and now the real work really begins, not just for the six finalists, but those who have been been spotted during the entire series of performances.

This event is held every four years in Sydney and among the enthusiastic members of the public sit reps from the various recording companies - all looking to discover that Star of the future.

The winner for 2008 is 23 year old Russian Konstantin Shamray. And congratulations to him. To make it through the gruelling series of performances in this event is one of the ultimate tests of skill and endurance in a pianist’s life - so many are so worthy yet so few are chosen for the final. Konstantin though, as all the winners do, produced that something extra on the night which sealed the judges decision.

But what exactly is that something extra…? well, that is a question only each individual watching these performers can answer. Each person experiences music differently, each competitor communicates differently - beauty comes in so many forms and perspective is as varied as it is individual.

The interesting thing is ask any member of the audience, who viewed the performances of the six finalists that night, who their favourite was and not surprisingly you would not hear just one competitors name in answer - and this is why all those six competitors made it to the final stage. Each communicated something different and special to each audience member - and each judge of course - each using their own musical language.

Konstantin will now undertake an intensive schedule of public performances as part of the winner’s contract - and so will the other five finalists. All are assured of performance opportunities which will surely test them as much over the coming months as did the competition itself.

To all those who took part in SIPCA 2008 - congratulations. For your courage, your commitment and your love of music.

Popularity: 13% [?]

Nic and Keith keep Sunday Rose under wraps

Nicole (Kidman) and husband Keith Urban arrived in Sydney yesterday with their new baby girl, Sunday Rose, firmly under wraps from the intrusive media spotlight.

Good on them I say. They created her - she is theirs - she does not belong to the public in general, nor their countless devoted fans. She is a baby and they are her parents.

They know that this precious bundle is not a ‘new release’ piece of merchandise designed to earn them money or publicity - they do not need either.

They know, like most of us, that newborn babies should not be offered on a platter to the scrutiny of the world’s media nor is there any charity on this earth worthy of any money earned from shoving camera’s in their little faces even before their tiny eyes are even barely open.

Nicole and Keith have their priorities right - bonding comes before bartering. Charity, for what it is worth, begins at home.

If only Brangelina Inc. could get this message…

Popularity: 14% [?]

Why didn’t ‘Brangelina’ take their own photo’s…?

I am steadfastly avoiding looking at the photo’s of The Twins - and you know which one’s I am talking about. Okay, I am being overly cynical here but I just so disagree with the way these babies are being marketed by their parents. All babies are beautiful, special and priceless so what makes the products of this couple’s egg and sperm so unique and worthy of so many millions of dollars for just a few pictures…?

The timing was well planned - Angie would have wanted to achieve some weight loss before being photographed looking no less than perfect - as, of course, all new mothers do just after giving birth. Angie will be nicely airbrushed whereas most of us women would have required extreme sandblasting for us to look anywhere near normal…

But when you are charging the public several million dollars for the privilege of seeing that your babies are no different to any other new baby you have to deliver the goods…right?

Why could Brad not take his own shots of his kids and release them himself…? why not take a leaf out of Nicole Kidman’s book and keep the precious newborns to themselves for a while - as they should want to do?

But we all know that the babies will not be the main focus of media attention over the coming weeks and months - we all know that all the hype will be devoted to Angie’s post-pregnancy waistline…that’s why all of this is just so shallow.

Popularity: 18% [?]