Bachauer judges to give recitals

The Gina Bachauer International Piano Foundation has traditionally opened its yearly competition with a series of recitals by members of the jury. And this year will be no exception. Next week, five of the seven judges will be performing in the Assembly Hall on Temple Square.

Noting the wide range of repertoire in their programs, Paul Pollei said the concerts should be a treat for the audience. "These recitals will be wonderful. Each will have its own flavor."

Two of the judges are former Bachauer winners. "Tamami Honma was the grand prize winner at the 1990 junior competition, and Ilya Itin won the bronze medal in the 1991 artists competition," said Pollei, founder and artistic director of the Bachauer Foundation.

Born in Japan, Honma has a Utah connection. She came to Salt Lake City to study with Pollei, then moved to Logan before going on to New York and London. She currently teaches at the Royal Conservatory of Music in London.

Pollei said that Itin's third-place showing in 1991 didn't reflect his true potential. He was considered one of the favorites to take home the gold medal, but he fell ill shortly before the final round. "He came down with chicken pox just before the final round, and his performance of the Rachmaninoff Third wasn't his best effort."

Five years later, the Russian-born pianist won first prize at the Leeds International Piano Competition in Great Britain. Afterward, Simon Rattle, then the music director of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, invited him to perform the Rachmaninoff Third with the Birmingham orchestra. Since then, Itin has appeared with orchestras in London, Prague and St. Petersburg.

Earlier this season, Itin played Beethoven's Fourth Piano Concerto with the Orchestra at Temple Square under the baton of fellow Russian Igor Gruppman. "He's long overdue to play a recital here," Pollei said.

The Utah Symphony's Jason Hardink will open the recital series with a program focusing on 20th and 21st century music. One of the works, Thomas Osborne's "And the Waves Sing Because They Are Moving," was commissioned by the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble for Hardink. "We're very happy that he'll be playing one of the recitals," Pollei said. "He's a wonderful pianist."

Justas Dvarionas and Mi Kyung Kim are the other two pianists performing next week.