Maria Canals International Music Competition

The Maria Canals International Music Competition (Catalan: Concurs Internacional de Música Maria Canals Barcelona, IPA: [kuŋˈkuɾs intəɾnəsi.uˈnal də ˈmuzikə məˈɾi.ə kəˈnalz βəɾsəˈlonə]) is a music competition held yearly in the Palau de la Música Catalana, Barcelona. It was founded as a piano competition in 1954, but in 1964 it was expanded so other modalities could be held occasionally.^[1][2]

It was founded in 1954 by the Catalan pianist Maria Remei Canals i Cendrós (1913–2010) and her husband, the composer and writer Rossend Llates (1899–1973).^[3] Since 1954, the Competition has welcomed over 7,000 participants from 100 countries and 180 jury members from all over the world.^[4] It became a member of the World Federation of International Music Competitions in 1958.^[5]

The Maria Canals competition, for which artists such as Joan Miró, Antoni Tàpies and Joan Clavé have made publicity posters, was declared to be of public utility by the Spanish Interior Ministry in 1996.

Commentaries on the competition

Pianist performing at Avinguda Diagonal, as part of the Maria Canals competition event in 2015.

Pianist performing at Diagonal metrostation, as part of the Maria Canals competition event in 2017.

• Of the multitude of international piano competitions, it is comforting to note that a competition like the Maria Canals at Barcelona, in which the piano is judged purely on a musical level, in which the player cannot forget the essential thing, interpretation, that such a competition takes on greater importance every year. Musicians can only praise and thank Maria Canals for her initiative. For my part, I can only warmly salute not only the longevity of this competition, but its ever more important participation in that magnificent combat in which, nobly and with exemplary probity, the artists of the future – those who will pick up the baton from their elders – face each other. – Vlado Perlemuter, 1964.^[6]
• Those of us who follow the Barcelonan musical life can't forget the ascendant evolution of the Maria Canals International Music Competition, initiated in 1954, which has turned into one of the most important European competitions. In celebrating its 40th anniversary we can state that many performers of the highest level have arisen from the competition, such a thing having contributed to expand the prestige of Barcelona as an artistic city. – Xavier Montsalvatge, 2004.^[7]

Prize Winners

2021 - 1st prize - Sandro Gegechkori (Georgia) 2nd prize - Ziming Ren (China) 3rd prize - Rafael Kyrychenko (Portugal)

References

1. Ana Maria Davila (4 May 2007). "Competició pianística de primera". El Mundo.
2. Lourdes Morgades (2 May 2007). "Un total de 114 pianistas aspiran a darse a conocer al mundo desde Barcelona en el Concurso Maria Canals". El País.
3. L'Enciclopèdia
4. Barcelona Yellow
5. "Concours Internationaux de musique Maria Canals de Barcelone". World Federation of International Music Competitions. Archived from the original on 11 December 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
6. Vlado Perlemuter. "Dans la multiplicité des Concours Internationaux de Piano..." Archived from the original on 14 November 2007. Dans la multiplicité des Concours internationaux de Piano, il est réconfortant de constater qu'un Concours comme celui de Maria Canals à Barcelona, où le Piano n'est jugé qu'à l'échelle de la Musique, où l'instrumentiste ne peut pas oublier l'essentiel, l'interprète, qu'un tel Concours prend chaque année une ampleur grandissante. Les musiciens ne peuvent que louer et remercier Maria Canals de son initiative. Je ne peut, pour ma part, que souhaiter chaleureusement non seulement la longévité de ce Concours, mais une participation toujours plus importante à cette magnifique joute, où s'affrontent noblement et avec une probité exemplaire, les futurs artistes, qui prendront la relève de leurs aînés.
7. Xavier Montsalvatge. "Els que ja fa temps que seguim..." Archived from the original on 8 January 2007. Els que ja fa temps que seguim la vida musical barcelonina no podem oblidar l'ascendent evolució del Concurs Internacional d'Execució Musical Maria Canals, iniciat el 1954 per convertir-se en un dels certàmens més imporrtants d'Europa. En celebrar el seu 40 aniversari, podem afirmar que, del concurs, han sorgit molts intèrprets de primera categoria, cosa que ha contribuït a expandir arreu el prestigi de la realitat artística barcelonina.
8. "The winners of the competition". Concurs Maria Canals. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
9. "South Korean pianist Soo Jung Ann wins the International Music Competition Maria Canals of Barcelona". Catalan News. 22 March 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
10. "6e session musicale". ladepeche.fr. Retrieved 25 January 2016.