The XII International Chopin Piano Competition (Polish: XII Międzynarodowy Konkurs Pianistyczny im. Fryderyka Chopina) was held from 1 to 20 October 1990 in Warsaw. For the first time in the history of the competition, the first prize was not awarded.[1]
The competition consisted of three stages and a final. For the first time in the history of the competition, there was no winner. Musicologist Janusz Ekiert recalled: "The 12th Competition passed without any manifestations of great admiration and without any great controversy. Youngsters did not choose their idols, and the favourites failed to ignite people’s imagination. One was hard pressed to notice any of the feverishly sparkling eyes that one remembered from previous competitions. No one in the audience fainted from emotion; if anyone, only a pianist."[1]
The following prizes were awarded:[1]
Three special prizes were awarded:
The jury consisted of:[1]
Vladimir Ashkenazy (
V)
Ryszard Bakst Halina Czerny-Stefańska (
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Anton Dikov
Sergei Dorensky Jan Ekier (chairman)
Leon Fleisher Lidia Grychtołówna Barbara Hesse-Bukowska ( IV) Andrzej Jasiński
Cyprien Katsaris
Ivan Klánský.svg/1280px-Flag_of_Japan_(1870%E2%80%931999).svg.png){kind=small}
Hiroko Nakamura
Gerhard Oppitz Piotr Paleczny
Bernard Ringeissen
Maria Tipo.svg/1280px-Flag_of_Belgium_(civil).svg.png){kind=small}
Eugène Traey (vice chairman) Lev Vlassenko (vice chairman) Kazuko Yasukawa Tadeusz Żmudziński