Zoroastrians Abroad
Plaudits for the pianist
At the XXIV International Piano Competition "Ennio Porrino” held in Cagliari, Italy from November 23-26, 2015, Neville Bharucha won the second prize, a tie with Russian Evgeny Starodubtsev. Whilst the first prize of € 2,000 was not assigned, the second prize winners were awarded € 1,300 and a diploma, and the third prize went to Mari Shirai of Japan who was awarded € 700. The website of the event features the 2015 winners, with a photo of Bharucha at the piano appearing first.
For the initial grueling round competitors were expected to perform two sonatas by Domenico Scarlatti or one Prelude and Fuge of J. S. Bach; an etude from one of the following composers: F. Chopin, Chopin-Godowsky, F. Liszt, C. Debussy, A. Scriabin, B. Bartók, G. Ligeti; a composition chosen by the competitor. The total duration of the performance was not to exceed 25 minutes. The second trial of 45 minutes was supposed to include a sonata by L.van Beethoven, F. J. Haydn or W. A. Mozart; one or a group of compositions by Chopin, R. Schumann, J. Brahms, Liszt, Scriabin, Bartók, S. Prokofiev, I. Strawinsky, Debussy, M. Ravel, L. Janacek, Ligeti, G. Kurtag, L. Berio, F. Oppo, E. Porrino. Those who reached the third trial had to give a recital of upto 50 minutes of any work written after 1915 but not a duplication of any work performed at previous trials.
For the finals Bharucha played the Holberg Suite, Op 40 by Edvard Grieg, the Premiere Communion de la Vierge of Olivier Messiaen and the Fantasy in C major – Wanderer by Franz Schubert. The finals of the prestigious international competition were streamed on IMD Music and Web. The young and brilliant performers from around the world who were competing in the event were also promised by the organizers in Italy that "the winners will have the opportunity to give concerts offered by leading musical institutions on the island and the peninsula in line with the fundamental objective of the competition which aims at enhancing and promoting new talent and young interpreters of the keyboard instrument.”
For the initial grueling round competitors were expected to perform two sonatas by Domenico Scarlatti or one Prelude and Fuge of J. S. Bach; an etude from one of the following composers: F. Chopin, Chopin-Godowsky, F. Liszt, C. Debussy, A. Scriabin, B. Bartók, G. Ligeti; a composition chosen by the competitor. The total duration of the performance was not to exceed 25 minutes. The second trial of 45 minutes was supposed to include a sonata by L.van Beethoven, F. J. Haydn or W. A. Mozart; one or a group of compositions by Chopin, R. Schumann, J. Brahms, Liszt, Scriabin, Bartók, S. Prokofiev, I. Strawinsky, Debussy, M. Ravel, L. Janacek, Ligeti, G. Kurtag, L. Berio, F. Oppo, E. Porrino. Those who reached the third trial had to give a recital of upto 50 minutes of any work written after 1915 but not a duplication of any work performed at previous trials.
For the finals Bharucha played the Holberg Suite, Op 40 by Edvard Grieg, the Premiere Communion de la Vierge of Olivier Messiaen and the Fantasy in C major – Wanderer by Franz Schubert. The finals of the prestigious international competition were streamed on IMD Music and Web. The young and brilliant performers from around the world who were competing in the event were also promised by the organizers in Italy that "the winners will have the opportunity to give concerts offered by leading musical institutions on the island and the peninsula in line with the fundamental objective of the competition which aims at enhancing and promoting new talent and young interpreters of the keyboard instrument.”
Neville Bharucha (inset and above) playing at Ennio Porrino in Italy
In October 2015 Bharucha completed his second Master’s degree with merit in music composition at City University, London, a year after he earned his Master’s in music performance with distinction from Southampton University. With his UK visa valid till March 2016, he is presently taking master classes with the world renowned pianist Leslie Howard in London after which he will return home, mentions his mother Sanober, adding, "He is in the process of exploring various career avenues in India and abroad since he has acquired the necessary skill and qualifications.”
In December 2014 Bharucha played the piano with the World Zoroastian Symphony Orchestra at the XVII North American Zoroastrian Congress in Los Angeles. That same month he gave a recital in New Jersey to raise funds for the Zoroastrian Association of Greater New York, and another one in Seattle, Washington, receiving standing ovations from appreciative members of the community.
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