Page 286 - Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Coverage Book 2023-24

24 September 2024

Newly crowned Leeds winner Jaeden Izik-Dzurko

plays Brahms at the Glasshouse

By Nick Butters, 24 September 2024
There is a certain malicious pleasure to be taken in Tchaikovsky’s epic Fifth Symphony
being upstaged by Brahms’ Second Piano Concerto, bearing in mind the former’s
description of the latter as a “talentless bastard”. This was a concert of two giant halves,
preceded by the three-minute Prelude to Act 3 of Lohengrin which involved among others a
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic triangle player who was never seen again. A curious
introduction to the main event of the afternoon, Jaeden Izik-Dzurko’s first engagement since
winning the Leeds International Piano Competition the previous evening. He was to be
seen before the concert calmly taking his place in the lengthy coffee queue, as yet
unrecognised by most passers-by, seemingly unruffled by his experiences over the two
weeks of the competition. This sense of calm carried over into his stage presence where he
appeared composed, respectful and, above all, thoughtful.

Jaeden Izik-Dzurko and the RLPO at the Leeds International Piano Competition final
© Frances Marshall