The second stage competitors have been chosen. The judges took their time to decide – the 9.30pm deadline came and went and it was much later that we had the definitive list. I wonder who they argued over? But as of Saturday, five days of auditions have started – this time the competitors have a 50-minute programme where their repertoire choice is expanded to include a group of mazurkas, a waltz and a polonaise, plus any Chopin work of the candidate’s choosing.

So who are among the 40 that made it? Looking back at the names of pianists I’d put forward in my past blogs, my hit rate is at a rather unimpressive 50 per cent, although I’m surprised at some of those who have been left out. But I’ve caught a buzz about the following second stagers, some of whom I’ve heard, some who I’ve yet to hear: Marianna Prjevalskaya from Spain, Russian Miroslav Kultyshev, Ukrainian Anna Fedorova, Claire Huangci of the USA, Guillaume Masson of France, Chinese Fei-Fei Dong... there’s also a Canadian, Leonard Gilbert, and an Australian, Jayson Gillham, but no British names in this line-up – in fact there weren’t any in the first stage of auditions, either. Being British myself I can’t let this pass without comment! Poland however, have done themselves proud – four out of the original seven in the first round have got through. And there are four from Team Fazioli, including the impressive Russian Daniil Trifonov.

If you want to listen to any of the first stage performances, a selection is available on the International Piano Competition website.