At last, we have a competitor to argue about! Piano pundits have been buzzing about the 26-year-old Bulgarian Evgeni Bozhanov (mentioned in yesterday’s blog). He seems to have become the Competition’s Marmite pianist, polarising opinions with his memorable and individual performance in the second stage. His fans think he’s fabulous – original, bold, commanding, imaginative, technically superb; his detractors think he's not true to Chopin and his big, virtuoso gestures swamp the music's message.

At the heart of this debate is that fundamental question – how do you serve the composer’s intention while imbuing the music with an individual, personal interpretation? This might seem obvious, something that comes naturally to the greatest performers, but hearing less established musicians playing back-to-back over many days in a competition setting highlights just what a fine line there is between original thought and parody. It seems to be particularly apparent in the case of Chopin, whose music is so specific about detail in the score yet somehow still so elusive to capture in performance. 

Personally, I found Bozhanov exciting and impressive but a little flashy, especially in the context of the Austrian Ingolf Wunder's performance this morning. I had heard great things about him, and I wasn't disappointed; in fact, I was spellbound. His playing perfectly balanced stylish, aristocratic restraint with surging power and passion – Chopin to a T. The fact that he studies with Adam Harasiewicz can't have done any harm, either. Out of those I've heard so far, Wunder is the one I'd put my money on. I very much hope he makes it though tonight's vote.