The International Beethoven Piano Competition Vienna is a quadrennial piano competition held at the Vienna Musikverein. Founded by the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna (mdw), it is the oldest international piano competition in Austria. It became a member of the World Federation of International Music Competitions in 1958.
The exclusive focus on the piano works of Ludwig van Beethoven distinguishes the competition from most major international piano contests, which typically feature broader repertoire requirements. Notable past winners include Mitsuko Uchida and Stefan Vladar. The first prize includes a Bösendorfer 214 VC concert grand and a 30,000 euro cash prize. The 17th edition of the competition attracted 300 candidates from 32 different nations.
Round structure
The competition is composed of a preselection, one online round, two recital rounds, and a final orchestral performance. The works chosen for the live rounds can be identical with those played in the online video round or preselection videos. Competitors must prepare two concertos for the final round, although only one will be played. This decision is at the jury's discretion.
Prizewinners +EditionYear1st prize2nd prize3rd prize16th2021 Aris Alexander Blettenberg Dasol Kim (ex aequo)not awarded Philipp Scheucher (ex aequo)15th2017 Rodolfo Leone Sahun Hong Bolai Cao14th2013 Maria Mazo Andrey Gugnin (ex aequo)not awarded Valentin Fheodoroff (ex aequo)13th2009 Alexander Schimpfnot awarded Chi-Ho Han Ji-Hoon Jun12th2005 Herbert Schuch Gabrielius Alenka Peter Ovtscharov11th2001 Oliver Kern Christopher Hinterhuber Ingo Dannhorn10th1997 Antti Siirala Christoph Berner Ikuko Nishiyama9th1993 Leon Francis McCawley Filippo Gamba (ex aequo)not awarded Martin Zehn (ex aequo)8th1989 Jasminka Stanculnot awardednot awarded7th1985 Stefan Vladar Pavel Nersessian Stephan Möller6th1981 Avedis Kouyoumdjian Ian Hobson Daniel Rivera5th1977 Natalia Pankova Edson Elias Natasha Vlassenko4th1973 John O'Conor Seta Tanyel Oscar Tarrago3rd1969 Mitsuko Uchida Oxana Yablonskaya Verena Pfenninger2nd1965 Lois Carole Pachucki Edward Auer João Carlos Assis Brasil1st1961not awarded Dieter Weber Blanca Uribe
References