Episode 70 - The Judging of Art

🎧 This Week’s Competitions
The Out West Piano Fest is just around the corner, and I’ll be heading to Bathurst for the weekend—my first planned break from the podcast. If you’re there, say hello! Details at pianoplus.com.au/out-west-piano-fest-2025.

For those who enjoy piano competitions, the Honens International Piano Competition is underway, with finals streaming live and available afterwards on the Honens YouTube channel. Meanwhile, the 19th International Chopin Competition continues into its second week—forty pianists made it to Stage Two, though my pick, Anthony Ratinov, didn’t advance further. Performances and highlights are available on the Chopin Institute’s YouTube page.

🎭 Theatre Recommendation – Legally Blonde
The Blue Mountains Musical Society’s production of Legally Blonde is running at the Blue Mountains Theatre in Springwood until 2 November. The cast, led by Charli Arkle as Elle Woods and James Matheson as Emmett Forrest, were outstanding—two dogs even joined the cast and performed perfectly! Minimal staging, but top-tier performances. Highly recommended.

📝 Essay – The Judging of Art
Watching the Chopin Competition got me thinking about what it means to judge art. In science, comparisons are objective—numbers, measurements, and repeatable outcomes. In art, not so much. You can quantify accuracy, but not interpretation. Garrick Ohlsson, chair of the Chopin jury, admitted that pianists he preferred didn’t progress—a reminder that even experts disagree. Art isn’t about ranking; it’s about expression.

Competitions, I think, should be showcases rather than scoreboards. Like Devi’s annual student recital, where everyone performs, no prizes are awarded, and every listener connects differently. The value lies in participation and appreciation, not comparison.

🎧 Review – In-Ear Monitors & Wireless Setup
I’ve switched to Mee Audio MX Pro in-ear monitors for podcasting and practice—clear sound, low leakage, and modular design. Paired with the Swiff Audio WX 520 Wireless System, the setup makes recording much easier. Both came from Mooloolaba Music Centre, where the staff were excellent.

🎹 Progress
This week’s practice: Wynn-Anne Rossi’s A Wild Chase, recorded on the Kawai NV10 with Pianoteq 9 emulating a Steinway Model D.

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