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Youthful French Pianist, Paul Lecocq (20), clinches the esteemed Clara Haskil International Competition 2025

On Friday night, the promising performer delivered an impressive rendition of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor.

Young French Talent Paul Lecocq, aged 20, clinches the eminent Clara Haskil International...
Young French Talent Paul Lecocq, aged 20, clinches the eminent Clara Haskil International Competition of the year 2025.

Youthful French Pianist, Paul Lecocq (20), clinches the esteemed Clara Haskil International Competition 2025

The 31st edition of the Clara Haskil International Piano Competition, an annual event held every two years in Vevey, Switzerland, has come to a thrilling conclusion. This year's competition, held on Friday, September 5, saw a 20-year-old Frenchman, Paul Lecocq, emerge victorious.

Created in 1963, the competition is named after the Romanian virtuoso pianist Clara Haskil (1895-1960). This prestigious event attracts talented pianists from around the world, and this year was no exception, with 133 international applications.

Twenty-six young competitors were selected for the semi-finals and finals. Among them, Paul Lecocq, a student at the Paris Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse, stood out. He impressed the judges with his interpretation of Ludwig van Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, earning him the Clara Haskil Prize.

For his victory, Paul Lecocq received 25,000 Swiss francs (26,700 euros) as prize money. The finalists were accompanied by the Zermatt Festival Orchestra, conducted by Gabor Takacs-Nagy, a Hungarian maestro.

Paul Lecocq has previously won international competitions and performed at major festivals and with various orchestras in several countries. Following his win, he will perform in a series of concerts. However, no further information about these concerts was provided.

The competition was a close race, with Paul Lecocq beating out German Simon Haje and South Korean Seungho Chung. Gábor Takács-Nagy, who conducted the Zermatt Festival Orchestra during the final, praised all the competitors for their exceptional performances.

The Clara Haskil International Piano Competition is a significant event in the world of classical music. It provides a platform for young pianists to showcase their talents and further their careers. As Paul Lecocq embarks on his post-competition journey, we look forward to seeing his future performances.

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