After Saturday's concert, our pianist Piotr Pawlak, a doctoral student at the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics at the University of Gdańsk, advanced to the third stage of the International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition. His performance was rewarded with a standing ovation from the audience, and critics were full of praise.
Piotr Pawlak qualified for the third stage of the 19th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition.
His repertoire in the second stage, played on Saturday, included: Andante spianato and Grande Polonaise in E flat major, Op. 22; Preludes, Op. 28, Fantasia-Impromptu in C sharp minor, Op. 66; Prelude in C sharp minor, Op. 45, and Allegro de concert in A major, Op. 46.
According to PAP (Polish Press Agency), the Polish pianist's concert ended with thunderous applause from the audience. There was a standing ovation, there were shouts, and, unusually, the audience gathered in the Concert Hall of the National Philharmonic began to applaud while the pianist was still playing.
In an interview with PAP, Piotr Pawlak added: 'My parents are very supportive, I can always count on them and on the atmosphere of our home in Gdańsk. My parents are always with me, but they also give me space. I have peace and quiet, I can work. That's why I took the train to the coast between stages: I rested and practised. I always remember what my mother said to me before the competition: “Show them what you love”.'
More about this stage at gdansk.pl
In the first stage, Piotr Pawlak played Etude in G sharp minor, Op. 25 No. 6, Nocturne in C minor, Op. 48 No. 1, Waltz in E flat major, Op. 18, and Fantasy in F minor, Op. 49. Piotr Pawlak, a graduate of the Stanisław Moniuszko Academy of Music in Gdańsk, completed his studies in 2020 and defended his master's thesis at the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, and is currently our doctoral student.
We are keeping our fingers crossed for our talented doctoral student!
Read more: Chopin 2025: I gave my all to performance, says Piotr Pawlak | Polska Agencja Prasowa SA
