Queen Elisabeth Competition jury values artist's soul over technical flaws

The jury of the prestigious Queen Elisabeth Competition is looking beyond mere technical prowess, emphasizing the human element and emotional depth of the cellists in the final round. Jurors revealed that minor mistakes are secondary to the artist's connection with the music and their ability to convey emotion.

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Mistakes are not important, what interests me is the person behind the cello.

Finnish cellist Anssi Karttunen, a jury member, stated that his primary interest lies in "the person behind the cello" and how much of their essence they communicate through their performance. He stressed that the focus should be on the music and the composer's integrity, not just pleasing the jury.

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The performer should never overshadow the composer. That is essential for me. We are 'only' the performer, the means to convey something that already exists. We should not put ourselves in the foreground. And that is a difficult balance.

French cellist Anne Gastinel echoed this sentiment, advising young musicians to remain true to themselves rather than attempting to impress specific jury members. She highlighted the delicate balance between performance and composition, asserting that the performer should serve the music, not the other way around. The competition, featuring 12 elite cellists, continues with a focus on authentic and heartfelt musical expression.

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Being honest and staying true to yourself, that is the most important thing for these young people. Not trying to please this or that jury member. You can't please everyone anyway. Staying true to yourself, that's what I find most important.