Young musicians compete for prizes

By WILLIAM DART

It's difficult to believe these three students in jeans and jumpers in an empty tutorial room in Auckland University Music School will be on the town hall stage in a few days' time, dressed in their best formal gear, competing in the university's annual Concerto Competition.

John Chen, Malavika Gopal and Liam Mallett are, quite simply, fanatical about music. Chen and Mallett are in their third year of studies, Gopal in her second, but they've all clocked up impressive CVs for their age. And, when I broach the subject of the Sunday finals, Gopal is quick to tell me, "It's not just about the competition, but more the chance to play a huge piece with an orchestra."

"And in the town hall," chimes in Mallett.

But for Chen, probably the most experienced of the three and tackling the Rachmaninov Third Concerto, there are specific disciplines. "The tempo changes are really hard to control. You want so much to do rubato, although with the orchestra, you can't and so you have to try for the same effect by using dynamics."

All three are enthusiasts for the music they're playing. For Gopal, who is immersed in the romantic repertoire, the Sibelius Violin Concerto is "amazing, full of rich, unusual harmonies". Mallett chose the Ibert Flute Concerto because "it's the only one that can match the Rachmaninov and the Sibelius".

For Mallett, the main challenge is keeping up his stamina in a work which has him playing for most of the time, especially in the first movement. Outside the practice room, he's a keen soccer player, which keeps him fit and widens his circle of friends.

Gopal stresses it's about "keeping focus" as much as it is stamina and energy, while Chen laments the fact that for him any sports activity is an impossibility. "I tried and I kept on breaking my fingers. And every time I broke my fingers I would be out of practice for six weeks."

Practice is a major part of their lives, even though Gopal laughs as she says it's "not so much the practice itself but getting down to doing it". Teachers figure prominently. Mary O'Brien has stressed to Gopal how good posture is a prerequisite for good tone and "how to do things on your own". Chen talks technicalities, but smiles as he describes his eight years of lessons with Rae de Lisle as "one huge journey", while Mallett, who has been with Uwe Grodd for three years, adds Grodd has taught him the most important thing - to listen. "I now find I can pick up things that I wouldn't have beforehand."

They may be youngsters but they're aware of traditions. Gopal is a fan of David Oistrakh because "everything seems to come so naturally to him" but she's been blown away by Ilya Gringolt's new Bach recording with "all those crazy trills - he's a player with the guts to do something different".

For Chen the idol is Martha Argerich. "Sound" and "articulation" are the two reasons but he laments she isn't really on the concert circuit these days.

Mallett has followed the career of James Galway, not so much in his latter-day leprechaun phase, but rather when he was first flute with the Berlin Philharmonic. "His air speed is phenomenal. In the Finale of Brahms' First Symphony the whole orchestra might be playing but you can always pick up Galway."

On Sunday night, one of the trio will carry off the first prize of $1000, while the others are rewarded with $500 and $300 respectively. All three are looking to study overseas; Mallett and Gopal favour Europe, while Chen is looking to the States "because that's where the piano centre of the world seems to be".

But all this is at least a year away and in the meantime they're all keen to contribute more to the cultural life of their city.

And Sunday's concert, with three concertos on the one programme, is the sort of feast that concerto-lovers will not want to miss.

Performance

* What: Concerto Competition Final

* Where & when: Auckland Town Hall, Sunday 4pm