Exhibition 5: The Competition Tribe

Over eight years, we hosted a regular set of Fly On The Wall sessions to document a new generation of musicians. In exclusive sessions and private concerts, we invited them to play just one or two pieces for us, only twice, in London or during our travels abroad. No edits, no overdubs. Raw and uncut.

This fifth collection presents a selection of these performances shot at the genesis of the musicians' professional careers. The artists featured are Federico Colli, Pavel Kolesnikov, Andrey Gugnin, Boris Giltburg, Luca Buratto, Claire Huang-Ci and Daniel Ciobanu.

Daniel Ciobanu is a Romanian pianist known for his charismatic stage presence and imaginative interpretations. He gained international attention after winning the Silver Medal and Audience Prize at the 2017 Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition in Tel Aviv. A graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Universität der Künste Berlin, Ciobanu is also the founder of the Neamt Piano Festival in Romania, aimed at enriching cultural life in his hometown.

Pavel Kolesnikov is a Russian pianist recognized for his introspective and refined artistry. He rose to prominence after winning the 2012 Honens International Piano Competition in Canada. Now based in London, he has performed at major venues such as Wigmore Hall and is celebrated for his poetic and innovative programming. Kolesnikov records for Hyperion and is known for projects that blur boundaries between performance and installation.

Federico Colli is an Italian pianist praised for his intellect and idiosyncratic interpretations. He gained fame after winning the 2012 Leeds International Piano Competition and the 2011 Salzburg Mozart Competition. Known for his expressive freedom and original phrasing, Colli records for Chandos and is particularly noted for his work on Scarlatti, Mozart, and Beethoven.

Luca Buratto is an Italian pianist who won the 2015 Honens International Piano Competition. His playing is often described as imaginative and technically assured. A graduate of the Milan Conservatory and the Bolzano Conservatory, Buratto is noted for his advocacy of lesser-known repertoire, including the works of Robert Schumann and contemporary composers such as Thomas Adès.

Born in Moscow and raised in Tel Aviv, Boris Giltburg is an Israeli pianist acclaimed for his poetic and deeply expressive playing. He won the Queen Elisabeth Competition in 2013 and has since enjoyed a successful international career, recording for Naxos and collaborating with top orchestras. Giltburg is particularly known for his interpretations of Rachmaninoff, Beethoven, and Shostakovich, and he also shares insights on music via blogs and videos.

Claire Huangci is an American pianist of Chinese descent, known for her virtuosity and versatility. She won first prize at the 2018 Geza Anda Piano Competition and earlier gained attention at the ARD and Queen Elisabeth competitions. A graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music and Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover, Huangci has recorded for Berlin Classics, exploring a wide repertoire from Scarlatti to Chopin to Tchaikovsky.

Andrey Gugnin is a Russian pianist who won the Sydney International Piano Competition in 2016 and has become known for his passionate and dynamic playing. A graduate of the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory and a student of Vera Gornostaeva and later of William Nabore, Gugnin has recorded for Hyperion and Delos, earning praise for his interpretations of Shostakovich, Prokofiev, and Scriabin.