The performers selected by the competition jury are: Rachel Breen and Anthony Ratinov (United States); Sergey Belyavsky and Anastasia Vorotnaya (Russia); Elia Cecino (Italy) and Djordje Radevski (Serbia)

• The pianists will compete in the final on 6 and 7 June, and the three who reach the Grand Final will perform on 9 June, during which each pianist will perform a concerto (two will play the same one) with the Orchestra of Valencia, conducted by Álvaro Albiach
• Gloria Tello, Provincial Councillor Responsible for the Iturbi Prize, expressed her satisfaction that “this edition of the Iturbi Prize is attracting public interest, and there are only a few tickets left for the final days”; she also stated that “the tickets for the Grand Final are practically sold out”
• In this edition, the first prize is €30,000, and includes the recording of an album on the IBS Classical record label and several recitals and concerts; the second prize is €20,000 and the third prize is €10,000

Valencia, 5 June 2023

The jury of the Iturbi Prize, organised by the Provincial Council of Valencia, has announced the names of the six pianists who will go through to the final: Rachel Breen and Anthony Ratinov (United States); Sergey Belyavsky and Anastasia Vorotnaya (Russia); Elia Cecino (Italy) and Djordje Radevski (Serbia). The Valencia International Piano Competition, under the artistic direction of Basque concert pianist Joaquín Achúcarro (Chairman of the jury) and Ana Guijarro, Coordinator and member of the jury, has reached the halfway point after the first and second rounds (semi-finals).

The finals will all be hosted in the Teatro Principal. The selected contestants will play in the final on 6 and 7 June at 7pm, and the three who reach the Grand Final will perform on 9 June, also at 7pm, with two concertos being played (two choosing the same concerto), accompanied by the Orchestra of Valencia, the resident orchestra of Palau de la Música, conducted by Álvaro Albiach, The Teatro Principal will  also host the closing gala and awards ceremony on 10 June at 7.30 pm.

Gloria Tello, the Provincial Councillor Responsible for the Iturbi Prize, Councillor for Culture at Valencia City Council and President of Palau de la Música, expressed her satisfaction that “this edition of the Iturbi Prize is attracting public interest and there are only a few tickets left for the final days”; she also stated that “the tickets for the Grand Final are practically sold out”.

In this 22nd edition, the first prize is €30,000, and includes the recording of an album on the IBS Classical record label and several recitals and concerts; the second prize is €20,000 and the third, €10,000; there is also a special prize of €2,000 for the best performance of Spanish music.

In addition, there are other prizes available: the finalists who are not selected for the Grand Final will receive €5,000 awarded by the Provincial Council of Valencia; there will be a prize for the finalist who does not win the first, second or third prize (€3,000), and a prize for the best performance of a work by Chopin (€2,000), both awarded by Valencia City Council.

In addition, the best performance of a Mozart sonata will be awarded €2,000; the winner of the first prize will be offered a recital by the Valencia Philharmonic Society; the best performance of a Beethoven concerto will receive €2,000 from Kawai Spain; the best contestant chosen by the public will receive €2,000 from Clemente Pianos; and the Regional Department of Culture will contribute €5,000 for a series of concerts in the Region of Valencia by the first, second and third prize winners.

Performance of the work Madre

In addition, a prize of €1,000 will be awarded by Polimúsica for the pianist giving the best performance of the work Madre by Francisco Coll, commissioned by the Iturbi Prize. The work pays tribute to the Valencian painter Joaquín Sorolla.

The Iturbi Prize project works on three overarching strategic lines: to give young pianists from around the world the chance to showcase their talent and boost their careers through the Iturbi Competition, held in odd-numbered years; to programme great performers and leading figures for the public at the Iturbi Festival, held in even-numbered years; and to highlight the life and musical legacy of José Iturbi (Valencia 1895 – Los Angeles 1980).