Queen Elisabeth Competition Final Week Begins for 75th Anniversary
Twelve cellists from 11 countries have begun competing in the final week of the prestigious Queen Elisabeth Competition at Bozar in Brussels, as the world-renowned classical music contest marks its 75th anniversary. The finals, running from Monday 25 May to Saturday 30 May, feature two performers each evening accompanied by the Belgian National Orchestra under Dutch conductor Antony Hermus, with the winner announced around midnight on Saturday.
A Historic Anniversary Edition
This year’s competition is a landmark edition on multiple fronts. It celebrates 75 years since the competition was renamed the Queen Elisabeth Competition in 1951, following its original incarnation as the Eugène Ysaÿe Competition before World War II. The anniversary also coincides with the 150th birth anniversaries of both Queen Elisabeth herself — born 25 July 1876 — and the legendary Catalan cellist Pablo Casals, who was a close friend of the queen.
To mark the occasion, the winner of this cello edition will receive an extraordinary prize: the Goffriller ‘Casals’ cello, built in 1733 by Venetian luthier Matteo Goffriller, on loan for four years. Casals purchased the instrument in 1908 in Paris and played it for more than 60 years, famously preferring it over any Stradivarius offered to him, calling it his “most precious friend,” as VRT NWS reported.
The Finalists and the Challenge
The 12 finalists — selected from 185 applicants worldwide — represent Canada, France, South Korea, Japan, the United States, Spain, Germany, Poland, Uzbekistan, Italy, and Russia. Notably, no Belgian cellists qualified for this edition, though several study at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel in Waterloo.
Each finalist must perform the compulsory commissioned work, “Four Odes to the Tidings of Flowers” by Chinese-born American composer Fang Man, which receives its world premiere during the finals. The cellists had just one week to learn the piece in isolation at the Music Chapel, without outside contact or digital devices. They also perform a concerto of their own choosing.
According to Belga News Agency, all tickets for the finals, the winners’ concerts, and the closing ceremony are sold out, reflecting the competition’s enduring appeal.
Opening Night Performers
The first evening featured two compelling artists. Russian cellist Maria Zaitseva, 24, made a powerful impression in the semi-finals with a sonata by Alfred Schnittke, described as “unbearably intense” by Klara and VRT Canvas commentator Nicole Van Opstal. Her finale program includes ‘Tout un monde lointain’ by Henri Dutilleux — written for Mstislav Rostropovich in 1970 — alongside the Fang Man compulsory work. Zaitseva, who studies in Moscow, already holds a first prize and audience prize from the German ARD competition and a second prize at the Tchaikovsky Competition. She performs alongside her mother, a pianist, noting: “We’ve known each other for 24 years, you don’t often see that kind of bond.”
German cellist Lionel Martin, 23, rounds out the opening night. His program features Dvořák’s beloved cello concerto alongside the compulsory work. In the semi-finals, he captivated audiences with a ‘Capriccio’ by Krzysztof Penderecki, using the cello as a percussion instrument. Martin studied in Zürich and now attends the renowned Kronberg Academy in Germany. “Feeling emotions and bringing them out — that’s what making music is about,” he said.
A Legacy of Musical Excellence
The Queen Elisabeth Competition has launched world-class careers since its founding, with laureates including pianists Vladimir Ashkenazy, Boris Giltburg, and Severin von Eckardstein, violinist Vadim Repin, and Canadian soprano Marie-Nicole Lemieux. “When I came to Brussels, nobody knew me. The competition opened ALL doors for me,” Lemieux recalled.
No Belgian has ever won first prize, but several have achieved notable results: Jossif Ivanov (violin, 2005), Lorenzo Gatto (violin, 2009), Thomas Blondelle (vocal, 2011), and Jodie Devos (vocal, 2014) all claimed second prize. Valère Burnon took third prize in piano just last year.
What to Watch For
The competition’s prestige has grown significantly as the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow faces boycotts from many musicians due to the war in Ukraine, and the Rostropovich Competition in Paris no longer exists. The presence of two Russian finalists — Zaitseva and Ivan Sendetsky — adds a notable dimension given the competition’s Cold War history, when Soviet musicians frequently defected to the West.
The finals are broadcast live on Klara radio and VRT MAX streaming, with television coverage on Ketnet (Monday-Friday) and VRT Canvas (Saturday). The winner will be announced after the final performance on Saturday 30 May, receiving the Queen Mathilde Prize of €25,000 alongside the historic Casals cello loan.
As The Bulletin noted, the competition serves as a springboard for young musicians, and this anniversary edition — with its extraordinary prizes and historic resonance — promises to be one of the most memorable in the competition’s storied history.