25 Julio - 7 agosto 2012. Dedicado a Alicia de Larrocha
President's Greetings
Almost forty years after its foundation, the objective of the Santander International Piano Competition continues to be identical as that of the first day: to help young pianists worldwide offering them opportunities at a key moment in their live: when they finish their educational period and are ready to start their first professional steps in the passionate but nonetheless demanding world of music.
This edition of the Competition will be dedicated, with great affection, to Alicia de Larrocha, an exceptional pianist, one of those who appear only after many years. Her performances of all the classics of the repertory, from Mozart to Chopin; from Haydn to Mendelssohn and Albéniz, constitute a wonderful legacy that has not been promoted as much as it should have been; especially among the new generations of pianists. Alicia was a faithful friend of the Santander Competition, who in addition to being our Vice President, was looking after it with great loving care.
Her memory will preside this new edition of the Competition that, as usual, is part of the extraordinary richness of the Santander cultural summers, with the Menéndez Pelayo International University linked to the Competition since ever; with the Santander International Festival within which our orchestral concerts are held; and with the Santander Encounter of Music and Academy that facilitates the arrival to the city of the best young musicians. The foregoing contributes to underline the universal vocation of a Piano Competition that became international right after it was born and has since served as support to young pianists from all countries. It is the result of the nature of music, a language that knows no boundaries, and of present-day society, interconnected more than ever before.
The piano, a universal language
Music is the key to social cohesion and collective spiritual enrichment. For this reason we continue to work with determination selecting the best travel companions.
In the summer of 2012 twenty new pianists will be presented to the public in Santander and the city will live a true fiesta of the piano with over 50 concerts open to its citizens, to Spain and worldwide through internet and the communications media.
The piano has entered the 21st Century in plenitude of its historical vigor. It continues to bind the inspiration of the composers and the vocation of the performers and summons, now more than ever, the favor of the public worldwide. For two weeks the wonderful world of the piano will have its capital in the beautiful city of Santander. Nothing would make me happier.
