Queen Elisabeth Competition kicks off in Flagey

The competitors in this year’s Queen Elisabeth Competition for violin have been allotted their places for the first round of the competition, which began yesterday in Flagey in Brussels. There are two Belgian violinists among the 62 competitors from 20 countries.

Fien Van den Fonteyne from East Flanders started playing the violin at the age of four. She studied at the Royal Conservatory in Brussels and has taken part in serious competition, including the Dexia Classics. As well as her solo career, the 26-year-old also plays in the trio Impression, with her sister Riet on cello and Florestan Bataillie on piano.

Van den Fonteyne drew lot number 53 and will play her first round programme on Saturday, 9 May at 15.00.

Hrachya Avanesyan, 28, was born in Armenia, coming with his parents to live in Brussels when he was 16. Like Van den Fonteyne, he studied at the Royal Conservatory, and, in 2006, he won first prize in the Yehudi Menuhin International Competition for Young Violinists. Two years later, he won the Carl Nielsen Competition in Denmark.

Avanesyan (pictured), who is a favourite in the Queen Elisabeth, has already performed with international orchestras, including the National Orchestra of Belgium, the London Chamber Orchestra and the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra. He drew lot number 14 and plays today at 15.50 in Flagey.

All competitors must perform a programme chosen by the jury, which includes a Bach sonata, the Schubert Grand Duo and a capriccio by Paganini.

The 24 semi-finalists will be announced on 9 May, after the evening performances. The semi-finals take place from 11 to 16 May, also in Flagey. The finals take place from 25 to 30 May in Bozar. Tickets to all performances are available through the Queen Elisabeth website.

The Queen Elisabeth Competition, launched in 1937 under the patronage of the wife of Albert I, is one of the most prestigious music contests in the world. It rotates between voice, composition, piano, violin and – starting in 2017 – cello.