The Eurovision Young Musicians 2018 was the 19th edition of the Eurovision Young Musicians contest. It was hosted by the United Kingdom, for the first time since the inaugural contest in 1982. This edition was a co-production between the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the Edinburgh International Festival and the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) as host broadcaster. Musicians representing eighteen countries with EBU membership participated in the contest, with Albania making their debut alongside seven returning countries, while Austria decided not to participate for the first time.
Usher Hall, Edinburgh – host venue of the Eurovision Young Musicians 2018 final.
Usher Hall, the venue for the final, is a concert hall situated on Lothian Road, in the west end of Edinburgh, Scotland. It has hosted concerts and events since its construction in 1914 and can hold approximately 2,900[1] people in its recently restored auditorium, which is well loved by performers due to its acoustics. The Hall is flanked by The Royal Lyceum Theatre on the right and The Traverse Theatre on the left. Historic Scotland has registered the Hall with Category A listed building status.
According to an earlier statement by Vladislav Yakovlev, the former executive supervisor of the event, Budapest could host the 2018 contest after bidding for the 2016 edition.[4] On 27 October 2016, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) launched a call to submit applications for the competition.[5]
Host city announcement
In early October 2017, Norwegian broadcaster Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) confirmed in an online article regarding its national selection Virtuos, that the United Kingdom would host this edition of the contest in August 2018.[6] On 30 October 2017, the EBU announced that this edition of the contest would be held in Edinburgh between 16 and 24 of August 2018.[7]
Format
The semi-final round returned in 2018, produced by BBC Radio 3 in the form of public chamber recitals, at the Studio of the Edinburgh Festival Theatre on 18 and 19 August 2018.[8]
Presenters
On 6 August 2018, it was announced that Petroc Trelawny and Josie D'Arby would host the 2018 competition.[9] Trelawny’s career started at BBC Radio Devon in 1989 as a reporter, before he made his transition to a career in classical music radio and television during the 1990s. Since 1998 he has been a presenter at BBC Radio 3, and is the face of classical magazine programme Music Matters, Radio 3’s Breakfast and concerts in Radio 3 Live in Concert. D’Arby started on Children's BBC (CBBC) in the 1990s before becoming the youngest woman to have her own chat show, Josie, in 1999 on Channel 5. She has co-presented a number of cultural programs for the BBC including; Young Musician of the Year since 2012, Cardiff Singer of the World since 2009, Songs of Praise since 2014 and Young Choir of the Year (2018). Her acting credits include playing series regular WPC Jodie Finn, in BBC One drama Merseybeat from 2002–04. On 11 August 2018, it was revealed that the semi-finals would be hosted by Trelawny, with D'Arby joining him in the final.[10]
Jury members
The winner of the competition was decided by an international panel of classical music luminaries. On 10 August 2018, the EBU announced the jurors of the competition. The judges for the semi-finals are British bassoonist Ursula Leveaux, Spanish percussionist Noè Roderigo Gisbert, Korean pianist Sinae Lee, and the chair cellist and conductor David Watkin.[11] Joining Watkin's at the final were American conductor and violinist Marin Alsop, composer and performer Anna Meredith, Scottish classical composer and conductor James MacMillan and Head of Music for the Edinburgh International Festival, Andrew Moore.[12]
Voting
Altogether there are two set of juries: one for the two days of semi-finals and one for the final. In both juries, each juror was to independently rate each performer a score from 1–10 points. The following criteria were taken into account by the jurors in the semi-finals and finals:
Technical Accuracy
Quality of Sound
Interpretation
Performance
After each juror has awarded his points, these were added together and the result presented to the jury first. However following discussion, the jury may make changes to the numerical rankings by mutual agreement. The six finalists were announced in a random order after the semi-finals on a separate live stream.[13][11] In addition, it was announced that the jury in the final would not know the results of the semi-final jury to avoid interference. In the final, only the winner was announced during the televised broadcast.[14]
The final list of participants were announced on 2 February 2018, with eighteen countries confirming their participation, the highest number since 2006.[8]Albania made their debut whilst seven countries, Belgium, Estonia, Greece, Israel, Russia, Spain and United Kingdom, all returned to the Eurovision Young Musicians in 2018.[15] Belgium last participated in 2006, Estonia in 2004, Greece in 2014, Israel in 1986 and Spain in 2000. Russia and host country, the United Kingdom, most recently took part in 2010.
Semi-finals
The semi-finals consisted of six hour-long shows spread over two days. A total of eighteen countries took part, of which six qualified to the grand final. In each semi-final, three musicians performed, either solo or with piano accompaniment, for a total of 18 minutes each.
1)Toccata from Trois pièces by Francis Poulenc 2)Prelude in C minor, Op. 23 No. 7 by Sergei Rachmaninoff 3)Prelude in G sharp minor, Op. 32 No. 12 by S. Rachmaninoff 4)Scherzo No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 31 by Frédéric Chopin
1)Caprice Basque Op. 24 by Pablo de Sarasate 2)Caprice No. 13 in B flat major by Niccolò Paganini 3)3rd mvt (Finale) of Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor Op. 24 by Max Bruch
1)Violoncello Totale for cello solo by Krzysztof Penderecki 2)I mov, Cello Sonata in F major, Op. 99 by J. Brahms 3)Papillon, Op. 77 by Gabriel Fauré 4)V mov, Sonata for cello and piano in C, Op. 65 by Benjamin Britten
1)Fantasia in D minor by David Kellner 2)3rd Bagatelle from Five Bagatelles for guitar by William Walton 3)5th Bagatelle from Five Bagatelles for guitar by W. Walton 4)Variaciones sobre un tema de Fernando Sor, Op. 19 by Miguel Llobet
1)Mazurka in B flat minor, Op 24 No 4 by Chopin 2)Fantaisie-Impromptu in C sharp minor, Op 66 by Chopin 3)Prelude in G minor, Op 23 No 5 by Rachmaninov 4)Barncleupédie by James MacMillan
1)Bohemian Suite, 1st Movement: "Celts" by I. Stivin
2) Bohemian Suite, 2nd mvt: "Czech Country" by I. Stivin
3) Bohemian Suite, 3rd mvt: Tarantella Praga by I. Stivin[18]
1)Fantaisie sur un thème original by Demersseman 2)Cinq danses exotiques by Jean Françaix 3)Aria by Eugène Bozza 4)Brasileira from Scaramouche by Darius Milhaud
Failed to qualify
Final
Six contestants were selected by the first jury to progress to the Final and the second decided the winner of Eurovision Young Musicians 2018.[19] Each finalist performed one or more movements of a single musical work, accompanied by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, for up to 12 minutes.[20] During the live shows interval, the orchestra performed "Hedwig's Theme" from the Harry Potter score although this was not included in the televised broadcast.[21] The winner received a custom-made engraved trophy, a cash prize of €7,000, and a performance opportunity with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra in a forthcoming season. The runner-up received a cash prize of €3,000.[22]
3rd mvt from Piano Concerto No. 1 by P.I. Tchaikovsky
1
Broadcasting
The following countries, listed in order of broadcasting dates, confirmed that they would broadcast the contest along with the dates of broadcasting schedules. Alongside television and radio, coverage was also livestreamed on the online platforms of the broadcasters in Belgium, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Poland, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain and the UK.[24] The semi-finals and the final were broadcast live on the internet via the official YouTube channel of the competition.[25]
Austria – On 29 October 2017, the Austrian broadcaster Österreichischer Rundfunk (ORF) announced that they were discussing whether they will participate in Eurovision Young Musicians 2018.[35] Austria decided to withdraw from the 2018 edition, after participating at every previous edition of the contest, with no reasons for their withdrawal being published.[36]
Bosnia and Herzegovina – On 24 October 2017, BHRT confirmed that due to financial difficulties the country would not return to the contest in 2018. Bosnia and Herzegovina's last, and only, participation was at the 2012 Young Musicians event.[37]
Cyprus – On 2 January 2018, Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC) confirmed that due to financial difficulties the country would not return to the contest in 2018. Cyprus last participated at the 2010 Young Musicians event.[38]
Denmark – On 3 January 2018, Danish Broadcasting Corporation (DR) confirmed that the country would not return to the contest in 2018 and are unlikely to participate in the competition in the coming years. Denmark last participated at the 2002 Young Musicians event.[39]
Finland – On 12 January 2018, Yleisradio (YLE) confirmed that the country would not return to the contest in 2018. Finland last participated at the 2008 Young Musicians event.[40]
Ireland – On 28 October 2017, Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ) announced that it would not return to the 2018 Eurovision Young Musicians. Ireland last participated at the 2000 Young Musicians event. However, the Irish-language broadcaster, TG4, which is eligible to take over the responsibility of Ireland's participation, has not released any statements regarding a return to the contest.[41] Ireland was not on the final list of participants released by the EBU.
Latvia – On 4 November 2017, Latvijas Televīzija (LTV) confirmed that the country would not return to the contest in 2018. Latvia last participated at the 2002 Young Musicians event.[42]
Netherlands – On 30 January 2018, Omroep NTR (NTR) confirmed that the country would not return to the contest in 2018. The Netherlands last participated at the 2014 Young Musicians event.[43]
Switzerland – On 11 November 2017, Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF) confirmed that the country would not return to the contest in 2018. Switzerland last participated at the 2006 Young Musicians event.[44]
Ukraine – On 5 January 2018, National Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine (UA:PBC) announced that the country is considering a return to the contest in 2018.[45] However, on 14 January 2018, UA:PBC confirmed that the country will not return to the Eurovision Young Musicians in 2018. Ukraine last participated at the 2012 Young Musicians event.[46]
The following list of countries have participated at least once since the inaugural contest in 1982 but have not stated their reasons for their continued absence in competing:[47]
