Carlos de la Blanca Elorza, 28

Carlos de la Blanca Elorza

Born in Granada on the 16th August 1995, Carlos started his musical studies at the age of seven with the Russian professor Andrey Reznik and with the Spanish professor Javier Herreros. In 2013, he acceded to the Real Conservatorio Superior de Musica de Madrid to study his Bachelor in Piano with professor Pilar Bilbao, where Carlos finished his studies with honours in Piano and an "End of Career" Award. He has received numerous masterclasses from widely recognised pianists such as Dmitri Bashkirov, Akiko Ebi, Lev Natochenny, Eldar Nebolsin, Nikolai Lugansky, and Till Fellner.

Carlos has been awarded prizes in several national and international piano competitions. He obtained a Diploma in the XX Santander International Piano Competition 2022, and a medal in the 66th Maria Canals International Piano Competition 2021, among others. In 2022, Carlos participated in the Glocal Piano Project, organised by the Ferruccio Busoni foundation. He was also awarded the Humboldt Stipendium in the academic year 2018-2019 for his studies of Master Klavier at the Hochshule für Musik und Theater in Hamburg, Germany, in the class of Professor Ralf Nattkemper.

Carlos has lived in Madrid since October 2019, where he teaches in an official position as a piano professor in the Community of Madrid, while he has a number of important concerts in Spain and throughout Europe. Furthermore, since 2022, Carlos has received advice and generosity from the great Hungarian musician Márta Gulyás. He has also studied Philosophy and Mathematics through the Spanish University UNED. In recent years, Carlos combines the recital form with improvisatory practice in his concerts.

Stage 1: Recital

Stage 2: Recital

Stage 1: Recital

All competitors will perform a solo recital with the maximum duration of 30 minutes

J S Bach: Prelude and Fugue in B flat minor (Well-Tempered Clavier Book 1)

S Rachmaninoff: Étude-Tableau in E flat minor Op. 39 No. 5

S Rachmaninoff: Prelude in B minor Op. 32 No. 10

M de Falla: Fantasia Baetica   

Stage 2: Recital

All competitors will perform a solo recital with the maximum duration of 30 minutes

L v Beethoven: Sonata in E major Op. 109

I. Vivace ma non troppo - Adagio espressivo II. Prestissimo III. Gesangvoll - mit innigster Empfindung - Andante molto cantabile ed espressivo

F Liszt: Transcendental Étude “Mazeppa” S. 139 No. 4

F Schubert/F Liszt: Gretchen am Spinnrade

Stage 3: Recital (semifinal)

Up to ten competitors will perform a solo recital with the maximum duration of 60 minutes

J Brahms: Sonata in F minor Op. 5 No. 3

I. Allegro maestoso II. Andante espressivo III. Scherzo: Allegro energico con trio IV. Intermezzo: (Rückblick/Regard en arrière) Andante molto V. Finale: Allegro moderato ma rubato

D Önaç: Five Études

I. Monody Dance II. Melancholia

O Messiaen: Vingt Regards sur l'Enfant-Jésus

XV: Le baiser de l’Énfant-Jésus

M de Falla: Ritual fire dance  

Stage 4: Concerto (final)

Three competitors will perform a concerto with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra

L v Beethoven:

Concerto No. 5 in E flat major Op. 73