Dutch Nikola Meeuwsen has won the prestigious Belgian Queen Elisabeth Competition, the first ever Dutch winner. The four next episodes of Concertzender Live will be dedicated to performances from the laureates, starting with Nikola Meeuwsen.
The Belgian Queen Elisabeth Competition is one of the most demanding international music competitions in the world, and one that receives a lot of attention in the media. The Piano competition made a triumphant comeback in 2025. The previous one had been planned for 2020 but had been moved up to 2021 due to the pandemic. The competition then took place without a live audience in the concert halls, and any magic could only be felt through the screen.
This year’s edition, 2025, was very animated – there was both a Dutch pianist and a Belgian one in the race for first prize. There was a lot of speculation and excitement every day; should the jury vote for a young musician with lots of potential or choose the older pianist with more maturity? A tough decision, but the 23-year-old Dutch Nikola Meeuwsen won in the end.
Leading up to the final, competitors stayed at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel at Waterloo, secluded from the outside world to rehearse their repertoire for the final. Twelve candidates during six evenings, each one performing a piano concerto of their choice and a compulsory work – this time Music for the Heart, written for this occasion by Belgian composer Kris Defoort.
The Queen Elisabeth Competition is one of the most important music competitions in the world.
Playlist
Queen Elisabeth Competition for piano 2025
- Sergey Prokofiev (1891-1953)
Concerto no. 2 in G minor, op. 16 – Andantino, Scherzo vivace, Intezrmezzo (allegro moderat), finale (allegro tempestoso)
Nikola Meeuwsen: piano, Brussels Philharmonic conducted by Kazushi Ono
- Sergey Rachmaninoff (1873-1943)
Valère Burnon
Concerto no. 3 in D minor, op. 30, Allegro non tantto, Intermezzo, Alla breve
Valère Burnon: piano, Brussels Philharmonic conducted by Kazushi Ono
From 150 year Rachmaninoff, Prins Claus Conservatorium, Groningen
- Sergey Rachmaninoff
Suite no 1 from 5 for 2 pianos – part 1 til 4
Paul Komen and Nata Tsvereli: piano
- Sergey Rachmaninoff
Symphonische dansen op 45 – part 1 til 3
Paul Komen and Nata Tsvereli: piano
