Jury Member Janusz Olejniczak talks to Aleksander Laskowski

■ Everyone seems to agree that working on the jury is quite tiresome. Is this true?
Absolutely. It should also be remembered that like Professor Jasiński, I listened to 133 pianists during the preliminary round before the competition. I am still wondering whether I was concentrated enough to notice everything. But a few notes are enough, electricity appears in the playing, and things become simple—or very difficult, when after four measures it’s clear that the performance will not be interesting. And you realize you still have to listen for 50 more minutes.

■ In an interview for the Gazette, John O’Conor said that he had expected more poetry in Warsaw. Did you?
For me, everything started in January, when I went to an American competition in Miami. After the first stage, it was clear to me who would be among the six finalists. In the first stage of the Chopin Competition, two of my favorites were eliminated. I think they would have added splendor to the second stage and the finals. Five, 10 and 15 years ago I commented on the competition on the radio. Now as a juror I make sure that I listen the way I did in the past—critically toward the jury, including myself. It seems to me that the votes I cast were in accordance with my conscience. Please remember that with Chopin’s music you must not cross certain limits of good taste. After all, this is what this competition is for. But, on the other hand, I dream of such personalities as Ivo Pogorelić. And I feel sorry for a few pianists who will not play in the finals.

■ Were you surprised with the list of finalists?
I picked 10 names of the 12. I feel very sorry for Ingolf Wunder.

■ Was the jury decision concerning the Austrian pianist controversial?
This is not a controversy like that involving Pogorelić, who has a very strong personality. Now, as an experienced person, I can understand him better. But if you listen to the record with Pogorelić’s competition concert, when he played Scherzo in C Sharp Minor, the first cry you can hear in the audience belongs to me.

■How do you recall your participation in the competition?
I am a juror now and I don’t know whether I’ll be one again—or whether I want that. I believe a new formula is needed. This is exhausting for the competitors and for the jurors. Maybe one day there will be dozens of recitals and a Grand Prix will be awarded, following the example of film festivals. Meanwhile, my recollections from the competition are great. But these were different times.