| The Fifteenth International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition | |
| Venue: | National Philharmonic, Warsaw |
| Holder Label: | Winner |
| Holder: |  Rafał Blechacz |
| Previous: | 14th |
| Main: | Chopin Competition |
| Next: | 16th |
| Website: | konkurs15.chopin.pl |
The XV International Chopin Piano Competition (Polish: XV Międzynarodowy Konkurs Pianistyczny im. Fryderyka Chopina) was held from 2 to 24 October 2005 in Warsaw, organized by the . The competition was won by Rafał Blechacz of Poland, who prevailed against 80 competitors from 18 countries.[1]
This was the first competition that was completely broadcast on TV, radio and on the internet.[1]
For the first time, the competition introduced a preliminary round, as selecting participants from submitted recordings only was deemed not wholly reliable.[1]
In the most decisive showing in the history of the competition, Rafał Blechacz took First Prize and the special prizes for the best performance of a polonaise, mazurka, and concerto.[1] One of the judges, Piotr Paleczny, said that Blechacz "so outclassed the remaining finalists that no second prize could actually be awarded."[2] Another judge, John O'Conor, called Blechacz "one of the greatest artists I have had a chance to hear in my entire life".[3] Blechacz was the first Pole to win the prize since 1975, when Krystian Zimerman won.
The following prizes were awarded:[1]
| Prize | Winner | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rafał Blechacz | Poland | ||
| not awarded | |||
| Dong-Hyek Lim | |||
| Dong-Min Lim | |||
| 4th | Shohei Sekimoto |  Japan | |
| Takashi Yamamoto | Japan | ||
| 5th | not awarded | ||
| 6th | Ka Ling Colleen Lee |  Hong Kong | |
| Andriej Jaroszynskij | |||
| Jacek Kortus | Poland | ||
| Rachel Naomi Kudo |  United States | ||
| Rieko Nezu | Japan | ||
| Yuma Osaki | Japan | ||
| Yeol Eum Son | |||
In addition, three special prizes were awarded independently:
| Special prize | Winner | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Performance of a Concerto | Rafał Blechacz | Poland | |
| Best Performance of Mazurkas | Rafał Blechacz | Poland | |
| Best Performance of a Polonaise | Rafał Blechacz | Poland | |
The jury consisted of:
Lidia Grychtołówna Adam Harasiewicz (V) Krzysztof Jabłoński Andrzej Jasiński (chairman)
Hiroko Nakamura
John O'Conor Janusz Olejniczak Piotr Paleczny (vice-chairman) John Perry
(5th X)
Bernard Ringeissen Regina Smendzianka
Đặng Thái Sơn (X)
Arie Vardi
Fanny Waterman
Zhou Guangren