About the win

The fourth edition, the first held after the Second World War, ended in a shared first prize between Poland's Halina Czerny-Stefańska and the Soviet pianist Bella Davidovich. Both became distinguished Chopin interpreters and, later, respected teachers.

Key facts

• First prize was shared between two women in 1949.
• Czerny-Stefańska became one of Poland's most celebrated Chopin players; a recording long credited to Dinu Lipatti was later identified as hers.
• Davidovich taught at the Moscow Conservatory, emigrated to the United States in 1978 and joined the Juilliard faculty.
• Davidovich is the mother of violinist Dmitry Sitkovetsky.