MUSIC

A Soviet pianist whose father competed against Van Cliburn 31 years ago is among six finalists chosen in the Eighth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition that wraps up in Ft. Worth, Tex., this weekend. Alexander Shtarkman’s father, Naum, finished third behind the victorious Cliburn in the 1958 International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, a contest that rocketed Cliburn to fame. Two other Soviet musicians are also finalists, Elisso Bokvadze and Aleksei Sultanov. Other finalists out of a field of 38 that began competing May 27 are Jose Carlos Cocarelli of Brazil, Benedetto Lupo of Italy and Ying Tian of China. The next step is for each to perform two piano concertos with the Ft. Worth Symphony Orchestra before the medalist is chosen Sunday. Kevin Kenner, 26, of Coronado, Calif., was the only U.S. semifinalist.