Ralph van Raat

piano BBT Fellowship Winner 2005

Pianist and musicologist Ralph van Raat (born 1978) studied the piano with Ton Hartsuiker and Willem Brons at the Conservatory of Amsterdam and Musicology at the University of Amsterdam. He concluded both studies 'With Distinction' in 2002 and 2003. Van Raat also studied with Claude Helffer (Paris), Liisa Pohjola (Helsinki), Ursula Oppens at Chicago’s Northwestern University and Pierre-Laurent Aimard at the Musikhochschule in Cologne. Van Raat has won Second Prize and Donemus-Prize (for Contemporary Music) of the Princess Christina Competition (1995); Stipend-Prize Darmstadt during the "Internationale Ferienkurse fur Neue Musik" in Darmstadt (1998); First Prize of the International Gaudeamus Interpreters Competition (1999); Philip Morris Arts Award (2003); Elisabeth Everts Prize (2005); a Borletti-Buitoni Fellowship (2005); VSCD Classical Music Prize (2005) and the Fortis MeesPierson Award of the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam (2006). He appears as a recitalist and as a soloist with orchestras in Europe, the Middle-East, Asia and in the United States. Van Raat worked with many composers such as John Adams, Magnus Lindberg, John Tavener and Arvo Pärt, and many have dedicated piano compositions to him. With help of the Borletti-Buitoni Trust, Gavin Bryars has written a new concerto for Ralph van Raat to be premiered in February 2010. He has an exclusive recording contract with Naxos. The high critical acclaim of his recordings led Naxos to publish a dedicated Artist Profile CD-box in 2009 with his complete Naxos recordings to date. Ralph van Raat has been a Steinway Artist since 2003.

Photograph taken by Marco Borggreve

"...van Raat obtains a near-hypnotic control in the two early pieces, almost mechanical in its reliability, and he bubbles with life in the later two"
International Piano Magazine March/April 2007 Martin Anderson

"Van Raat made "Phrygian Gates" grippingly sing, breathe naturally, blindingly change colours, fill the space with sonorous sounds and whisper intimately. Breath-taking"
Anthony Fium, Luister, June 2007

Project: Recording of John Adams Complete Piano Music Naxos 8 559285

CD for Naxos
Co-commissioning piano concerto by Gavin Bryars

Read Ralph van Raat's BBT Blog

Artist Contact

Ralph van Raat at
telephone: +31 6 50 69 89 78
ralph@ralphvanraat.com

Benelux

Ivy Artists at
telephone: +31 70 39 25 271
info@ivyartists.com
www.ivyartists.com

Patrick Allen at Connaught Artists
telephone: +44 20 7978 0144
classicalmusic@connaughtartists.com
www.connaughtartists.com

For a young musician, besides talent, the availability of financial resources usually plays in important role in the development of his or her career. Especially in an age where genuine cultural life seems to subside and make way for the machine of massive commerce, the vital role the Borletti-Buitoni Trust has achieved in supporting classical musicians is unique and very much to be praised. And it is not only the funds that the Trust offer, but with it, the safe feeling of professional backing in all areas of musicianship in which the Trust excels. Let us rejoice the wonderful initiative of the people who have lit the light in this culturally dark age.

Ralph van Raat

WRITING IN THE LIGHT OF HISTORY

BBT has co-commissioned a new piano concerto from Gavin Bryars, for Ralph van Raat. We filmed with the pianist and the composer at the beginning of the creative process in 2006, the latter feeling that this will be the most considered large scale work that he has ever written. The work is co-commissioned by Dutch Radio Broadcasting Company for the world premiere on 19th February 2010 in Vredenburg, Utrecht,with Netherlands Radio Chamber Philharmony and Cappella Amsterdam conducted by Otto Tausk.

THE PULSE OF LIFE

Ralph van Raat talks about his passion for contemporary music and the recording for Naxos of the complete piano works of John Adams (audio excerpts on this website). Our film includes the pianist’s recital of the music of Adams and Charles Ives at Kleine Zaal, Concertgebouw, Amsterdam (November 2005).