Press Room

Unique ensemble comes together for Borletti-Buitoni Trust Showcase

Khatia Buniatishvili

The maxim “once a BBT winner, always a BBT winner” comes to mind with the announcement that three of the Borletti-Buitoni Trust’s award-winners from 2004, Viviane Hagner, Lawrence Power (as a member of the Leopold String Trio) and Christian Poltéra, are forming an exclusive ensemble with relative newcomer Khatia Buniatishvili (2010 award-winner) for a prestigious BBT showcase tour in May 2012.  These highly acclaimed young musicians will perform a programme of Beethoven’s popular second string trio, romantic piano works by Chopin and Brahms’ first piano quartet, famous for its folk-flavoured Gypsy Rondo finale.

And, before the music even begins, there will be a premiere screening of a short film about the history of the Trust and its work, featuring BBT founder Ilaria Borletti Buitoni, leading figures in the music industry and pianist Jonathan Biss, soprano Emma Bell and percussionist Colin Currie, all of whom have won BBT awards.  Pianist Mitsuko Uchida DBE will also be interviewed on stage about her role as founding trustee of BBT and her work with young musicians.

The celebrated Aronowitz Ensemble (BBT Special Ensemble Scholarship 2009) will also perform in the Front Room at the QEH after the concert in the main hall.

Since its first award winners were announced in 2003, the Borletti-Buitoni Trust has developed a unique approach to helping talented young musicians develop and sustain their international careers.  Besides the financial awards, BBT both supports and creates projects that enhance their professional experience.  The chance to work with mentors such as Mitsuko Uchida and Christian Tetzlaff -  and each other - is a key part of this policy. The May 2012 tour will be preceded by a residential retreat at the secluded Italian country home of Ilaria Borletti Buitoni, affording them the rare and precious bonus of three days to rehearse and get to know each other before the tour.

After almost a decade of award-giving, the BBT ‘family’ numbers more than 100 musicians, many of them now the most sought-after young generation soloists and ensembles on the international scene.  Looking forward to its 10-year milestone, BBT will announce at these concerts the details of its tenth anniversary festival which will take place the following year in May 2013 in London with Mitsuko Uchida and a star-studded line-up of BBT award-winners from the past ten years. 

The London showcase is part of a European tour which also takes the ensemble to the Netherlands (Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw on 2 May and Eindhoven’s Muziekgebouw on 6 May).

MORE THAN JUST A CONCERT

Queen Elizabeth Hall
LONDON   
Friday 4 May 19.00hrs (note earlier time)

Film and pre-concert interview with Mitsuko Uchida DBE

CONCERT
Beethoven String Trio in G Op.9 No 1
Chopin Ballade No 4 in F minor Op.52 
Chopin Scherzo No 3 in C sharp minor Op.39
Brahms Piano Quartet No 1 in G minor Op.25

9.45pm
The Front Room at the Queen Elizabeth Hall
Aronowitz Ensemble (free admission)

www.southbankcentre.co.uk