Growing Number of Commissions and Recordings for Borletti-Buitoni Trust Award Winners
September 2006
Since the Trust was first launched in 2003 it has supported the commissioning of nine new works and the recording of 16 CDs for its young artists. In addition to the financial awards, the Trust also provides performance opportunities, networking, promotion and PR. News of forthcoming new projects as follows:
BBT award monies used to support a three-disc deal with the pioneering French label Ambroisie (part of the Naïve recording company) which is committed to providing an experimental platform for the rising young stars within its stable. In October he will record the first disc of Bach, Ligeti and Hindemith based on a theme of ‘passacaglia’ for release in June 2007.
BBT award used to support recording of two CDs on the Onyx Classics label: the second, MAHLER Urlicht (ONYX4014) recorded with pianist Julius Drake, will be released on October 2 following her BBC Proms debut in Mahler’s Second Symphony, Resurrection on 6 September (Prom 70, BBC Symphony Orchestra/Bernard Haitink – broadcast live on BBC4 and BBC Radio 3). The first CD, Schubert/Berg/Wolf – Fantasies and Dream Figures, was met with universal critical acclaim and has positioned her as a definite ‘one to watch’: “Auspicious.” (The Times), “Here’s a singer to watch, one destined for a massive career…” (Classic FM Magazine), “Here’s something special: a riveting solo debut recital” (BBC Music Magazine), “This debut recital… is a really exciting event. At 29 she seems on the edge of a major career.” (Gramophone).
As part of its valuable mentoring activity the Trust has organised a prestigious European concert tour and Aldeburgh residency (28 September – 5 October 2006) for award winners Colin Currie (percussion), Soovin Kim (violin), Christian Poltéra (cello), Christianne Stotijn (mezzo-soprano) and Shai Wosner (piano), under the leadership of BBT honorary committee member Christian Tetzlaff. Specially for the occasion the Trust has also commissioned composer Richard Baker and poet/librettist Lavinia Greenlaw to write a short piece for the whole ensemble.
The Trio is now half way through its series of concerts at the Turner Sims Concert Hall and Wigmore Hall, supported by the BBT award. In recognition of its dedication to promoting and playing the often neglected string trio repertoire the Leopolds received a Royal Philharmonic Society Award this year as well as public and critical acclaim: “…the Leopold projected those qualities of textural clarity, dynamism and intricate colouring that fuel its compelling interpretative personality” (Daily Telegraph). For the 2006/07 season the Series 5 & 6 feature monumental works by Bach and Mozart, while 7 & 8 have a Viennese School theme with Brahms, Mahler, Schoenberg and Webern.
BBT award monies used to support a 2-CD recording deal with the Altara Music record label. The first disc, Bartok, Hartmann, Bach Ciaccona is on general release from January 2007 with plans for the second to be released in the Autumn of 2007. Hagner is an ardent advocate of neglected, rediscovered and new music and has recently given memorable premieres of newly commissioned works including Simon Holt’s violin concerto Witness to a Snow Miracle in 2006 and Unsuk Chin’s violin concerto in 2002. She plays the Sasserno Stradivarius, built in 1717 generously loaned by the Nippon Music Foundation.
This year the Trust has advanced Korean-born Hyunah Yu to award winner status with a further £10,000 to support the recording of her EMI Debut Disc, which will be released in January 2007. Recorded with the Prague Philharmonia conducted by Shuntaro Sato, the CD repertoire features Mozart arias and Bach cantatas. Since her 2003 BBT fellowship which assisted with travel, coaching and auditions, she was discovered by Peter Sellars and cast in the leading role of his latest production Zaide, recently performed in Vienna, London and New York: “Hyunah Yu, another of the Borletti Buitoni Trust’s wonderful discoveries” (Financial Times), “a startlingly pretty voice” (Independent on Sunday), “we will surely hear more of the Korean soprano Hyunah Yu” (Daily Telegraph).
BBT award used to fund commissioned works from Lukas Ligeti and Dave Maric for percussion and trumpet (with Håkan Hardenberger), plus another piece from Simon Holt with co-commissioner City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Also supporting the release of an all-Maric CD to be released early in 2007 on Sony/BMG.
Multi-award winning Dutch pianist Ralph van Raat has used his BBT monies to further his passion for contemporary music with a recording and a commission: he has recorded the complete piano works of John Adams for release on Naxos in April 2007, and commissioned composer Gavin Bryars to write a piano concerto for him. Bryars himself describes this as a significant commission since, although it is ‘his instrument’ he has never before written for piano.
BBT award used to commission and record a new work by composer Michael Hersch. The piece will be for solo piano and ensemble and is evolved from, and inspired by, Schumann’s Carnaval. Hersch’s new work will be written by Spring 2007 and be available for performance in the 2007/8 season. Wosner also plans to record both Carnaval and the new work.
BBT award money used to support the release of his CD ‘Niccolò Paganini 24 Caprices’: (“A thrilling debut disc” – Classic FM Magazine) on the Azica label, plus PR, marketing and creation of a new website. The BBT tour with Christian Tetzlaff (see above) marks his UK debut although he is already very much on the radar in his US homeland: “Kim’s a young violinist we’re likely to hear more from. A superb musician with a fine tone …he is assured and imaginative.” (Washington Post 22 July 2006).
Fröst brought his BBT project to fruition earlier this year with the world premiere of a specially commissioned clarinet concerto from Kalevi Aho, played with the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Osmo Vänskä: “The music is tailored to his phenomenal technique…” (Sunday Telegraph), “The perfect showcase for the remarkable skills of the Swedish soloist Martin Fröst” (The Observer), “Until you have heard Martin Fröst you really haven’t heard the clarinet.” (The Times).
British baritone Ronan Collett was awarded the Prix Thierry Mermod for voice (5,000 Swiss Francs) at this year’s Verbier Festival Academy. The chance to participate in this prestigious programme of workshops, recitals and masterclasses was made possible by the Borletti-Buitoni Trust’s first year sponsorship of the chamber music programme. As one of two BBT fellowship winners taking part (the David Trio was the other), Ronan Collett worked at the Academy with celebrated singers José van Dam and Thomas Quasthoff. In September 2006 he joins the BBC New Generation Artists scheme.