Ralph Van Raat - About

For a young musician, besides talent, the availability of financial resources usually plays an 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 BBT has achieved in supporting classical musicians is unique and very much to be praised. And it is not only the funds BBT offers, but also 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.

Completely fascinated by contemporary music since the age of 14, Dutch pianist Ralph van Raat has forged a highly successful international career as a performer, musicologist, recorder and broadcaster of primarily modern music. His repertoire ranges from Bach to Boulez and beyond, and he passionately believes that his classical training, strong sense of structure and refinement of tone are the key to opening up the diversity, poetry and logic of the music of our time to audiences everywhere.

BBT was there at the beginning of his chosen path with funding support for his widely acclaimed debut recording of the piano works of John Adams in 2006 on the Naxos label, along with a BBT short film, The Pulse of Life, a conversation with Ralph about why he loves contemporary music. More than half of his extensive recording portfolio is with Naxos, which published a dedicated Artist Profile CD-box set of his complete Naxos recordings in 2009.

The opportunity to premiere a brand-new work was also an especially important career step for Ralph and BBT was there again to support the commissioning of a new piano concerto, The Solway Canal, by Gavin Bryars which Ralph premiered in 2010 and recorded on Naxos for release the following year.

Ralph was supported with a BBT Fellowship between 2005 and 2011.

For a current biography please visit ralphvanraat.com

Read Ralph’s blogs: Flying to Naxos: recurring themes here; and On Gavin Bryars’ Solway Canal here

Photographs by Heather Pinkham