Alice Sara Ott

German-Japanese pianist Alice Sara Ott has established herself as one of the most exciting musical talents of today. As well as high profile engagements with some of the world’s leading orchestras and conductors, Ott is becoming increasingly known for her creative collaborations, with artists such as Francesco Tristano and Olafur Arnalds.

The Guardian commented after her recent performance with the London Symphony Orchestra that she “gave the kind of gawp-inducing bravura performance of which legends are made.”

In 2016-17 Alice Sara Ott released ‘Wonderland’, her major new album on Deutsche Grammophon of music by Grieg, with Esa-Pekka Salonen and Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, to international acclaim. She will shortly announce her new solo album for the label, coming in autumn 2018.

In addition to a busy season of international appearances, Ott boasts a number of original creative collaborations which showcase her skills as a designer and illustrator. She is creative advisor to German luxury brand, JOST, for whom she has designed a line of premium leather bags featuring origami elements, and has also designed a range of stickers for Japanese messaging service LINE, which has already reached millions of users. Ott is currently the global brand ambassador for Technics, the hi-fi audio brand of Panasonic Corporation.

Ott has recorded exclusively for Deutsche Grammophon since 2008.

www.alicesaraott

Barbara Hannigan

Whether singing, conducting, dancing or acting, the Canadian soprano Barbara Hannigan is an endless source of fascination. Possessing a spellbinding artistry, her remarkable performances have been called ‘astonishing’, ‘phenomenal’ and ‘fearless’. Heralded ‘une femme-caméléon’ by Le Figaro, the outstanding soprano has enriched her palette over the past few years by devoting a large part of her career to conducting.

In September 2017 she released her first album as singer and conductor, on Alpha Classics. Hannigan devised a remarkable programme including Berg’s Lulu Suite, music from Gershwin’s Girl Crazy – in a new arrangement by the multi-award-winning American composer Bill Elliott – and Berio’s spectacular Sequenza III for solo voice. The album – Crazy Girl Crazy – has been a success around the globe and in January 2018 was awarded the GRAMMY for Best Classical Solo Vocal album.

The ground-breaking Hannigan returned to UK audiences for George Benjamin’s new opera at the Royal Opera House in May 2018. ‘Lessons in Love and Violence’ follows on from Benjamin’s previous opera, ‘Written on Skin’, widely regarded as one of the most important new operas of the 21st century, and in which the role of Agnès was written for Hannigan.

The 2018-19 season will see Barbara: launch EQUILIBRIUM, her ground-breaking mentorship initiative; conduct her first opera; star in the new opera, Bérénice at Paris’s Opéra Garnier; as well as sing-conduct several world class ensembles including London Symphony Orchestra and Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France. She also releases ‘Vienna, Fin de Siècle’, a sumptuous new recital album alongside the musical legend, Reinbert de Leeuw.

www.barbarahannigan.com

www.equilibrium-youngartists.com

Bryce Dessner

Bryce Dessner is a vital force in new music, at the forefront of creation and collaboration. Art in its most vibrant, open-minded and cutting-edge form.

Dessner is one of the most sought-after composers of his generation, with a rapidly expanding catalogue of works commissioned by the world’s leading ensembles, from the LA Philharmonic and New York Philharmonic, to Ensemble Intercontemporain, the Barbican, London Philharmonic Orchestra and Kronos Quartet.

Known to many as a guitarist with the GRAMMY Award winning band, The National, he is also active as a curator. As well as programming the festivals MusicNOW in Cincinnati, HAVEN in Copenhagen and Sounds from a Safe Harbour in Cork, Dessner was recently artist-in-residence at Hamburg’s Elbphilharomonie, where he curated and performed in a series of diverse concerts over a whole weekend.

He also co-wrote the score to the Oscar-winning film, The Revenant, for which he was Golden Globe and BAFTA nominated.

On 13 April, London Philharmonic Orchestra and Katia & Marielle Labèque with John Storgårds gave the world première of Dessner’s double piano concerto at London’s Southbank Centre. This will be followed by further premières across Europe including in Dresden with Dresdner Philarmonie (16/17 June), Paris with Orchestre de Paris (17/18 October), in Madrid with Orquesta Nacional de España (30 Nov, 1/2 Dec), and in Istanbul with Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra (20 December).

www.brycedessner

Nelson Goerner

Master of the Romantic repertoire and one of today’s foremost interpreters of Chopin, Debussy and Schumann, Argentine pianist Nelson Goerner recently brought his “interpretations of sublime inspiration” [Daily Telegraph] to London’s Wigmore Hall as part of a rich season of international appearances.  The celebrated Argentinean pianist and award-winning “poet of the piano” already boasts an impressive discography, recording exclusively for Alpha Classics and the Chopin Institute’s own label. Having released Beethoven’s ‘Hammerklavier’ Sonata, one of the greatest works ever written for the piano, he then went on to record the Fauré and Franck violin sonatas with Tedi Papavrami, released to great acclaim in June 2017.

Goerner’s anticipated recording of the Chopin Nocturnes was released in October 2017 (Alpha). He performed a selection of Nocturnes as well as works by Schubert and Brahms at Paris’s Théâtre des Champs Elysées in December 2017, to great acclaim. Goerner returned to the Théâtre des Champs Elysées in February 2018 and performed with Orchestre de Paris on 28 and 29 March 2018. May 2018 sees the great Argentine pianist perform in Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, on tour with l’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande and Jonathan Nott.

“His Kreisleriana is among the finest ever recorded.” Pianist Magazine

www.nelsongoerner.com

Víkingur Ólafsson

Possessing a rare combination of passionate musicality, explosive virtuosity and intellectual curiosity, pianist Víkingur Ólafsson has been heralded “Iceland’s Glenn Gould” by the New York Times (Anthony Tommasini, August 2017). Before lighting up the international scene in 2016, Ólafsson won all the major prizes in his native country, including the Order of the Falcon, four Musician of the Year prizes at the Icelandic Music Awards, and the Icelandic Optimism Prize.

In 2016 Ólafsson signed as an exclusive recording artist to Deutsche Grammophon, with his debut album of Philip Glass’s Etudes in January 2017 a global critical and public success: “breathtakingly brilliant pianist” (Gramophone). Prior to this he founded his own record label, Dirrindí, releasing three albums. Ólafsson’s anticipated next recording for Deutsche Grammophon – featuring the piano works of Bach – will be released in autumn 2018.

A true artist of the 21st century, Ólafsson is lauded for his ability to approach music from a fresh and original angle, whether through interpretation – (“Like Gould, Ólafsson possesses that rare gift of illuminating a familiar work in unexpected ways, revealing hidden depths and drawing out its best qualities”- Gramophone); original programming (“few musicians match Ólafsson for creative flair – BBC Music Magazine) or curating: Ólafsson is currently Artistic Director of three festivals: Vinterfest in Sweden; the award winning Reykjavík Midsummer Music (of which he is also the founder); and the Icelandic Weekend at Liepaja Great Amber Hall in Latvia.

www.vikingurolafsson.com
www.vinterfest.se/english/program-in-english/
www.reykjavikmidsummermusic.com/en

Patricia Kopatchinskaja

Violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja is one of the most thrilling artistic forces on the global classical music scene today. A musician of the highest-level artistry, integrity and originality, she is increasingly in-demand for her vital and dynamic performances.

The coming months see her make several high-profile appearances in the UK. One such highlight will be her appearance as Artist-in-residence at the Aldeburgh Festival 2018, where she will programme the final days in collaboration with the Ojai Music Festival where she is this year’s Music Director. Kopatchinskaja will give three concerts: two with Mahler Chamber Orchestra and one with her musician parents, exploring her Moldovan roots. With MCO she will direct the staged concert Bye Bye Beethoven, centred around the composer’s violin concerto and featuring video and sound designers.

Kopatchinskaja will also perform in London as a soloist, chamber musician, and in concerto with several world-class ensembles, such as Aurora Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, and with Pierre-Laurent Aimard.

She appeared at London’s Wigmore Hall in February 2018, performing works from her new and already highly-acclaimed album on Alpha Classics, DEUX, with another remarkable musician, pianist Polina Leschenko. The album features Sonatas by Poulenc and Bartók, as well as Ravel’s Tzigane.

www.patriciakopatchinskaja

Michael Barenboim

Violinist Michael Barenboim is one of the most talented artists of his generation and has performed with some of the world’s most prestigious orchestras and conductors, including the Wiener Philharmoniker, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Mahler Chamber Orchestra under Pierre Boulez and Münchner Philharmoniker conducted by the late Lorin Maazel. A former student of Pierre Boulez, Barenboim is recognised for his versatile approach to repertoire with a particular focus on 20th Century works.

In January 2017 Barenboim released his first solo recital album, of works by Bach, Bartók and Boulez, to positive reviews across the board. The Strad commented:

“This unusual programme demands the kind of disciplined virtuosity that Michael Barenboim has in spades. His performances, flawlessly reproduced, are utterly persuasive and compelling…….strikingly authoritative accounts…….Barenboim is surely destined for the top”

Barenboim’s next album, of virtuosic works for solo violin from the likes of Berio, Paganini and Sciarrino, was released in early 2018 and is already picking up superb acclaim, including BBC Music Magazine Instrumental CHOICE of the month: “This is visionary programming, breathtakingly realised.”

Born in Paris, Barenboim grew up in Berlin in a multicultural environment, and has been Concertmaster of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra since 2003.

www.michaelbarenboim.com

Colin Currie

The world’s leading classical percussionist has been the driving force behind new percussion music for 20 years. An artist at the peak of his powers, Colin Currie has irreversibly transformed the landscape for percussion soloists, challenging today’s foremost composers to write new works.

In September 2014 Colin took centre stage at London’s Southbank Centre – where he is Artist-in-Residence – for the spectacular and unprecedented four-month percussion festival: Metal, Wood, Skin: The Colin Currie Percussion Festival. At the heart of the festival were major new works commissioned for Currie by Steve Reich, Louis Andriessen and James MacMillan. The result was a landmark event in the percussion world.

Colin continues to give world premiere performances across the globe, both as a soloist and as a member of the Colin Currie Group, which he founded to perform the works of Steve Reich.

In 2018 he launched his own record label, Colin Currie Records, beginning with a recording of Steve Reich’s Drumming, out on 9 March 2018. Distributed by LSO Live and its partners worldwide, Colin Currie Records is a platform for the soloist’s diverse projects, celebrating the extraordinary developments for percussion music over the past century.

www.colincurrie.com
www.colincurriegroup.com
www.southbankcentre.co.uk/colincurrie

Kate Lindsey

Mezzo-soprano Kate Lindsey, the opera star who excels in Mozart and Purcell but who grew up listening to the music of Broadway, released her debut solo album on Alpha Classics in May 2017.

‘Thousands of Miles’ is the alchemical collaboration between Kate and the award-winning jazz pianist, Baptiste Trotignon. Featuring works by Kurt Weill and other emigré composers who left Europe for the US, the album brings together classical music and Broadway, old and new worlds, ‘high’ and ‘low’ culture, opera and jazz.

The album was named one of the top 25 classical recordings of 2017 in the New York Times.

Kate and Baptiste performed ‘Thousands of Miles’ at Paris’s Bouffes du Nord in September 2017, to widespread acclaim. Demonstrating her artistic diversity, Kate continued to thrill Paris throughout autumn 2017 in the lead role in Miranda, Katie Mitchell’s new opera inspired by Purcell, at the Opéra Comique. She returns to Paris in spring 2018 with Les Arts Florissants and William Christie, performing at the Philharmonie. She then appears as Octavian in Der Rosenkavalier at Glyndebourne for its summer 2018 season.

www.katelindsey.com

Chiaroscuro Quartet

The Chiaroscuro Quartet, led by Alina Ibragimova, is making its mark as one of the most exciting young ensembles around today. Performing on gut-stringed instruments, the ensemble has garnered high praise across Europe for its highly virtuosic, risk-taking, thrilling performances, and its commitment to authentic, historical approach. The quartet, which formed in 2005, has recently announced an exciting new recording partnership with BIS Records, beginning with the release of the Haydn string quartets Op.20. Volume two was released in July 2017, to an immediate 5* review in the Guardian (“this is real chamber music”) as well as Recording of the Month in BBC Music Magazine.

Their next release will be an album of Schubert string quartets in November 2018. This year the group gives a number of high profile UK appearances, including at Wigmore Hall, Kings Place and Sage Gateshead.

The group also recently signed to major international management agency, Askonas Holt.

“Already they play with the breadth and authority of veterans” (Herald, Scotland).

“It’s not often you hear period instrument playing of such consummate and seemingly effortless virtuosity”
(BBC Music Magazine ‘Choice’ 5*/5*)

www.chiaroscuroquartet

Johannes Pramsohler

The entrepreneurial Baroque violinist Johannes Pramsohler founded his own chamber ensemble, Ensemble Diderot, in 2008. Over the years the ensemble has become increasingly recognised for its faithful interpretations and world-premiere recordings of little-known Baroque masterpieces.

After four album releases on the label founded by Pramsohler, Audax Records, Ensemble Diderot recently released the world premiere recording of Meister’s Il Giardino del Piacere. The album of Meister’s spectacular trio sonatas completes a project originally started by Reinhard Goebel’s Musica Antiqua Köln. Ensemble Diderot worked closely with the early music legend, Goebel, on the album release.

Widespread critical acclaim for the project already includes Chamber ‘Choice’ of the month in BBC Music Magazine.

Pramsohler’s latest release is an album of French Sonatas, with harpsichordist Philippe Grisvard (“The dream team” – Early Music Review), featuring several world premieres.

www.johannespramsohler
www.ensemblediderot
www.audax-records

Christopher Purves

Baritone Christopher Purves has received much praise for his acclaimed interpretations of a diverse range of roles and repertoire. In the follow-up to the widely celebrated first volume of Handel’s Finest Arias for Bass Voice, Purves returns with a second selection of lesser-known Handel works, including the virtuoso tour de force Nell’ africane selve, which brings the charismatic British baritone’s remarkable technique and vocal range powerfully to the fore.

Recognised for the powerful sense of dramatic conviction he brings to everything he undertakes, Purves brings his great talent for characterisation to Handel’s psychologically complex music.

Handel’s Finest Arias for Bass Voice volume 2 is released on Hyperion Records on 29 June 2018.

A choral scholar at King’s College, Cambridge, Purves went on to become a member of experimental rock group Harvey and the Wallbangers. He has since developed a highly successful career on both the operatic and concert stages, in great demand with leading opera houses and orchestras around the world.

He appears at Glyndebourne in summer 2018 as Golaud in Pelléas & Mélisande, in what is the opera company’s first new production of Pelléas in almost 20 years.

www.christopherpurves