2024 ICMA Winners
February 01, 2024The Jury of the International Classical Music Awards (ICMA) announced the Awards for 2024.
Special Achievement Awards were granted to conductor Sylvain Cambreling; to the Capriccio label for its #Bruckner2024 The Complete Versions Edition; and to film director Bruno Monsaingeon.
To date, Sylvain Cambreling has conducted some 120 operas and 1,000 orchestral works, a singular achievement. The jury described him as “an exceptional conductor because of the immensity of his repertoire. Whatever scores he conducts, he brings to them the highest standards.” This 10-disc Anniversary Edition was released on SWR Classic to mark the occasion of Cambreling’s 75th birthday in 2023.
When Sylvain Cambreling took up his position at the Südwestrundfunk broadcasting corporation in 1999, he knew only too well that he was the successor to charismatic colleagues such as Hans Rosbaud, Ernest Bour and Michael Gielen, and did not have to be told that the orchestra’s tradition was not geared towards providing wellness experiences for hedonistic listeners. He had been engaged because his programmes were daring, informative, suggestive, epoch-spanning, always a bit brushed the wrong way and disconcerting, reflecting his approach to music as ‘intellectually stimulating material’ that declines to follow the well-beaten tracks of programming. He met with an orchestra that was young, efficient and enthusiastic, and whose members were eager to fulfil the task the broadcasting corporation had set them, namely to demonstrate a strong commitment to new music.
The Capriccio label was also recognised for its monumental cycle of the complete Bruckner Symphonies (in all versions) featuring conductor Markus Poschner, Bruckner Orchestra Linz and the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra. 2024 marks the 200th anniversary of Bruckner’s birth and this project comprises recordings of all versions of Bruckner’s symphonies, including all the alternative versions that are included in the new, comprehensive and authoritative Anton Bruckner Gesamtausgabe. The jury stated: ‘This complete edition of Bruckner’s symphonies is an exceptional project because it questions our listening habits and musical tradition. It combines musicological research with artistic excellence, while bringing together Austria’s leading musical institutions. In short, the sound of Bruckner, yet innovative too.’
Markus Poschner is the musical director throughout the project, making this the first time that one conductor has been on the podium for all nineteen versions of the symphonies. For more details, please visit the mini-site https://lnk.to/Bruckner2024.
RECENT RELEASES
‘Poschner is once again convincing with his wide-ranging dynamics, tonal refinement, and well-considered phrasing.’ – Pizzicato ★★★★
‘One of the most successful so far in Poschner’s progress through the various versions of Bruckner’s symphonies.’ – MusicWeb International
Another Special Achievement Award went to Bruno Monsaingeon, the French filmmaker and violinist, for his work in bringing classical music to the screen. The jury stated: ‘All his films and documentaries are sources of inspiration, allowing us to get up close and personal with so many great musicians. Bruno Monsaingeon’s camera makes us vibrate like never before to the rhythm of music.’ His documentary The Indomitable Bow is a unique portrait of Mstislav Rostropovich that includes unreleased documents, archive films, interviews and concert performances.
The Indomitable Bow is a unique portrait of Mstislav Rostropovich, a formidable personality as well as a complex, deeply political musician constantly engaged in a whirlwid of activities. Including unreleased documents, archive films, interviews and concert performances from this key figure of the 20th century, The Indomitable Bow is a remarkable testimony of the life and work of the legendary ‘Slava’.
Ondine’s Schubert piano trio album featuring Lars Vogt, Christian Tetzlaff and Tanja Tetzlaff has won the award for Best Chamber Music Recording of the year in the International Classical Music Awards (ICMA).
For the full list of winners, please visit the ICMA website. The awards ceremony and gala concert will be held on 12 April 2024 at the Palau de la Musica in Valencia.