Biz news: Sony and IMG agree to split violin talent
NewsIn an unusual backroom deal, both companies have signed an unknown violinist with no pedigree.
IMG will manage Luka Faulisi from its London office.
Sony Classical will release his debut recital album titled Aria, with the pianist Itamar Golan.
The announcements were coordinated.
Faulisi, the son of an Italian flute-maker, has not entered major competitions or played with leading orchestras.
He studied with Boris Belkin and Pavel Berman and is endorsed by the flautist Emmanuel Pahud as having ‘great instrumental abilities and strong musical expression.’
He may yet surprise us, but the initial moves are raising a few eyebrows.
He will be managed at IMG by Elena Kostova and Juliette Vix.
Perfect merchandise for todays society. Hope he plays as well as his demeanour.
I thought we were supposed to disdain competitions and competition winners now. What changed?
He has not played with major orchestras yet. OK, but I don’t know that Joseph Hassid had done much of that before he made his 78s for HMV. Plus the major orchestras might be saying “no solos for you — you haven’t made any records yet.”
So, he has 1) a strong family connection with the music world, which never hurts, and 2) has studied with two splendid violinists, artists who are not in the class of teachers who work their pupils through Suzuki Books and dream of the day when one will be good enough to get past Book 4.
Being a pupil of Belkin and Berman is no pedigree? Really, none?
I suspect he’ll prove up to it.
Nowadays, in the classical business, it seem to be all about contacts! The reason, one has not seen him in a major violin competition is probably that he did not qualify as a candidate. But I’m sure, thats not a serious problem for Sony’s audioengineers
Competitions = pedigree? Really???
The notable thing is he has a superb pianist accompanying him. I heard Itamar Golan accompany Vengerov at the Barbican some years ago and the piano was outstanding as well as Vengerov’s playing, of course. Luka Faulisi must be good, with or without competitions, for Golan to bring out a recording with him.
Well, that is exactely what is intended- that uninformed people thinks “the totally unknown XY must be good, with or without competitions, for this famous pianist to bring out a recording with him”. The marketing departement is delighted when potential customers are so easily convinced!
Connections…
Judging from his video clips an obvious talent which can only grow. Good luck to him – and his also talented accompanist sister, they deserve recognition!