BBC names New-Gen artists
NewsThe next six young artists to benefit from the BBC’s finishing school are:
Baritone James Atkinson (UK)
Leeds-winning Pianist Alim Beisembayev (Kazakhstan, pictured)
Georgian pianist Giorgi Gigashvili
Mezzo-soprano Niamh O’Sullivan (Eire)
Soprano Johanna Wallroth (Sweden)
Chaos Quartet (EU) and
UK collaborative pianist Michael Pandya.
Not a very imaginative choice. Am sure they are all super talented but, with the exception of the quartet, it’s just singers and pianists. Missed opportunity here.
It’s only British people who refer to it as Eire. Just call it Republic of Ireland
‘Collaborative pianist’ – that’s a new one to me. Apparently means coach/accompanist?
Giorgi Gigashvili has great potencial
I really have a problem with this Scheme. Firstly, as I understand it, publicly-advertised auditions are not held – but prime publicly-funded concert and recording opportunities are being disbursed. Artists seem to be selected by observation/recommendation only. Somebody please correct me, if I am wrong about this.
The reason I understand this is because several years ago, a colleague rang up very excitedly to tell me that she had used her network to get someone from the US a personal audition with a very senior administrator of the Scheme. That resulted in the artist in question being offered a place. I was shocked, and looked online at the time, but could find no evidence of publicly-advertised auditions. I understand that auditions may not be a legal requirement, but I think that they are a moral requirement, bearing in mind how competitive music is for the young. It would be a kindness to gather in some CVs in order to see who else is out there – including woodwind and brass players, who have not made the cut for this cohort, it would appear. Three singers, a string quartet and clutch of pianists? Wow!
Secondly, as Georgia, Kazakhstan and the EU (including Sweden & the Irish Republic) don’t pay the BBC licence fee, I fail to see why so many of their citizens should be promoted at the expense of young British artists who are also good enough to be showcased at this level.
At the very least, a 50-50 balance between British & non-British would be an improvement.
I hope that nobody will be so crass as to state that British musicians aren’t good enough. I can think of some fantastic British soloists – including international gold medallists – who deserve a place on this scheme. One of these happens to be a superb saxophonist.
If any of the selected artists above who are foreign nationals also happen to have British nationality, that should be made clear.
I am NOT impressed with the set-up, here: especially if I am right about the lack of auditions. Far more transparency – and far less patronage – is needed.
In the interests of the full transparency for which I am lobbying, I comment under my full name. I couldn’t care less, if the powers that be at the BBC – or this agent or that – don’t like what I have said. Have a nice day, y’all!