While attending the inauguration of the Liszt Academy’s concert center in Budapest on te 22^nd of October, Jury members Bernadette Beyne (Crescendo), Remy Franck (Pizzicato) and Pierre-Jean Tribot (ResMusica) had the opportunity to meet David Hurwitz from ClassicsToday.com, the founder and president of the Cannes Classical Awards. This jury later became – without Mr. Hurwitz – the Midem Classical Awards and subsequently the ICMA Jury. From the initial members of the Cannes Classical Awards Jury a few survived all the forms our Jury has taken: Crescendo, Gramofon, Musica, Pizzicato and Scherzo.

The ICMA Jury was well represented at the inauguration of the Liszt Academy’s  new concert center in Budapest on the 22^nd October. Jury members Bernadette Beyne (Crescendo). Aarno Cronvall (Classic Radio), Remy Franck (Pizzicato) and Pierre-Jean Tribot (ResMusica) attended the International press conference and the Grand Opening Gala. With the conclusion of reconstruction work on the palace of music on Liszt Square, which reopened in all its original glory, the institution of the Academy is also renewed. Read More →

Violinist Rachel Kolly d’Alba, ICMA winner in 2012, pianist Christian Chamorel, and the ‘Spektral Quartet’ from Chicago ask for support. They plan a CD under the title ‘Fin de siècle’ with Franck’s Sonata for violin and piano and the monumental Concerto for violin, piano and string quartet by Chausson. Read More →

One of the most distinguished pianists, Martha Argerich, recently wrote very supportive message about the winner of ICMA’s ‘Young Artist of the Year 2013’, pianist Alessandro Mazzamuto from Sicily: « Alessandro Mazzamuto is an outstanding and marvelous musician. He is one of the most extraordinary pianists I have had the joy to hear. I first heard him playing in Bolzano and I invited him to perform in my festival in Lugano. His technique is absolutely extraordinary and brilliant. His music making is just wonderful! He played one of the greatest recitals I have recently heard.
I will give him all my support and I wish him a wonderful career! »

Zermatt Festival takes place every year at the end of summer in the famous Swiss alpine city of Zermatt. The festival, organized by and around the Scharoun Ensemble (winner of an ICMA trophy in 2012 in the category ‘Chamber music’), features soloists of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. The Scharoun Ensemble leads an academy for young professionals who play with the ensemble in an orchestra, in chamber ensembles and for a few exclusive concerts. Read More →

Today, ICMA Jury member ‘Radio 100.7’, a public-service radio station in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, celebrates the 20^th anniversary of its first broadcast, on September 19, 1993. Broadcasting in the Luxembourgish language, the station’s principal focus is on culture and information, although entertainment – in the form of a relatively wide spectrum of music, with the accent on classical – also features prominently. Read More →

No award for only weak new productions, honors for David Oistrach in the historical category and a Special Award for the Concertgebouw’s DVD box with the Mahler Symphonies conducted by several conductors. This is the result of the Mahler Awards 2013 in Toblach (Dobbiaco, Italy). Read More →

In his IRCAM office in Paris, French composer and conductor Pierre Boulez received the ICMA trophy for the CD set ‘Ballets Russes’ on Melodiya. In this recording Boulez is conducting the Moscow Conservatory Orchestra in Stravinsky’s ‘Petrouchka’. The set is the 2013 winner in the category ‘Historical Recordings’. Read More →

ICMA’s ‘Label of the Year 2013’ Audite celebrated it’s 40th anniversary yesterday in Berlin. With music performed by Audite artists ‘Mandelring Quartett’ and ‘Klavierduo Bard’ the official celebration consisted essentially in the presentation of several upcoming birthday editions confirming the label’s outstanding artistic achievement. Read More →