Review: York Early Music International Young Artists Competition
If the jury took an inordinate time to decide the winner of the competition that has launched the famous names in Early Music, they could simply have taken advice from the audience who gave their prize to the Swiss-based group, Grand Desir, the competition's most exceptionally gifted ensemble.
It is a female trio that has the rare and indefinable quality to set them apart from the other estimable finalists, the mezzo voice of Anne-Marieke Evers creating the most hauntingly beautiful quiet moments in the group of three anonymous works
composed around 1500.
She had an accompaniment from two outstanding musicians who played four very different instruments with equal artistry, at times enjoying a freedom of expression that added a magical quality, the whole adding up to musical perfection.
The jury chose another ensemble from Switzerland, Ensemble Meridiana who gave safe and well-shaped accounts of music by Telemann, Bach and Fasch, their viola da gamba, Tore Eketorp, meriting a special prize as the most outstanding instrumentalist.
Among the other finalists, the violinist, Joan Plana, displayed finger-knotting virtuosity in 17th century Italian sonatas as part of the American entry, Concitato Ensemble, The Marian Consort from the UK, a promising vocal ensemble, really needing more work on internal balance.
National Centre for Early Music
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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