The stars of classical music’s future align at The Glasshouse in a bumper weekend celebrating the next generation set to wow audiences
European Concert Hall Organisation (ECHO) Rising Stars, showcase at The Glasshouse, 25 January 2025
https://www.concerthallorganisation.eu/organisation
Tertis & Aronowitz International Viola Competition, the recently merged Lionel Tertis and Cecil Aronowitz prizes, 19-25 January 2025
https://tertisaronowitzviolacompetitions.org.uk
Tickets on sale Saturday 27 September, 12noon
In January next year, two of the major events identifying and celebrating the next big things in classical music will come together in an explosion of talent at The Glasshouse International Centre for Music in Gateshead. Coinciding with the 80th anniversary of Bartok’s death the Tertis and Aronowitz Viola Competitions and ECHO Rising Stars will take place in the North East between 19 and 25 January.
Each year, the European Concert Hall Organisation (ECHO) selects a group of exceptional young artists to become its Rising Stars. These outstanding performers are supported to develop their careers in a whole range of ways, including the fantastic opportunity to tour the major concert halls of Europe.
The ECHO Rising Stars programme has shaped the musical careers of many of today’s world-class artists, and for audiences it is an unrivalled opportunity to hear the classical stars of the future. Next year, four of these incredible musicians will arrive in the North East for a day of mini concerts and Q&As, compered by bassoonist and BBC Radio 3 presenter, Linton Stephens. Audiences have the opportunity to be among the first to hear some of these bright stars of music’s future.
Cellist Benjamin Kruithof is accompanied by pianist Zhora Sargsyan piano; trumpeter Matilda Lloyd is accompanied by pianist Kunal Lahiry; clarinetist Carlos Ferreira is accompanied by pianist Pedro Emanuel Pereira; and violist Sào Soulez Larivière is accompanied by percussionist Christoph Sietzen (a Rising Star himself in 2017/18).
The Glasshouse was involved in the nomination process alongside its partner concert halls in ECHO.
Each Rising Star will perform a new commission, and Carlos Ferreira performs a new work by Lanqin Ding co-commissioned by The Glasshouse and Casa da Música in Porto.
Previous ECHO Rising Stars have included those now establishing themselves as household names, including Jess Gillam, Sean Shibe, Juliette Bausor and Isata Kanneh-Mason.
In the same week, the Tertis and Aronowitz Viola Competitions take place at The Glasshouse for the first time, with the Royal Northern Sinfonia working with each of the finalists. Members of the public can secure tickets to all the competition rounds and finals, following each of the competitors all the way through to the winner being declared. There is also a “360 Degree Festival” running alongside the competition with a comprehensive series of talks, masterclasses, workshops and opportunities to play for students, scholars, professionals, amateurs, and anyone who loves the viola.
James Thomas, Director of Classical Music at The Glasshouse, said: “The Glasshouse International Centre for Music is incredibly proud to be working with these amazing partners and is a fitting home for both events given our work to support talent development and emerging artists.”
Dr Louise Lansdown, Executive Artistic Director of the Tertis and Aronowitz International Viola Competitions, said: “This seismic hommage to the viola at the Glasshouse International Centre for Music is a fitting tribute and celebration of the incredible British viola legacy of Lionel Tertis and Cecil Aronowitz. Just a few miles from Tertis’s birthplace in Hartlepool the Tertis and Aronowitz International Viola Competitions have found their new home in Gateshead. With some of the biggest artists in the business, Nobuko Imai, Timothy Ridout the competitions will welcome over 60 competitors and juries from across the globe. Don’t miss out. Come and join us!”
ENDS/
Media contact: Susie Gray, Premier, Susie.gray@premiercomms.com 07834 073795
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Notes to editors:
About The Glasshouse International Centre for Music
The Glasshouse International Centre for Music is a home for live music lovers.
It’s a place where you can hear rock legends or pop icons on the same night as folk trios or string quartets. Where new musicians are nurtured and showcased on the same stages as platinum-selling performers. And where youth choirs and tambourine-shaking toddlers practise in the same spaces as its acclaimed orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia.
Because as an international centre for music they’re focused on creating and celebrating outstanding music – whether that’s unearthing or growing talent from the region or bringing the world’s best artists to their stages. And as a charity they’re focused on making sure all of that is available to anyone – no matter where you’re from, how old you are, how much money you have, or what challenges you face.
Which is why every year more than 2 million people are able to join for top-notch gigs, concerts, and classes – in their venue at Gateshead Quays, out in communities across the North East, and through livestreamed performances and digital lessons.
Whether you’re making it up or taking it in, you’ll find music lives and grows there.
More about The Glasshouse International Centre for Music
- From global stars to artists starting out, The Glasshouse has hosted 10,022 performances, totalling 4.7m tickets. To have seen every performance would have meant seeing one show every day for 27 years.
- It’s hosted over 220,000 music lessons for North East folk. The region’s young people have learnt to play, sing or produce with us, on over 1.7m occasions.
- Royal Northern Sinfonia perform at The Glasshouse, tour the region, and have played to international audiences on four continents, with livestreams reaching people across five.
- Like stepping stones, artists like Ward Thomas have worked their way from their free stages to selling out its big hall and getting global recognition.
- The Glasshouse regularly opens its doors to a wide range of conferences and events. Since 2004, they’ve welcome over 400,000 delegates from the likes of Greggs, NHS and British Engines, and many, many more.
- The charity is one of Gateshead’s biggest employers, and so far it’s generated £500m of economic value to the region.
- The charity has been the proud guardians of The Glasshouse for almost 20 years, safeguarding it when live music was put on hold during the pandemic.
- The centre has 630 panes of glass and stands 40m tall.
European Concert Hall Organisation (ECHO) Rising Stars, showcase at The Glasshouse, 25 January 2025
https://www.concerthallorganisation.eu/organisation
Tertis and Aronowitz International Viola Competitions, the recently merged Lionel Tertis and Cecil Aronowitz prizes, 19-25 January 2025
https://tertisaronowitzviolacompetitions.org.uk