How can young musicians get a shot at landing seats with the world's leading orchestras? The ARD International Music Competition is a good starting point. This hour, we listen in at the most recent competition.
It's perhaps no surprise that Germany hosts one of the world's most prestigious music competitions, given the country's rich musical traditions and world-renowned training academies for performers. Each year, the ARD International Music Competition invites top young musicians to Munich for a chance at making names for themselves.
The 2012 edition of the contest drew in a record number of competitors in the clarinet category - with 269 performers in total. And the result of all that competition, as we'll find out, came as a bit of a surprise.
This hour, we'll hear two of the prize-winning clarinetists: Annelien Van Wauwe from Belgium and Stojan Krkuleski from Serbia. Both are passionate about their instrument, which Krkuleski likens to the human voice, noting that, "Nobody has the same sound, It's a very personal instrument."
Both Van Wauwe and Krkuleski deliver impressive performances on technically demanding repertory works by Mozart and Carl Nielsen.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Clarinet Concerto in A Major, K. 622
Annelien Van Wauwe, clarinet
Munich Chamber Orchestra
Carl Nielsen (1865-1931)
Clarinet Concerto, op. 57
Stojan Krkuleski, clarinet
Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Graeme Jenkins
Recorded by Radio Bavaria (BR) in the Hercules Hall and in the Prince Regent Theater, Munich on September 20-21, 2012
Rebroadcasting rights: One broadcast before March 17, 2014
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