The 30th Victoires de la Musique Classique celebrated, on Wednesday in Dijon, the “Victoires generation”, awarding the mezzo-soprano Marina Viotti the title of lyrical artist of the year and the pianist Bertrand Chamayou that of instrumental soloist. Chef Raphaël Pichon was rewarded for the best recording.
“Music has no borders”said Franco-Swiss Marina Viotti on receiving her lyrical artist of the year trophy: “It means a lot to me the recognition of my country”, she also expressed. It is certainly one of the highlights of the 30th Victories for Classical Music ceremony, broadcast live from the Dijon Auditorium on March 1 on France 3 and France Musique.
The coronation of Bertrand Chamayou
His laughter is frank, but the emotion quickly prevails. “I am so touched, this award is very special to me”. The mezzo-soprano who began opera singing in Vienna in 2011, quickly established herself on the international scene in demanding roles, such as Rosina (The Barber of Seville) at the Bolshoi and the Rhine Opera, La Perrichole at the Theater des Champs-Elysées, Alceste at the Opéra de Rome… This season she will take her first steps at the Opéra Bastille in the guise of Stéphano in Romeo and Juliet by Gounod. Facing the public of Victories, this Wednesday, Marina Viotti interpreted, very inhabited, the magnificent air of Samson and Delilah by Saint-Saens, My heart opens to your voice.
The other highly anticipated trophy was that of instrumental soloist of the year, awarded to Bertrand Chamayou who disputed it with star violinist Nemanja Radulovic and violist da gamba Lucile Boulanger. “It is an immense happiness after the four Victories already received”, he said, very moved. The multiple pianist with a vast repertoire, both chamber musician and great defender of contemporary music, remains a coveted guest of the illustrious festivals of Lucerne, Edinburgh, Salzburg and La Roque d’Anthéron, or even the Mostly Mozart in New York, the Beethovenfest Bonn and the Klavier-Festival Ruhr.
Expected revelations
The Recordings category was subject to public voting this year, a novelty for this 30th edition. We found some very great classical figures there: Bertrand Chamayou – him again -, the pianist Alexandre Kantorow and the conductor Raphaël Pichon. It was the latter who won the Victory, with his Pygmalion ensemble for the recording of the Passion according to Saint-Mathieu by Bach (Harmonia Mundi). “It’s a work that can change lives”said Raphaël Pichon, saluting the faculty of Bach “to learn to listen”. “It’s a music that says the unique in a changing world”, he concluded. Finally, Fabien Waksman received the composer trophy for his work L’Île du temps, concerto for accordion and symphony orchestra.
As for the Revelations, always eagerly awaited, the soprano Alexandra Marcellier who remarkably performed an air ofIdomenee of Mozart during the evening, was crowned in the lyrical artist category, Lucie Leguay, ex-aequo with Victor Jacob, was crowned as conductor, and cellist Aurélien Pascal as instrumental soloist. The last two have also brought to life, together with the orchestra, a very beautiful musical moment interpreting a work by Max Bruch, Kol Nidreia Jewish prayer of great delicacy, almost whispered by Victor Jacob’s cello.
Strong artistic moments
The Victory Ceremony, presented by Stéphane Bern (with a behind-the-scenes intervention by the journalist from France Musique Clement Rochefort) and set to music by the Dijon Bourgogne Orchestra conducted by the great conductor Débora Waldman, was thus peppered with strong artistic moments. Starting with the opening dance performance, signed by Mehdi Kerkouche, from hip-hop, but very marked by the classic. On the music of Gallant Indies de Rameau, the choreographer has placed his dancers throughout the vast spaces of the Dijon Opera, halls, corridors, elevators, for wanderings and movements that are both dynamic and highly poetic.
On the Auditorium stage, even before the start of the ceremony, the star countertenor Jakub Józef Orliński joined the dancers not to sing, but for a breakdance number, as he usually does. This time the music was by Vivaldi, played by the Matheus ensemble, conducted by Jean-Christophe Spinosi. Later, he interpreted with them a moving (and violent) passage from the opera The Olympiad by Vivaldi. We will not forget Bertrand Chamayou’s piano performances of great virtuosity – la Toccata du Tomb of Couperin by Ravel – and by Alexandre Kantorow – the astonishing tarantella from the 2nd Concerto by Saint-Saëns – as well as an original re-reading of Bach on the accordion by Théo Gould, who was nominated in the Instrumental Soloist Revelation category. His transcription of Concerto for harpsichord and orchestra in D minor (first movement) by Bach expressed all the vivacity of the harpsichord while offering the instrumental richness of the accordion.
Finally, another surprise offered by the Victoires Classiques, the interpretation by the soprano Faustine de Monès with the Quatuor Ardeo, of a contemporary piece by the Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho, The soprano moved the audience with her bewitching high notes in dialogue with the low notes of the string quartet.
Complete List of Victories
Instrumental Soloist Victory: Bertrand Chamayou, piano
Victory Opera singer : Marina Viotti, mezzo-soprano
Victory Composers: Fabien Waksman- L’île du temps, concerto for accordion and symphony orchestra (CD Warner Classics I have two loves)
Victory Record: Matthäus-PassionJohann-Sebastien Bach -Pygmalion, Raphaël Pichon, S. Devieilhe, L. Richardot S. Degout – Harmonia Mundi
Victory Revelation instrumental soloist : Aurélien Pascal, cello
Victory Revelation opera singer : Alexandra Marcellier, soprano
Victory Revelation Conductor : ex-aequo Victor Jacob and Lucie Leguay