After the current music, it is the turn of the world of classical music to deliver its Victories. The ceremony, broadcast live on France 3 and France Musique, is being held this Wednesday March 9 at 9 p.m. at the Grand Théâtre de Provence. Stéphane Bern will host an evening punctuated by the performances of the guest artists, but also and above all by those of the artists in competition. What will we see? Who are the guest stars? Who are the nominated musicians? Franceinfo summarizes what you need to know.
How is the ceremony?
Stéphane Bern presents a Victory ceremony which aims to be “totally redesigned and revitalized”, in a contemporary setting made of modular screens. Thus, behind the scenes, Clément Rochefort, producer of the program Génération France Musique, will animate his “Bar de France Musique” for a relaxed conversation with the artists. On the musical side, the evening is cperformed with the Nice Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Ariane Matiakh. In addition, the French conductor comes from a family originally from Ukraine and will bring her musical support this evening to the people scarred by the war.
Another novelty, an opening number devoted to dance has been entrusted to Mehdi Kerkouche. Coming from hip-hop, but very marked by classical music, the choreographer will propose a piece with his EMKA Dance Project and the students of the Marseille Ballet School of Dance and as guest stars Germain Louvet, Étoile dancer of the Opera of Paris and Chloé Lopes Gomes the soloist of the Ballet du Rhin.
Who are the guest artists?
The evening alternates the performances of the named artists and those of the guests, including the violinist Renaud Capuçon, the German pianist of Japanese origin Alice Sara Ott, the baritone Alexandre Duhamel and the trumpeter Lucienne Renaudin-Vary (Victoire de la Révélation instrumentale in 2016 ). Two ensembles are also invited: Talents et Violon’celles by Raphaël Pidoux and the baroque formation from Aix, Café Zimmerman. for the third time at the Victoires Classiques. Finally, a local child, actor Daniel Auteuil, will also be present to present a prize. Because the common thread of the evening remains the awarding of Victories.
Who are the nominees in the queen categories?
Michael Spyres, Kaija Saariaho, Sabine Devieilhe, Thierry Escaich, Barbara Hannigan, Ludovic Tézier… The “queen” categories of Victories – those of confirmed artists – concentrate among the biggest names in classical and opera. On the instrumental side, the Argentinian Sol Gabetta, an international figure of the cello, rubs shoulders with the baroque violinist Théotime Langlois de Swarte, and another cellist, Emmanuelle Bertrand, known in particular for her contemporary commitment.
Among the three opera stars competing in the lyrical category, the essential coloratura Sabine Devieilhe is on the front of the stage, between the Hamlet by Ambroise Thomas which has just been completed at the Opéra Comique and a Giulio Cesare in Egitto in May at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées.
Another lyrical star, the American Michael Spyres is competing in the Recording category with his hit disc BariTenorat the same time as the French composer (already awarded four times at the Victoires) Thierry Escaich for screams and the baroque Thomas Dunford and Théotime Langlois de Swarte for The mad lover.
Finally, in the Composer category, we have the pleasure of finding in particular the Finnish resident in France Kaija Saariaho, figurehead of contemporary composition, who competes with opera Innocence.
Instrumental soloist nominees
. Emmanuelle Bertrand, cello
. Sol Gabetta, cello
. Théotime Langlois de Swarte, baroque violin
The nominated Opera singers
. Sabine Devieilhe, soprano
. Barbara Hannigan, soprano
. Ludovic Tezier, baritone
The appointed Composers
. Benoit Menut – Une Odyssée, for vocal ensemble taking percussion, Commissioned by the Musicatreize ensemble (creation / France)
. Alex Nantes – Sinfonia del cuerpo de luz (creation / France)
. Kaija Saariaho – Innocenceopera (creation / France)
Registration
. BariTenorMichael Spyres – Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra, Marko Letonja – Erato Warner Classics
. screamsThierry Escaich – Choir and master of Radio France, Philharmonic Orchestra of Radio France, Soloists of the National Orchestra of France, Mikko Frank – Radio France
. The mad loverThomas Dunford & Théotime Langlois de Swarte – Harmonia Mundi
Who are the nominees in the Revelations categories?
Focused above all on transmission, the Classical Victory ceremony gives them all its attention: they are the stars of tomorrow, these young talents who find in the Revelations category a great springboard for their future careers. In the Instrumental Soloist Revelation category, pianist Jérémie Moreau (brother of star cellist Edgar and violinists Raphaëlle and David with whom he has just signed a record), from the prestigious Barenboim-Said Academy in Berlin, is in the running.
Facing him, the violinist Manon Galy, from the Philippe Jaroussky Academy, and the violist (and choirmaster and conductor) Valentin Tournet, active in early and baroque music, but also in contemporary music.
The Lyrical Artist Revelation category is, like last year, entirely female, opposing a soprano and two mezzos.
The soprano is Sarah Aristidou, a Franco-Cypriot who can already be proud of collaborations with Daniel Barenboim, Simon Rattle and Emmanuel Pahud.
Audiences at Les Victoires will also discover French mezzo-sopranos Eugénie Joneau and Marie-Andrée Bouchard-Lesieur, the latter of whom studied at the Paris Opera Academy.
New: this year, in addition to the lyrical artist and instrumental soloist revelations, there is the category Conductor Revelation, which rewards the direction of young talents. During the evening, the nominees will conduct the Nice Philharmonic Orchestra and will then be decided by the Academy of voters. The candidates all already have serious baggage.
Talent of ADAMI in 2014, Pierre Dumoussaud specialized in opera direction, winner of the first International Competition of Opera Conductors organized by the Royal Opera of Wallonia in 2017. Based in London, Stéphanie Childress is a Franco-British chef, graduated from Cambridge. Chloé Dufresne, finally, traced her path crowned with a special mention during the prestigious Competition for young conductors in Besançon last September.
The named Revelation instrumental soloist
. Manon Galy, violin
. Jeremie Moreau, piano
. Valentin Tournet, viola da gamba
The named Revelation lyrical artist
. Sarah Aristidou, soprano
. Marie-Andrée Bouchard-Lesieur
. Eugenie Joneau, mezzo-soprano
The appointed Revelation conductor
. Stephanie Childress
. Chloe Dufresne
. Pierre Dumoussaud