Performance Highlights
Performance is the essential driving force behind every aspect of Academy life, and the Academy’s termly events brochure reads like a ‘Who’s Who’ of music. In the last two years alone, Academy students have worked in concert, workshop and masterclass with high-profile international artists including:
Conductors and instrumentalists Pierre-Laurent Aimard, Semyon Bychkov, Sir Colin Davis, Sir Mark Elder, Leon Fleisher, Edward Gardner, Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Heinz Holliger, the late Sir Charles Mackerras, Trevor Pinnock, Sir Simon Rattle, Leif Segerstam, Yan Pascal Tortelier, Mitsuko Uchida, Maxim Vengerov and David Zinman;
Singers Sir Thomas Allen, Barbara Bonney, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Angelika Kirchschlager, Dame Felicity Lott and the late Robert Tear;
Composers George Benjamin, Pierre Boulez, Sir Harrison Birtwistle, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies and Stephen Sondheim;
Jazz artists Django Bates, Dave Douglas, Peter Erskine and Norma Winstone;
And directors John Copley, John Cox and David Pountney.
A few of the exceptionally numerous and varied highlights from recent years include:
The world première production at the Academy of Sir Peter Maxwell Davies’ and David Pountney’s Kommilitonen!, commissioned by the Academy and The Juilliard School, attracted critical acclaim (watch our documentary, featuring exclusive clips, here). In our ongoing collaborations with Juilliard, students work together in chamber music, orchestral and contemporary music both in London and New York: further exciting projects are being planned for 2012.
Sir Simon Rattle worked with the Academy’s Concert Orchestra on Bruckner’s Ninth Symphony in March 2011.
New music is integral to the Academy’s work. Recent events have included a Frank Zappa celebration and CD recording, George Benjamin’s 50th birthday concert with London Sinfonietta, Boulez with Susanna Mälkki at the Southbank Centre, and UK premières of major works by Gérard Grisey and Luigi Nono.
As well as our own vibrant series of events at the Academy’s home in central London, our students enjoy regular performance opportunities at prestigious venues including Wigmore Hall, Southbank Centre, Royal Albert Hall, Kings Place, Ronnie Scott’s and the 606 Club. Our ensembles also perform at festivals around the UK and further afield.
Director of Artistic Planning: Nicola Mutton BA, Hon ARAM
Concerts department
