A month of Maestros at the Academy

For two centuries the Academy has welcomed renowned artists from across the globe to share their knowledge and expertise and this tradition has continued in 2023. Our spring term began with a visit from Music Director of the London Symphony Orchestra (and Academy alum), Sir Simon Rattle, who led an in-depth workshop on Haydn’s Symphony No. 88 with our students. Next, we welcomed back esteemed conductor and soprano Barbara Hannigan, who recently led Academy and Julliard School students in a concert of Stravinsky, Delage and Knussen. This term Hannigan worked with Academy and Juilliard students on an all-Stravinsky recording, which will be released later this year on Linn Records. Watch the ensemble recording Stravinsky’s Ragtime here.

The Academy’s Klemperer Chair of Conducting, Semyon Bychkov, regularly conducts the Academy Symphony Orchestra, and most recently led them in Mahler’s Third Symphony for our Bicentenary celebrations. In January, Bychkov and our students turned to Dvořák’s Seventh Symphony, which was performed to a sell-out audience at the Duke’s Hall and available to watch here.

Finally, at the end of the month we were joined by Music Director of Bach Collegium Japan, Masaaki Suzuki, who led an organ masterclass, before conducting the Academy Baroque Soloists and Bach Consort in the latest instalment in our Bach in Leipzig Series. For the rehearsals and concert, we were also joined by Émilie Planche, a student from the Paris Conservatoire as part of our Sir Elton John Global Exchange Programme.