Rising Stars
Three to look out for…
Aileen Sweeney Composer and accordionist
Born: Glasgow, UK
Career highlight: Writing my first large orchestral piece, Above the Stars, for the London Philharmonic Orchestra. I spent six months on it, so hearing it come together, played amazingly, was very emotional. It was made even more special when it won an award at The Scottish Awards for New Music.
Musical hero: I admire artists who can create music free of genre and have lots of fun within it. Anna Meredith is someone whose attitude to music-making is infectious.
Dream concert: I’d love to do an unusual cross-genre project: an opera with folk singers/musicians or a ballet with a rock band. I’ll keep my fingers crossed!
George Xiaoyuan Fu Pianist and composer
Born: Washington DC, US
Career highlight: In 2016 at Tanglewood, I was the piano soloist in Messiaen’s Turangalîla-Symphonie. My most joyous musical memory, the piece also holds special significance for me: I met my wife around then, and we bonded over our love for Messiaen’s music.
Musical hero: All my music teachers, but especially Meng-Chieh Liu, my first teacher after high school. Plus Sviatoslav Richter, for his singular pianism.
Dream concert: A concert with two Steinway D pianos: one for Schubert’s last piano sonata; the second fully prepared for John Cage’s Sonatas and Interludes.
Johannes Moore Baritone
Born: Herefordshire, UK
Career highlight: The Vaughan Williams Sir John in Love project with British Youth Opera has been amazing: running around the Holland Park stage in 30 degree heat in a fat suit was a pretty fun challenge!
Musical heroes: My first piano teacher, Rhiannon, who never let me slack off practice; my singing teacher, Mark, a never-ending fount of knowledge; baritones Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, whose recordings are my first stop, and Ludovic Tézier for the most amazing voice I’ve ever heard live.
Dream concert: Britten’s Billy Budd at Covent Garden, with Philip Langridge as Captain Vere, John Tomlinson as Claggart.