One
of the most important features of this series is the attention
and respect it receives from the national press. In a city
such as London, vibrant with musical life, it is quite an
achievement to consistently attract leading critics and magazine
writers to review and profile relatively unknown artists.
For any young musician, a debut
in a major city such as London is a memorable and hugely significant
event. I will always consider my first appearance at the Wallace
Collection to be an important step in my career and am so
happy to be able to show my appreciation on this, the Springboard
Concerts Trust’s 10th anniversary.
The young British pianist, Ashley Wass, is recognised as one
of the rising stars of his generation. After winning First prize
at the World Piano Competition, he became only the second British
pianist in 20 years to reach the final of the Leeds Piano Competition.
His promise has been further recognised by the BBC, who selected
him to be a New Generations Artist. In 2002 he was made an Associate
of the Royal Academy of Music.
Wass
has given recitals at many of the world’s major venues
and has appeared as soloist with numerous leading orchestras
throughout Europe and Asia, including the BBC Symphony, BBC
Philharmonic, BBC Scottish Symphony, BBC NOW, BBC Concert,
Philharmonia, City of Birmingham Symphony, London Mozart Players,
Vienna Chamber, Orchestre National de Lille and Hong Kong
Philharmonic.
Wass’
recording of Beethoven’s 3rd Piano Concerto with the
BBC Philharmonic has been issued as a BBC Music Magazine cover
CD and he has also recorded Chopin for an EMI disc ‘In
Tune with the Piano’. He made his debut recording in
1999 with an acclaimed recital disc of works by César
Franck for Naxos. The first two instalments of the four-part
series covering the piano music of Arnold Bax for Naxos have
recently been released to exceptional reviews. Selected as
an ‘Editor’s Choice’ CD in Gramophone Magazine,
Volume One has been hailed as ‘without a shadow of a
doubt the best recorded and best played Bax piano CD to come
before the public’, while Volume Two is described as
‘unmissable at any price’. Future recording plans
include the complete solo works of Elgar, Britten, Bridge,
Rawsthorne, Leighton and Moeran, ‘Album d’un Voyager’
by Liszt, the Violin Sonatas of Bax (with Laurence Jackson)
and concertos by Bax and Leighton, all for Naxos.
For more information please see www.ashleywass.com
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