ICMA (International Classical Music Awards), the International Classical Music Awards, is one of the most important classical music awards in the world, and the jury is composed of dozens of authoritative magazines and institutions in the classical music industry and hundreds of senior music critics, recognizing each year's outstanding contributions to the field of classical music.
On January 18, local time, the International Classical Music Awards (ICMA) announced the list of winners in 2022.
Naxos Music Group and its agency won five awards in five award categories, including Best Solo Instrumental, Best Chamber Music, Best Symphonic Music, Best Contemporary Music, and Best Mixed Program Album. Five artists who have worked closely with Naxos and the agency have received individual achievement awards: conductor Adam Fischer, clarinetist Martin Fröst, composer Francisco Coll, conductor Pierre Cao and pianist Michael Korstick.
As a global strategic partner of the Nassos Music Group, Cook Music has maintained a deep cooperative relationship with it. As a digital music platform with rich and diversified content resources in China, Cook owns the music rights of more than 900 top record companies around the world, including Nassos, and its content has continuously won various international music awards such as Grammys, BBC Music Awards, ICMA, etc., and can spread these outstanding musicians and award-winning works to more classical music lovers through the platform.
According to official ICMA information, this year's ICMA awards ceremony and concert will be scheduled for April 21, 2022 at the Luxembourg Philharmonic Hall, and the concert will be conducted by conductor Adam Fisher.
Luxembourg Philharmonic Hall
Individual Achievement Award
Lifetime Achievement Award
Conductor Adam Fisher
Adam Fischer
Conductor Adam Fischer is one of the most celebrated conductors of our time, recording numerous recordings, including complete symphonies by composers such as Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven, as well as classic operas. In particular, his interpretation of 18th-century works always brings new surprises to fans. His interpretation is full of personality, with his keen perception and control of details, delicately presenting the timbre changes and drama of different works.
Adam Fisher conducted the Danish Chamber Orchestra's Complete Beethoven Symphonies, released by Nathos, which won ICCMA's "Album of the Year" and "Best Symphony Album" in 2020, as well as Opus Klassik's "Best Orchestral Album" in 2020.
Artist of the Year
Clarinetist Martin Frost
Martin Fröst
Martin Fröst is a musician who constantly challenges himself and pushes boundaries. He is not limited to playing the core repertoire of the clarinet, but is keen to discover new works. He is known for his performance of Vivaldi and contemporary works, his skill and imagination in his interpretation of the works. In his hands, the clarinet is like a magic wand, opening the door to a new world of music for fans. Today, he also shows extraordinary talent in the field of conducting and leads the orchestra with his passion.
Martin Frost has collaborated with labels BIS, Ondine and Dacapo on albums covering a wide range of tracks.
Orchestral Awards of the Year
Composer Francisco Cole
Francisco Coll
In just a few years, the young Spanish composer Francisco Coll has become one of the exponents of contemporary European music creation. His work is rich and varied, favored by international soloists and orchestras, and he has been commissioned to create many works.
He won the "Composer of the Year" at the 2019 ICMA International Classical Music Awards, and his album Francesco Cole: Orchestral Works, with WHOMATONE, was named "Best Contemporary Music Album" at the 2022 ICMA International Classical Music Awards.
Special Contribution Award
Conductor Pierre Cao
Pierre Cao
After winning the Marco International Conducting Competition in 1968, Pierre Cao became assistant conductor of the former Luxembourg Radio Orchestra and music director of the Les Musiciens Chamber Orchestra. He is one of the founders of the European Choral Academy (INECC). In 1999, he founded the Arsys Bourgogne Choir and became Artistic Director of Les Rencontres Musicales de Vézelay. He was also a passionate music educator, particularly baroque music, and his years of study made him an authority in the field.
Pierre Cao has released records with Naxos sub-label Vox.
Pianist Michael Costick
Michael Korstick
Although the pianist Michael Korstick is always referred to as "Mr. Beethoven", his recordings are widely selected, including works by many different composers and styles. His interpretation is elegant and firm, without excessive Mannerism, always striving to clearly convey the composer's creative intentions. Kostic prepares every time he plays, his performances are always a refreshing listening experience.
Michael Kostic has recorded many recordings for Nasss sub-label SWR Classic, Oehms Classics and agency CPO, such as piano works by Debussy, Beethoven and Schumann.
Audio/video class
Best Solo Instrumental Album
JANÁČEK, L.: On the Overgrown Path / In the Mists / From the Street, 1 October 1905
Lars Vogt
Label: Ondine
Catalogue No.: ODE1382-2
Lars Vogt pays tribute to composer Lyosh Janacek with this solo piano album. Janacek has been hailed as "one of the most original sounds of the 20th century", and this Ondine album contains three of his best-known piano solos. These works by Janacek are sometimes passionate and sometimes melancholy, and the deep musical language transcends the limitations of time. The album also won the Instrumental Solo Recording Award at the 2021 German Classical Music Awards.
Best Chamber Music Album
BEETHOVEN, L. van: Violin Sonatas Nos. 8-10
F.P. Zimmermann, Helmchen
Label: BIS
Catalogue No.: BIS-2537
The album is the final installment of beethoven violin sonatas recorded by violinist Frank Peter Zimmermann in collaboration with pianist Martin Helmchen, and the previously recorded series received so much acclaim that BBC Music Magazine called their renditions "through perfect coordination for dialogue between instruments". Their performances proceed from the music itself, affectionately interpreting the vivid vitality of Beethoven's violin sonatas.
Best Symphonic Album
BRUCKNER, A.: Symphony No. 4, "Romantic" (1874, 1881 and 1888 versions, ed. B. Korstvedt)
Bamberg Symphony, J. Hrůša
Label: Accentus Music
Catalogue No.: ACC-30533
Bruckner drastically revised his symphony for various reasons, and finally different versions have survived to this day. For example, his Fourth Symphony "Romance" has at least seven recognizable versions. The album was performed by conductor Jakub Hrůša and the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra in three versions of Bruckner's Fourth Symphony. Under the direction of Hlusa, this symphony presents an unprecedented freshness and a very rich timbre, and the recording effect is also excellent.
Best Contemporary Music Album
COLL, F.: Violin Concerto / Hidd'n Blue / Mural / 4 Iberian Minatures / Aqua Cinerea
Kopatchinskaja, Luxembourg Philharmonic, Gimeno
Label: PENTATONE
Catalogue No.: PTC5186951
The PENTATONE album Francesco Cole: Works of Orchestral Music contains works created by contemporary Spanish composer Francisco Coll between 2005 and 2019, tracing his growth and development on the road to music. It also includes violin concertos by violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja as soloists. The album was also selected by The Guardian as the best album of the year in 2021.
Best Mixed Program Album
KAPUSTIN, N.: Piano Concerto No. 4 / Concerto for Violin, Piano and Strings
Dupree, Württemberg Chamber Orchestra of Heilbronn, C. Scaglione
Label: Capriccio
Catalogue No.: C5437
Kapustin is considered a "Russian in Gershwin's costume", and the album Kapstin: An Orchestral Portfolio contains Kapustin's concertos that combine elements of classical music with jazz style, and his music is exquisite and passionate, unforgettable when heard. The album features soloist Frank Dupree, winner of the inaugural German Classical Music Awards in 2018, with a particular focus on works by 20th-century composers.