Russian Pianist Daniil Trifonov Is Named Gramophone “Artist of the Year” 2016
Russian pianist Daniil Trifonov has been named the Gramophone “Artist of the Year” for 2016, as announced at the Gramophone Awards at London’s St. Johns, Smith Square earlier today. The “Artist of the Year” award is the only Gramophone prize decided by international public vote, and recent winners have included conductor Paavo Järvi, violinist Leonidas Kavakos, tenor Joseph Calleja, and conductor Gustavo Dudamel. After learning of the win, Trifonov said, “I couldn’t be happier about receiving the publicly-voted Gramophone award. The attention of this audience, based in our shared love for classical music, means so much to me. Many thanks!” The 25-year-old pianist accepted his Artist of the Year award with a videotaped speech from Tel Aviv, which can be viewed here.
In his Gramophone citation, Stephen Plaistow said:
“It has been claimed that among pianists a talent such as his is a phenomenon that appears no more than two or three times in a generation, if that. In the five years since winning the Rubinstein and Tchaikovsky competitions Trifonov has made a successful career on terms that are his own and established himself everywhere as someone we shall always want to hear.”
On September 22 Trifonov embarks on a European tour with the Filarmonica della Scala under the direction of Riccardo Chailly, followed by recitals in Germany and his debut in the Berliner Philharmoniker Piano Series. He then travels to Chicago for the gala finale of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s 125th Anniversary Celebration. He plays Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto under the baton of Riccardo Muti, in a recreation of the very first program of the CSO’s history, performed on October 16 and 17, 1891. More information about Trifonov’s 2016-17 season can be found on his website here.
About Gramophone Classical Music Awards
The annual Gramophone Classical Music Awards, the world’s most influential classical music prizes, given this year in association with EFG International and the BPI, were launched in 1977 by Gramophone magazine (founded in 1923 by Sir Compton Mackenzie). Available internationally, Gramophone publishes a bespoke edition of the magazine for North America. To celebrate its 90th anniversary, Gramophone’s full archive was made available digitally for iPad and other tablet devices, smartphone or computer. Gramophone’s podcasts are available from iTunes. Unique Gramophone playlists are available on Qobuz and Apple Music.
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© 21C Media Group, September 2016
