Artists
Florian Stoertz won in 2023 the International Handel Singing Competition, the Helmut Deutsch Song Competition and the Prix de mélodie at the International Voice-Piano Competition 'Lili et Nadia Boulanger' in Paris. On the recital stage, Florian’s recent appearances include French song concerts at Salle Cortot and Wigmore Hall, as well as at song festivals in Zeist and Leeds. The current season further sees his recital debut alongside pianist Helmut Deutsch at the International Music Festival Zell am See. Operatic roles include, among others, Bartolo (Le nozze di Figaro), Masetto and Commendatore (Don Giovanni). Florian is an alumnus of the Royal Academy of Music, London where during his studies he was awarded first prizes for both opera and song recitals, as well as the Britten Pears Young Artist Programme. Having enjoyed his musical upbringing in the vocal music scene around Trier Cathedral (Germany), he is now based in London.
English born and of German and American parentage, Gabriel Rollinson studied at the Manhattan School of Music, the August Everding Theatre Academy/University of Music in Munich and at the University of Music Karlsruhe. He was a member of the Opera Studios at Opera Frankfurt and the Bavarian State Opera, and the 2023/24 season joint the ensemble at the Staatstheater Mainz. He has premiered numerous works, including the role of Arturo Cidre in Micha Hamel's "Caruso a Cuba" for the Dutch National Opera and the role of Thron in Elisabeth Naske's "Vom Stern, der nicht leuchten konnte" for the Salzburg Festival. He also premiered the song cycle “Seeking You” by Joseph Rubinstein. In collaboration with pianist Hartmut Höll and CPO Records/SWR Radio, he recorded his first art song album with music by American composer William Grant Still.
Born in Heidenheim, the baritone has been a member of the Semperoper's Junges Ensemble since the beginning of the 2023/24 season. His stage repertoire includes Schaunard (La Bohème), Rodrigo (Don Carlo), Conte Almaviva (Le nozze di Figaro), Papageno (Die Zauberflöte), Graf von Eberbach (Der Wildschütz), Sharpless (Madama Butterfly) and the title role in Gianni Schicchi. Among other awards, Gerrit Illenberger received the Leonhard and Ida Wolf Memorial Prize for Music from the city of Munich and the Max Liebhaber Prize from the city of Heidenheim. In addition to his support from Live Music Now, he received the Deutschlandstipendium and was a scholarship holder of the Bavarian Choir Academy and the Heidelberger Frühling Lied Academy. He received his vocal training with Hartmut Elbert as well as at the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich.
Guillem Gràcia (Barcelona, 2005) inicià els seus estudis de violoncel als sis anys i debutà com a solista als tretze, amb un concert del qual es van destacar unes “qualitat i musicalitat impecables”. Ha tocat a l’Auditorio Nacional, el Palau de la Música Catalana o el Gran Teatre del Liceu i, d’entre els seus guardons, destaquen el Premi Absolut en la MiN International Music Competition 2018 (Narvik, Noruega) i el primer premi Intercentros Melómano (2018). Des del 2019 estudia a l’Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofía amb Jens Peter Maintz i Fernando Arias i forma part de diferents ensembles a càrrec de Márta Gulyás i Heime Müller. Ha rebut masterclasses de Lluís Claret, Pablo Ferrández i Asier Polo, entre altres mestres. Toca amb un violoncel François Caussin, Mirecourt (vers 1830-1840).
Hamish Brown is a British pianist, arranger, and composer, based in London, UK. An award-winning and versatile artist, Hamish has performed as a vocal accompanist, chamber musician, orchestral pianist and soloist at numerous prestigious venues across the UK and abroad. Hamish is a regular and acclaimed recital partner of many of the UK’s finest singers. His work as a song accompanist has taken him to Oxford International Song Festival, International Lied Festival Zeist, Aldeburgh Festival, Beethovenfest Bonn, Heidelberger Frühling, Leeds Lieder Festival or Wigmore Hall. Alongside his vocal collaborations, Hamish is active as a chamber musician, performing with a wide range of outstanding instrumental artists on diverse repertoire. As an orchestral pianist, Hamish has performed with orchestras including the RCM Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Orpheus Sinfonia and Southbank Sinfonia.
