ECHO Rising Stars
The Barbican is proud to be a part of ECHO, the European Concert Halls Organisation – which collaborates each year to give Europe’s brightest young musical stars a truly international platform.
And this season, our European partner venues from Paris to Porto have picked out genuinely astonishing emerging classical musicians, ranging from violinists to a baritone with a range of accolades already behind him.
Each concert is devised by the artist themselves: it’s effectively a musical self-portrait. And for each concert, ECHO has also commissioned one of Europe’s pre-eminent living composers to create something tailored specially to them. Premieres by figures of the calibre of Vasco Mendonça and Judith Weir mean that ECHO Rising Stars series isn’t just an unparalleled showcase for new talent but essential listening for anyone interested in the future of music.
Events
ECHO Rising Stars: Mathis Stier
With pianist Rie Akamatsu, ECHO artist Mathis Stier showcases the versatility of the bassoon in a programme that takes us from the 19th century through to the present day.
ECHO Rising Stars: Sonoro Quartet
The Sonoro Quartet, ECHO Rising Stars for 2023/24, plays a programme of new works alongside music by Guillaume Lekeu and Shostakovich’s searing String Quartet No 8.
ECHO Rising Stars: Sean Shibe
Scottish guitarist Sean Shibe takes us on a journey through guitar and lute music across the centuries from 17th century lute music to new work by Thomas Adès.
ECHO Rising Stars: Axelle Fanyo and Kunal Lahiry
Hear one, choose one: Axelle Fanyo invites the audience to curate the perfect programme, from enchanting French music to American song cycles that set your imagination free.
ECHO Rising Stars: Diana Tishchenko
Praised in the German press for her musicality, technical mastery and charisma, Ukrainian-born violinist Diana Tishchenko possesses a musical imagination to match a thrilling programme.
ECHO Rising Stars: James Newby & Joseph Middleton
Navigate feelings of restlessness, longing and isolation as baritone James Newby and Joseph Middleton examine humans’ eternal search, geographical and psychological, for a distant object of desire.
ECHO Rising Stars: Lucie Horsch & Thomas Dunford
Hear a musical conversation between Lucie Horsch, the ‘latest big thing in recorder playing’ (Guardian) and lutenist Thomas Dunford, as they showcase the versatility of their instruments.
ECHO Rising Stars: Magnus Holmander (clarinet)
Magnus Holmander does things with the clarinet that seem almost unbelievable – and in this ECHO showcase concert, he won’t hold back.
ECHO Rising Stars: João Barradas (accordion)
The classical accordion is undergoing a 21st century renaissance – and Portuguese-born ECHO Rising Star João Barradas is in the vanguard.
ECHO Rising Stars: Noa Wildschut
Prokofiev and Tchaikovsky are the cornerstones of this showcase recital from the young Dutch violinist Noa Wildschut.
ECHO Rising Stars: Pablo Ferrández
“Personal vanity is alien to Ferrández” was the verdict of one competition jury – but this fast-rising Spanish cellist is simply passionate about communicating through the music he plays.
ECHO Rising Stars: Simon Höfele
Trumpeter Simon Höfele opens this season’s ECHO series – the Barbican’s Europe-wide showcase for rising stars - with a dazzling flourish.
ECHO Rising Stars: Cristina Gómez Godoy
Composers often share their most profound secrets among small groups of friends – so this intimate chamber concert of neglected Romantic jewels should be fascinating.
ECHO Rising Stars: Aris Quartett
The freshness and communicative power of the Aris Quartett has to be heard to be believed. It’s no surprise they’ve been earmarked among Europe’s most exciting new musical talent as ECHO Rising Stars.
ECHO Rising Stars: Jess Gillam
Brilliant saxophonist Jess Gillam opens a new ECHO Rising Stars series featuring Europe’s most vibrant young musicians, performing a selection of classics spanning four centuries.
