2023-09-24 10:27:16
Coming from a family of musicians, the young man had his vocation very young. Youtube capture
Aged 25, Swann Van Rechem has proven himself by conducting the Orchester National d’Île-de-France in Cosi fan tutte by Mozart and Don Juan op.20 by Strauss.
This meeting, which takes place every two years, is renowned for being the most comprehensive conductor competition in the world. The young French conductor Swann Van Rechem, 25, won the 58th International Competition for Young Conductors in Besançon on Saturday, organized during the International Music Festival. This is the first time that a French candidate has won the competition since 2005.
In addition to the Grand Prize, Swann Van Rechem won the Public Favorite Prize and the Orchester national d’Île-de-France Favorite Prize, which each of the three finalists was responsible for conducting in concert conditions.
The French Swann Van Rechem, the Korean Hae Lee and the Chinese Chao Dong took turns on the stage of the Ledoux theater in Besançon conducting the Orchester National d’Île-de-France in That’s what they all doMozart overture; Don Juan op.20 Strauss.
They also directed the musicians in a piece by Alexandros Markeas, a world premiere and commissioned by the festival: Living happily during the war. Member of the jury, the composer explained to France Bleue that the winner was distinguished by his ability to “combine, at the same time, very, very careful control of what is happening with perfect expressiveness».
Coming from a family of musicians
«We are so focused on the music during the week of the competition that we almost forget why we are there! And when we can advance to the next round, we are especially happy to finally be able to direct what we have been preparing for months. Obviously, this Grand Prix makes me extremely happy and the rest will be important“, declared the winner of the Grand Prix to AFP. Coming from a family of musicians, the young man had his vocation very young. “He must have been 5 or 6 years old, he put on a record and imitated a conductor in front of the mirror“, his mother told France Bleu.
Swann Van Rechem, who studied at the Paris and Amsterdam Conservatories and is completing a master’s degree in Weimar, worked at the Metz Opera. He participates in productions of the Opéra de Nantes and Rouen, details his biography.
280 candidates registered, around twenty selected
In total, 280 candidates registered for this edition of the competition. “It’s a real marathon that these candidates have followed during auditions organized around the world since last April”details Jean-Michel Mathé, director of the festival and competition.
«A jury with two pianists traveled to Berlin, Tokyo, Montreal and Paris., he explained. Around twenty candidates were finally pre-selected. They were invited to Besançon to try to win the Grand Prix.
The Besançon International Competition for Young Conductors has crowned conductors such as Seiji Osawa, Alexander Gibson, Sergiu Comissiona, Gerd Albrecht, Michel Plasson and Lionel Bringuier.
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