Sommets Musicaux honor pianists
Pianist Jean-Paul Gasparian has been awarded this year's Prix Thierry Scherz of the Sommets Musicaux de Gstaad. The Prix André Hoffmann goes to Aaron Pilsan.
Supported by Renaud Capuçon, the artistic director of the festival, the jury unanimously awarded this year's Prix Thierry Scherz to Jean-Paul Gasparian. The young pianist will record a CD with the Orchestre de chambre de Lausanne and the Claves Records label, which will also be responsible for promotion, in the second half of 2020.
The Prix André Hoffmann aims to raise the profile of contemporary classical music. Each year, a contemporary composer writes a piece for the Sommets Musicaux, which is performed during the festival. The André Hoffmann Foundation finances the composition of the work, which is premiered in Gstaad, as well as the composer's stay.
Camille Pépin, this year's composer in residence in Gstaad, composed the piece "Number 1" for this edition of the festival. Aaron Pilsen won the prize of 5,000 Swiss francs for the best interpretation of this contemporary piece.
