Sommets Musicaux honor violists
The 24-year-old English violist Timothy Ridout was awarded the Prix Thierry Scherz at the 19th Sommets Musicaux de Gstaad. The Prix André Hoffmann went to the 23-year-old French violist Jean Sautereau.
The Prix Thierry Scherz rewards the best interpretation of the festival's "Young Talents" series and enables the winner to make a CD recording. Supported by Renaud Capuçon, the artistic director of the festival, the jury - Gérard Caussé, mentor of the young talents, Yann Maresz, composer in residence and Patrick Peikert, director of the Claves Records label - unanimously awarded this year's Prix Thierry Scherz to Timothy Ridout.
In the second half of this year, the young violist will record a CD with the Bern Symphony Orchestra and the Claves Records label, which will also be responsible for promotion. The jury has also awarded Jean Sautereau the Prix André Hoffmann. The prize, endowed with 5,000 francs, rewards the best interpretation of the work "Soliloque" by Yann Maresz, the festival's composer in residence.
