Festival of ARD Prize Winners
Summiteer
April 14, 2024 by Annekatrin Hentschel
The ARD music competition is the largest in the world. But it is more relaxed to make music without the pressure of evaluation and the jury. Like at the ARD Prize Winners Festival. At Elmau Castle, the musicians are currently preparing for their performances.
Image source: Christoph Hiller
When Alexandra Bidi, second place in the harp category in 2023, thinks back to her participation in the ARD music competition last year, she becomes very emotional. What a journey, says the 22-year-old Frenchwoman. This experience has had a profound impact on her, and above all she has gained self-confidence: “I now allow myself to do a lot more in music. I take more risks, that started in the competition, in this inspiring environment,” she reports. Then she realized that people would like that about her too. “And now I’m going to try everything that comes to mind and see how it goes,” she says.
The right chemistry is also needed in music
She radiates that too. She is full of energy and joy of life. Alexandra Bidi has been looking forward to the ARD Prize Winners Festival for months. She knew the other musicians at least a little. From competition – from social media. When they first met, they had to sniff each other out a bit, but then things clicked very quickly. There is also something like the right chemistry in chamber music. “Life and music are the same, if you understand each other so well in conversation, then it works in music too. Then I feel free to speak – with my voice and with my instrument,” explains Bidi.
Making music in a trio as a life’s work
The Trio Orelon is also at the festival. Last year they won first prize and many special prizes in the competition. They function as a unit and have developed a special communication with each other, says violinist Judith Stapf and describes making music in a trio as a kind of life’s work. At the festival, the challenge for her and her colleagues is to open up their tight-knit team and play with other musicians. “You just have to have your antennae everywhere and you have to keep your ears to the other people because it’s much more difficult to predict what’s going to happen,” says Stapf. But this spontaneity is something “totally important in music”. These other line-ups give her something that she can then take with her into her own trio.
Challenges and surprises
Flutist Mario Bruno, runner-up in the 2022 competition, also emphasizes developing a common understanding, having beautiful ideas, breathing and feeling the music together. And the musical program invites you to do just that: with many challenges and surprises. The musicians were particularly impressed by a baroque piece by Louis-Gabriel Guillemain – it offers this creative group plenty of space to express themselves and play with the music. “If you look at it on paper, baroque music is dead, but when you play it, it’s the most alive music there is,” emphasizes Bruno.
Concerts by the ARD award winners
April 13, 5 p.m
Elmau Castle
April 14, 7:30 p.m
black
Miners’ Hall in the center
April 15, 6 p.m
München
Event with the Young Friends of the BRSO
Bavarian Radio, Studio 2
— closed event, not open to the public —
April 16, 8 p.m
München
Studio concert of the Bavarian Radio, Studio 2
Broadcast: “Allegro” am 15. April 2024 from 6:05 a.m. on BR-KLASSIK