Rising Stars

Three to look out for…

Yoanna Prodanova Cellist

Born: Varna, Bulgaria Career highlight: My debut recording for the Royal Academy of Music’s Bicentenary Series is a great highlight, as was my performance of the Swiss premiere of Valentin Gheorghiu’s Cello Sonata.

Musical hero: Schubert composed to the end, Beethoven takes us on journeys of personal turmoil, Shostakovich shows us the brutality of 20th-century Russia and Schumann unveils unimaginable vulnerability. They show us all sides of the human condition. Dream concert: Performing is about telling stories, sharing and becoming a kind of channel between the composer and the listener. A dream concert would be one in which this connection is established. Emma Sventelius Mezzo-soprano Born: Lund, Sweden Career highlight: Singing Octavian in Strauss’s

Der Rosenkavalier at Theater Bonn. To be offered the role as my debut performance was so exciting. I will always carry with me the overwhelming feeling of personal victory when taking the curtain call after the premiere.

Musical hero: I will spend my entire career trying to achieve the musicianship and vocal capacity of mezzos Janet Baker and Brigitte Fassbaender.

Dream concert: Why not dream big and sing Brahms’s Alto Rhapsody at the Musikverein with the Vienna Philharmonic?! Valentina Ciardelli

Double bassist and composer

Born: Pietrasanta, Italy Career highlight: The launch of my first solo album, in which I explore the potential of the double bass and show off its virtuosity. I am trying to give it a proper identity. Musical hero: I have been transcribing the music of Frank Zappa since I was 11.

His approach to music is similar to that of Stravinsky, Schoenberg, Varèse and Berg. He deserves more consideration in the contemporary classical scene.

Dream concert: Performing my own double bass concerto with improvisations. Improvisation is a fundamental part of my composition process and is vital to reintroduce to classical musicians.