Rising Stars

Three to look out for…

Johanna Wallroth Soprano

Born: Stockholm, Sweden Career highlight: Singing two of my favourite pieces – Anne Trulove’s aria ‘No Word from Tom’ from Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress, and Barber’s Knoxville: Summer of 1915

– in a livestreamed concert with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic earlier this year. Musical hero: The mezzo-soprano Anne Sofie von Otter uses her voice in so many different ways across a variety of musical genres. She always has genius phrasing and a great understanding of the text, regardless of its language.

Dream concert: To have been the soprano soloist in Verdi’s Requiem with the Swedish Radio Chorus under the late Claudio Abbado. Alexander Soares Pianist

Born: London, UK

Career highlight: Performing Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of

Time under the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral to a live audience in October last year, after a lengthy pandemic hiatus. It was overwhelming and life-affirming.

Musical hero: I admire the American pianist Richard Goode for his warmth and intelligence, and French pianist Pierrelaurent Aimard for his electrifying playing and innovative programming.

Dream concert: As a Londoner, it would be to give a concerto performance at the

BBC Proms, a festival where I’ve previously discovered so much and met so many wonderful musicians.

Bomsori Kim Violinist

Born: Daegu, South Korea Career highlights: My New York Philharmonic debut at the 2019 New Year’s Concert; my debut that same year at the Gstaad Menuhin Festival in Switzerland, where I’ll be returning as a Menuhin Heritage Artist for the next five years; and also the Rheingau Festival, which I’m coming back to as this year’s Focus Artist.

Musical hero: Mozart has always been my biggest hero, because I’ve been thrilled to discover his genius musical language.

Dream concert: Given the current situation with the pandemic, my dream concert would be any performance with a full orchestra, a sold-out hall and a live audience!