Rising Stars

Three to look out for…

Roxane Elfasci Guitarist

Born: Paris, France Career highlight: Recording my debut album, Hommage à Debussy, with Cosmos Music. It was the result of a long adventure with Debussy’s music, which began five years ago when I posted a guitar arrangement of Clair de Lune on Youtube. Musical hero: I have huge admiration for Debussy. Although he faced criticism by his contemporaries, he never made concessions. He only knew how to write with sincerity. His music is a reflection of his soul: modest and passionate, talented and dreamy.

Dream concert: A concert with a chamber orchestra, in which the guitar plays an essential role.

Kunal Lahiry Pianist

Born: Florida, US

Career highlight: This summer, I had a series of recitals with mezzo Fleur Barron at Festival d’aix-en-provence, in a programme exploring identity, empire and colonialism. It was encouraging to have a live audience receive it so openly. Plus, I became the first collaborative pianist to join the BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists Scheme this year, which was an enormous honour. Musical hero: Pianist Walter Hautzig, who was a pupil of Artur Schnabel. He sang through his fingers.

Dream concert: A programme of neoclassical music by the likes of Max Richter or Nils Frahm, performed in an alternative venue with multimedia elements. Sonoko Miriam Welde Violinist Born: Bergen, Norway Career highlight: Recording my debut album with the Oslo Philharmonic, with music I love by Barber, Bruch and Vaughan Williams. Musical hero: Janine Jansen has been my hero since I was 13 – and now she’s my teacher. She’s an artist with a hotline to the heart. Whether she’s on stage with a huge orchestra or running a lesson on Facetime, she is endlessly searching for different ways to play a phrase.

Dream concert: A marathon concert with music by Brahms and Sondheim, performances by opera stars Renée Fleming, Matthew Polenzani and Isabel Leonard – and maybe an ABBA reunion as well!