Association of British Orchestras

ABO / Rhinegold Awards

 

 

ABO / Rhinegold Awards

 

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We are delighted to announce that the 2012 ABO/Rhinegold Awards were presented at the ABO Conference dinner on 18 January 2012. The winners and citations were as follows:

ORCHESTRA MANAGER OF THE YEAR

Sophie Lewis, General Manager, Sinfonia Cymru

Here, we’re recognising the achievement of someone who in 2011 secured Arts Council of Wales funding for the nation to have its first professional chamber orchestra dedicated to young musicians - Sinfonia Cymru.

To win such funding you have of course to demonstrate a high level of existing expertise. And in just a few short years Sinfonia Cymru’s general manager Sophie Lewis has led a team building on the vision of the orchestra’s founder and conductor Gareth Jones.

As far as the musicians themselves are concerned, Sophie has demonstrated a tireless concern for the wellbeing of the young players the orchestra exists to support, helping them bridge the always daunting gap between training and career.

As for developing the orchestra’s profile and diary, Sophie’s energy and determination has been a major factor in developing not just concert engagements (across Wales and beyond) and audience figures, but hugely successful education work and school projects. She has a telling eye for PR - witness Sinfonia Cymru’s vibrant website - and a talent for drawing in vital loyal supporters.

Now, Sinfonia Cymru starts a new life as a professional orchestra. You can see why Arts Council of Wales felt their money would be in safe hands. And we duly honour Sophie Lewis as Orchestra Manager of the Year.

CONCERT HALL MANAGER OF THE YEAR

Paul Keene, Town Hall and Symphony Hall Birmingham

Birmingham’s Symphony Hall first opened its doors almost 21 years ago and remains among the world’s finest concert venues. But its global status rests on much more than bricks, mortar and a forest of Scandinavian pine. Paul Keene’s work as programme director has given vital artistic life to Symphony Hall’s seasons. Quality, creative ambition, diversity and formidable international partnerships have hallmarked Paul’s time in Birmingham, both at Symphony Hall and at the city’s rejuvenated Town Hall.

Paul was nominated for this award not least for a quartet of standout events last season. He oversaw the planning and delivery of Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde, which married a concert performance by The Philharmonia under Esa-Pekka Salonen with Peter Sellars’ staging and Bill Viola’s vivid film projections.

He also helped deliver performances of Klaus Obermaier’s 3D digital version of The Rite of Spring, with live choreography; In Seven Days by Thomas Adès, with Tai Rosner’s visuals, and the Houston Symphony Orchestra’s fresh take on The Planets, enriched by mind-blowing new photography from NASA.

That he achieved all of this and much more within the tight limits of a reduced Symphony Hall budget is remarkable. This award recognises the power of Paul’s personal vision, his tireless commitment to its delivery and rich contribution to cultural life in Birmingham and beyond. 

ARTIST MANAGER OF THE YEAR

Stephen Lumsden, Chief Executive, Intermusica

For this award the judges were looking for specific demonstrations of imagination and creativity alongside outstanding work in the conventional artist management field, and it was felt that Intermusica best demonstrated this in 2011.
 
The initiative of Stephen Lumsden, the company’s founder and managing director, to build a Creative Development arm at Intermusica has created much to catch the eye in recent years.
 
Three major international touring projects in 2011 particularly impressed the judges:

1  The immaculately planned Beethoven symphony cycles given by the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra and Riccardo Chailly in a string of major European cities.

2  The creation and delivery of Valery Gergiev’s acclaimed Mahler Cycle in Paris in 2010/11 embracing concerts with both the LSO and the Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre.

3  Steve Reich’s hugely demanding Drumming was launched as an international touring attraction in 2011 as a result of Intermusica’s collaboration with Colin Currie and his percussion group. ‘Drumming’ wowed audiences at the Southbank Centre in 2010 and 2011 (with Reich himself in attendance) and now tours in Japan, Australia and across Europe.
 
Finally, the awards panel was anxious also to draw attention to Intermusica’s ongoing pioneering work in India. Following the LSO’s highly successful visit to Mumbai in 2010, Intermusica now has firm plans to tour a number of orchestras to various parts of India in the next three years.

 

Nominations for the 2013 ABO/Rhinegold Awards will open in November 2012.