Ensemble N wins 1st prize at the Boris Pergamenshikow Prize
The Viennese ensemble N, consisting of Paolo Vuono (violin), Irini Liu (violoncello) and Luca Lavuri (piano), has won the first prize of 10,000 euros at the Boris Pergamenschikow Prize 2022 for Contemporary Chamber Music. The winners also receive the special prize of 3,000 euros to fund a commissioned work.
The jury awarded the second prize of 4,000 euros to the Trio Orelon, and the third prize of 2,000 euros to the Trio Glenn Gould. A one-off special prize of 2,000 euros for promotion of an up-and-coming ensemble was awarded to the Percaso Quartet.
Ensemble N was founded in 2018 at the University of Music and the Performing Arts Vienna by six young musicians and is dedicated to the performance of existing contemporary repertoire as well as new works by young composers.
The Boris Pergamenschikow Prize for Contemporary Chamber Music is awarded every three years by the Society of Friends and Patrons of the Hanns Eisler School of Music Berlin. A special feature of the competition is the oral presentation each ensemble makes on the musical interpretation of the works they perform.
The competition rounds took place on 10 and 11 November in the Galakutschen Hall at the Hanns Eisler School of Music Berlin. At the closing concert of winning ensembles, the 2019 winners of the prize, the Slovenian Trio Tempestoso, performed the world premiere of its commissioned work "Aggregate" for clarinet, cello and accordion by Maximilian Zimmermann.
Ever since 2005, the Society of Friends and Patrons of the Hanns Eisler School of Music has dedicated a chamber music competition to the memory of the great cellist Boris Pergamenschikow (1948-2004) so as to promote engagement with contemporary compositions, knowledge of their artistic roots and bring together the younger generation of musicians. Boris Pergamenschikow was one of the most versatile and internationally acclaimed cellists as well as an outstanding teacher. Most recently, he taught at the Hanns Eisler School of Music Berlin.