Deutsche Grammophon Launches a New Rising Stars Series on STAGE+ to Showcase Emerging Talent

Deutsche Grammophon is set to strengthen its already substantial commitment to up-and-coming artists with the launch of a landmark series on STAGE+. Rising Stars makes its debut on 2 January 2023 with an audiovisual portrait of Fabian Müller. The German pianist, hailed by Gramophone for his “satisfying and artistically distinctive” music-making, will perform a selection of his favourite repertoire and talk about his life, work and personal interests: Watch the series here. 

Rising Stars offers a chance for audiences worldwide to discover some of the most compelling young artists of our time in a mix of solo performances and relaxed interviews with one of their peers. A new Rising Stars episode will go live on the first Monday of every month, training the spotlight on exceptional instrumentalists, vocalists and chamber ensembles. Audio highlights from each programme will be released in digital format as part of Deutsche Grammophon’s Musical Moments series to broaden the potential reach of featured artists.

The inaugural Rising Stars series continues with a profile of Persian Canadian countertenor Cameron Shahbazi, who received ovations for his recent portrayal of Oberon in Oper Frankfurt’s new production of Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream (6 February). Subsequent editions feature Estonian violinist Hans Christian Aavik, winner of the 2022 Carl Nielsen International Competition (6 March); Deutsche Grammophon’s newly signed classical guitarist Raphaël Feuillâtre (3 April); the Russian-Lebanese soprano Anna El-Khashem, hailed by Die Welt as “the upcoming superstar” (1 May); and South Korean cellist Jaemin Han, described by cellist Myung-Wha Chung as “an extraordinary talent” (5 June).

Soprano Axelle Fanyo, winner of the prestigious 2019 Kaleidoscope Vocal Competition, explores her heritage as a French Black woman on 3 July, before Rising Stars turns to the German pianist Elisabeth Brauß, a former BBC New Generation Artist (7 August), and American soprano Emily Pogorelc, an ensemble member of the Bayerische Staatsoper (4 September).

Rising Stars will serve to intensify Deutsche Grammophon’s strategic investment in the future of classical music and the fostering of the finest young talent on the international scene. The series has been designed to show the qualities of the artist and the individual at a crucial moment in the development of their careers.

STAGE+, the groundbreaking new classical music subscription service from Deutsche Grammophon, was launched at the end of November. It offers livestreams, a huge video archive and new audio releases, all on one platform: https://www.stage-plus.com/