This year, from the convention center in the city of Nantes, it headlined the Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire and their engaging young American conductor, John Axelrod. Honorary awards were given to veteran French pianist Brigitte Engerer and Canadian mezzo Marie-Nicole Lemieux, who ended the program by singing the aria ‘Mon Coeur s’ouvre à ta voix’ from Saint-Saëns’ Samson et Dalila. This was, not incidentally, one of the arias on her new disc of French opera arias from the Naive label.
Presented by the traditional duo of Marie Drucker et Frédéric Lodéon, the Lyric Discovery of the Year was 28-year-old mezzo-soprano Clémentine Margaine. Another mezzo, Katherine Deshayes, took home the Lyric Artist of the Year trophy.
Pianist Bertrand Chamayou, 29, was named Instrumental Soloist of the Year and trombonist Fabrice Millischer, 25, named Instrumental Soloist Discovery. Composer Thierry Escaich won Best Composer honors for his work Alleluias pro amni tempore, his most recent composition for chamber orchestra and chorus. He was also a winner of the same award in 2003 and 2006. Best Recording of the Year went to Pierre-Laurent Aimard for his album of the Ravel piano concertos with the Cleveland Orchestra under
Pierre Boulez.
