Musical America Names David Finkel and Wu Han Musicians of the Year, Honors Others
Chamber music is sometimes a neglected art form. Lacking the sheer force of symphonic music or the bravura of a solo recital, the most intimate of musical genres is often pushed aside, leaving some of the great works unperformed. David Finkel and Wu Han, however, have tried to change that. As directors of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and founders of the festival Music@Menlo, the husband and wife team has been pioneering the chamber music field for the past thirty years. This week the magazine Musical America recognized this dedication by naming them the 2012 Musicians of the Year. Commenting on the honor, Musical America Directory Editor Sedgwick Clark praised Finkel and Han’s attempts to “create a revolution in the traditionally quiet world of chamber music—in the process building new audiences and rearing a new wave of players.”
In addition to naming the Musicians of the Year, Musical America also acknowledged specific contributions in the field of composition, conducting, and instrumental playing. Two names worthy of mentioning are Gil Shaham, who was named Instrumentalist of the Year in recognition of his long and eventful musical career, and Jaap van Zweden, who, as Conductor of the Year, has been noted as an important contributor to Dallas’ growing cultural scene. Congratulations to all of the honorees!
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