Sharon Bezaly

Described by The Times (UK) as ‘God’s gift to the flute’, Sharon Bezaly was chosen as ‘Instrumentalist of the Year’ by the prestigious Klassik Echo in Germany in 2002 and as ‘Young Artist of the Year’ at the Cannes Classical Awards in 2003. Hailed as a flautist ‘virtually without peer in the world today’ on ClassicsToday.com, Sharon Bezaly has inspired renowned composers as diverse as Sofia Gubaidulina and Kalevi Aho to write for her, and has to date seventeen dedicated concertos which she per- forms worldwide. A member of BBC Radio 3’s ‘New Generation Artists’ Scheme during the period 2006 – 08, Sharon Bezaly was also the first wind player to be elected artist-in-residence (2007–08) by the Residentie Orchestra, The Hague.

Other high-profile appearances include performances with the Leipzig Gewand- haus Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and at the Musikverein in Vienna, at the BBC Proms, and at Sydney Opera House with the Australian Chamber Orchestra. In 2012 she gave the US première of José Serebrier’s Flute Concerto at Carnegie Hall in a performance conducted by the composer. The work is also included on her acclaimed disc ‘Pipe Dreams’ [BIS-1789], regarding which International Record Review wrote: ‘No praise is too high for the combined musicianship, virtuosity and commitment of Bezaly.’ She has also given recitals at the Wigmore Hall, London and Concertgebouw, Amsterdam.

Sharon Bezaly’s recordings on BIS have won her the highest accolades, including the Diapason d’or (Diapason), Choc (Monde de la Musique), Editor’s Choice (Gramophone) and Stern des Monats (Fono Forum). She plays on a 24-carat gold flute, specially built for her by the Muramatsu team. Her perfect control of circular breathing (taught by Aurèle Nicolet) enables her to reach new peaks of musical interpretation, as testified by the comparison to David Oistrakh and Vladimir Horo- witz made in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.