Young classical talent showcased in Classic FM’s Rising Stars with Julian Lloyd Webber on Sky Arts

13 November 2023, 10:00

By Classic FM

A new TV special from Classic FM and Sky Arts, hosted by world-renowned cellist and music educator Julian Lloyd Webber, champions today’s sensational young classical music talent.

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Classic FM’s Rising Stars, our celebration of some of today’s most exciting young classical music talent, returns to Sky Arts for a one-hour TV special on Monday 13 November at 9pm.

Violinist Ellinor D’Melon, guitarist Raphaël Feuillâtre, cellist Sterling Elliott, pianist Ariel Lanyi and trumpeter Matilda Lloyd perform alongside the brilliant 12 Ensemble, playing music from Debussy to De Falla, in the spectacular surroundings of LSO St Luke’s in London.

Renowned cellist and conductor Julian Lloyd Webber, who hosts the concert, said: “I love working with Classic FM on Rising Stars. It’s a privilege to see and hear so many wonderful young classical musicians!”

We will be releasing videos from the five star musicians in the lead-up to the Sky Arts broadcast.

Ellinor D’Melon

Born in Jamaica to Cuban parents, 22-year-old Ellinor D’Melon has performed with some of the world’s great orchestras and musicians, and this year released her debut album featuring music by Tchaikovsky and Lalo.

At Rising Stars, she played the intoxicating ‘Danse Espagnole’ (Spanish Dance) by Manuel De Falla with the 12 Ensemble.

Ellinor D’Melon plays with two members of the 12 Ensemble at LSO St Luke’s. Picture: Matt Crossick

Violinist Ellinor D'Melon plays De Falla's intoxicating 'Spanish Dance' | Classic FM's Rising Stars

Sterling Elliott

Alongside his studies at New York’s Juilliard School, 23-year-old American cellist Sterling Elliott has an active performing career which has seen him share the stage with many of the US’s major orchestras and esteemed musicians.

At LSO St Luke’s, he played a thrilling pizzicato number – Georgian composer Sulkhan Tsintsadze’s ‘Chonguri’, for solo cello.

Sterling Elliott at Classic FM's Rising Stars. Picture: Matt Crossick

Cello pizzicato! Sterling Elliott with Tsintsadze's thrilling ‘Chonguri’ | Classic FM's Rising Stars

Matilda Lloyd

British trumpeter Matilda Lloyd released her debut album in 2018, after winning first prize in the Eric Aubier International Trumpet Competition in Rouen, France. This year, she released Casta Diva, a stunning album of operatic arias transcribed for trumpet.

She played this charming ‘Havanaise’ by Pauline Viardot, at Classic FM’s Rising Stars.

Matilda Lloyd performed at Classic FM's Rising Stars. Picture: Matt Crossick

Trumpeter Matilda Lloyd – Pauline Viardot's charming ‘Havanaise’ | Classic FM's Rising Stars

Raphaël Feuillâtre

Djibouti-born, French classical guitarist Raphaël Feuillâtre signed to Deutsche Grammophon in 2018 and released his debut album in September that year. Earlier this year, the star guitarist will release his third album with the label, Visages Baroques.

At Rising Stars, one of the pieces he played was Francisco Tárrega’s stunning ‘Recuerdos de la Alhambra’.

Guitarist Raphaël Feuillâtre at Classic FM’s Rising Stars with Julian Lloyd Webber. Picture: Matt Crossick

Tárrega’s Recuerdos de la Alhambra – star guitarist Raphaël Feuillâtre | Classic FM's Rising Stars

Ariel Lanyi

Israeli pianist Ariel Lanyi’s debut album of Schubert’s piano music was released in 2021 – the same year that he won third prize at the Leeds International Piano Competition, made the final round of the Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition, and was a prizewinner in the Young Classical Artists Trust auditions.

At Classic FM’s Rising Stars, he played Mozart’s virtuosic Piano Concerto No.20...