0:00:39 > 0:00:41For more than three decades,
0:00:41 > 0:00:44BBC Young Musician has been shining a spotlight
0:00:44 > 0:00:47on the UK's most talented young classical performers.
0:00:47 > 0:00:49It has launched the careers
0:00:49 > 0:00:51of some of the biggest names in the industry,
0:00:51 > 0:00:54and the list of previous winners reads like a who's who
0:00:54 > 0:00:56of British classical music.
0:01:04 > 0:01:08Two years ago, 15-year-old cellist Laura van der Heijden
0:01:08 > 0:01:10was the name on everybody's lips.
0:01:10 > 0:01:14The winner of BBC Young Musician 2012 is Laura van der Heijden.
0:01:14 > 0:01:18CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:01:18 > 0:01:20MUSIC: "Cello Concerto" by William Walton
0:01:27 > 0:01:29In a memorable final at the Sage Gateshead,
0:01:29 > 0:01:31she captured everyone's hearts
0:01:31 > 0:01:34with a sublime performance of the Walton Cello Concerto
0:01:34 > 0:01:36to win BBC Young Musician 2012.
0:01:38 > 0:01:42It really was such a special evening. I was so lucky to be there.
0:01:42 > 0:01:46Laura's performance has stayed with me ever since.
0:01:46 > 0:01:48Her musicality, charisma,
0:01:48 > 0:01:52and technical mastery of the instrument was simply breathtaking.
0:01:54 > 0:01:57Winning the BBC Young Musician basically gave me a career.
0:01:57 > 0:01:58Before, I had to ask people
0:01:58 > 0:02:00to let me play in front of them,
0:02:00 > 0:02:03and now I get asked to play for people.
0:02:03 > 0:02:06So, who will follow in Laura's footsteps
0:02:06 > 0:02:08and become the next BBC Young Musician?
0:02:09 > 0:02:12You'll be able to follow the competition
0:02:12 > 0:02:13through to its conclusion
0:02:13 > 0:02:16here on BBC Four over the next four weeks.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22Nearly 500 entered.
0:02:22 > 0:02:24Now just 25 remain.
0:02:29 > 0:02:31We'll be following their journey
0:02:31 > 0:02:33as they attempt to become the next BBC Young Musician.
0:02:36 > 0:02:41It takes years of practice and dedication to reach this standard.
0:02:42 > 0:02:48Be prepared for tension, passion and some phenomenal music-making.
0:02:52 > 0:02:56Welcome to BBC Young Musician 2014.
0:03:00 > 0:03:04The last two years have been a roller-coaster ride.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07It was the biggest musical experience of my life.
0:03:07 > 0:03:10Nicola Benedetti.
0:03:10 > 0:03:13The BBC Young Musician is the important competition in the UK.
0:03:13 > 0:03:15This competition's for people
0:03:15 > 0:03:17who want to be the best at their instrument.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20It just lifts your playing to a different level.
0:03:20 > 0:03:23These are young musicians who've really dedicated their lives
0:03:23 > 0:03:26to being the best they possibly can be.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29I'm extremely grateful to the competition
0:03:29 > 0:03:31for making my dreams a reality.
0:03:31 > 0:03:33This is really, really quite something.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36If you can cope with it then you can cope with anything.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39It will be an unforgettable experience for them,
0:03:39 > 0:03:41which will make them love music even more.
0:03:42 > 0:03:44It's been the most amazing start
0:03:44 > 0:03:46to what I hope will be a long career in music.
0:03:51 > 0:03:53For the second competition running,
0:03:53 > 0:03:56the category finals and the semifinal will take place here
0:03:56 > 0:04:00at the Royal Welsh College of Music Drama in Cardiff.
0:04:00 > 0:04:03And this magnificent venue provides the perfect environment
0:04:03 > 0:04:04for all of our young finalists
0:04:04 > 0:04:07to perform to the very best of their abilities.
0:04:09 > 0:04:12Being in this competition is a daunting task, though.
0:04:16 > 0:04:19I took part in the competition back in 1998
0:04:19 > 0:04:20and made it through to the final.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26I can remember so clearly walking out onto the stage
0:04:26 > 0:04:30to face the cameras and that intimidating line of adjudicators.
0:04:30 > 0:04:33BBC Young Musician really is a valuable experience
0:04:33 > 0:04:35and can be a fantastic stepping stone
0:04:35 > 0:04:37towards a successful career in music.
0:04:37 > 0:04:39APPLAUSE
0:04:45 > 0:04:50Tonight, we begin our coverage of BBC Young Musician 2014
0:04:50 > 0:04:53with the strings category final.
0:04:54 > 0:04:59In just a few moments, we will meet our talented five string players
0:04:59 > 0:05:05all hoping to impress the jury and secure their place in the semifinal.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08But before we do that, let's look at the competition structure
0:05:08 > 0:05:10and how they made it this far.
0:05:11 > 0:05:15The standard required to take part in BBC Young Musician
0:05:15 > 0:05:16is incredibly high.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19Just to apply, you have to be grade eight or above.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24Nearly 500 entered this year's competition.
0:05:26 > 0:05:29After two tough audition rounds,
0:05:29 > 0:05:3225 young performers were selected for these category finals.
0:05:33 > 0:05:40Five each in strings, percussion, woodwind, keyboard, and brass.
0:05:40 > 0:05:44The winners of each category will progress through to the semifinal,
0:05:44 > 0:05:47where they will perform against each other
0:05:47 > 0:05:49for three places in the grand final.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52You will be able to see full coverage of the final
0:05:52 > 0:05:55here on BBC Four on May the 18th,
0:05:55 > 0:05:57when it returns to the Usher Hall, Edinburgh,
0:05:57 > 0:05:59after a ten-year absence.
0:06:00 > 0:06:04The three finalists will each perform a concerto of their choice,
0:06:04 > 0:06:07accompanied by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
0:06:07 > 0:06:11under the baton of award-winning conductor Kirill Karabits.
0:06:11 > 0:06:15One will be named BBC Young Musician 2014.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24When the final was last held at the Usher Hall back in 2004,
0:06:24 > 0:06:28a young violinist named Nicola Benedetti walked onto the stage
0:06:28 > 0:06:30and, in front of a home crowd,
0:06:30 > 0:06:32gave a performance that would change her life.
0:06:38 > 0:06:41Over the past ten years, she's built an international reputation
0:06:41 > 0:06:46as one of the country's leading performers and recording artists.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49She combines a busy concert schedule with education work
0:06:49 > 0:06:51and a commitment to promoting classical music.
0:06:51 > 0:06:53I didn't even think you could do that!
0:06:53 > 0:06:56This year, BBC Young Musician welcomes her back
0:06:56 > 0:06:58as its first ever ambassador.
0:07:01 > 0:07:03Clemency Burton-Hill spoke to her recently.
0:07:04 > 0:07:08Nicola, tell us how you got involved in this ambassadorial role.
0:07:08 > 0:07:13BBC Young Musician gave me such an enormous platform.
0:07:13 > 0:07:15I owe so much to the competition.
0:07:15 > 0:07:19It just... I was sort of desperate to get involved somehow.
0:07:19 > 0:07:21And how do you think the role will play out?
0:07:21 > 0:07:24I think what I've been really quite keen on
0:07:24 > 0:07:29is to maintain more of a supportive role towards the competitors.
0:07:33 > 0:07:35There aren't that many people that know what it feels like
0:07:35 > 0:07:37to go through those competitions.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40There are not that many people that understand the pressures,
0:07:40 > 0:07:43understand and can pre-empt the questions
0:07:43 > 0:07:46that those young people need to know the answers to.
0:07:46 > 0:07:48And quite often, they don't know the questions themselves.
0:07:48 > 0:07:50They can feel nervous... And you're a teenager!
0:07:50 > 0:07:53And you're a teenager, and you're trying to work all of this out.
0:07:53 > 0:07:56And, in actual fact, what you want to do more than anything else
0:07:56 > 0:07:58is just develop your playing.
0:08:02 > 0:08:04And what about a competition like BBC Young Musician?
0:08:04 > 0:08:08What role does it have to play in terms of getting that message out
0:08:08 > 0:08:11about how extraordinarily talented some of Britain's kids are
0:08:11 > 0:08:13when it comes to classical music?
0:08:13 > 0:08:15Well, I think celebrating excellence
0:08:15 > 0:08:18is always something we should all rejoice in,
0:08:18 > 0:08:22and BBC Young Musician has always advocated for that,
0:08:22 > 0:08:24and that's an incredible thing.
0:08:24 > 0:08:27But I think the unusual thing about this competition
0:08:27 > 0:08:30is its community spirit.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32It has much more of a kind of inclusive,
0:08:32 > 0:08:35nurturing feeling about it.
0:08:35 > 0:08:36It's more friendly.
0:08:36 > 0:08:39This is the first time that the final's returned to Edinburgh
0:08:39 > 0:08:42since you won it - does that feel quite special?
0:08:42 > 0:08:45I am already getting nervous and excited about it.
0:08:45 > 0:08:47I'm just hoping I keep my cool
0:08:47 > 0:08:51so that I can offer some decent advice to the...
0:08:51 > 0:08:53to the finalists.
0:08:53 > 0:08:55Well, you are an inspiration, Nicky, to all of us,
0:08:55 > 0:08:58and an amazing ambassador for this competition. Thank you.
0:08:58 > 0:09:00So, thank you. Thank you.
0:09:03 > 0:09:05APPLAUSE
0:09:05 > 0:09:08And Nicola will be with us for the final on May the 18th.
0:09:10 > 0:09:15So much to look forward to over the next four weeks, and there is more.
0:09:15 > 0:09:17This year, BBC Young Musician
0:09:17 > 0:09:20has introduced a brand-new award for jazz.
0:09:23 > 0:09:25You will be able to see the first ever jazz final
0:09:25 > 0:09:28right here on BBC Four on May 23rd.
0:09:28 > 0:09:32And we will be telling you a little bit more about that
0:09:32 > 0:09:33later in the series.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38Now I think it's time to meet the five performers
0:09:38 > 0:09:41who've made it through to the first of this year's category finals.
0:09:48 > 0:09:5118-year-old violinist Elizaveta Tyun comes from Russia
0:09:51 > 0:09:53and studies in the UK.
0:09:53 > 0:09:56I decided to enter BBC Young Musician
0:09:56 > 0:10:00because it's always a nice experience to meet other musicians,
0:10:00 > 0:10:03to find your place among them.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06And, yeah, it could be the start of a nice career.
0:10:07 > 0:10:10Also playing the violin, aged 17,
0:10:10 > 0:10:12Roberto Ruisi from Birmingham.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15I have to believe that if I play at my very best
0:10:15 > 0:10:19that I've definitely got a chance to win it.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23Violinist Dogyung Anna Im is 16
0:10:23 > 0:10:25and comes from South Korea.
0:10:25 > 0:10:30Just to be in, like, one of five in those many, many people...
0:10:31 > 0:10:33..I'm really proud of myself.
0:10:34 > 0:10:36Harpist Juliana Myslov,
0:10:36 > 0:10:38aged 17, is from Hertfordshire.
0:10:38 > 0:10:39Entering a competition, you have to know where you're heading,
0:10:40 > 0:10:41Entering a competition, you have to know where you're heading,
0:10:41 > 0:10:45cos then you can push yourself to... to achieve it.
0:10:46 > 0:10:50And last to perform, and the fourth violinist in this strings final,
0:10:50 > 0:10:53William Dutton, aged 19, from Harrogate.
0:10:53 > 0:10:55To be here today in Cardiff,
0:10:55 > 0:10:58there's a great buzz and a vibe going round the whole place,
0:10:58 > 0:11:00and I'm really excited about performing tonight.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05Five incredible young talents.
0:11:05 > 0:11:06As a classical guitarist,
0:11:06 > 0:11:10I've been looking forward to this strings final for weeks,
0:11:10 > 0:11:11and I hope that in two years' time,
0:11:11 > 0:11:14there will be a guitarist here to make me proud.
0:11:14 > 0:11:15But never mind.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18For three very important people,
0:11:18 > 0:11:21there is a tough night of decision-making ahead.
0:11:21 > 0:11:24So, let's meet the judges. They are...
0:11:24 > 0:11:27Violinist and former competitor Jack Liebeck.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30I would like to see someone who really can step up to this stage
0:11:30 > 0:11:33and emote some wonderful musical ideas
0:11:33 > 0:11:37and someone who's got that real joy of performing.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40Internationally renowned harpist Catrin Finch.
0:11:40 > 0:11:43More and more we see that it's the personality
0:11:43 > 0:11:45that the audience fall in love with
0:11:45 > 0:11:49and so, of course, it's a major part of what we're looking for.
0:11:49 > 0:11:51And director of the Cheltenham Music Festival
0:11:51 > 0:11:54and our general adjudicator Meurig Bowen.
0:11:54 > 0:11:56I'm going to be looking for an inner strength,
0:11:56 > 0:12:00the ability to handle the highs and lows of a career in music,
0:12:00 > 0:12:06and to gain a sense that this person has not only a musical intelligence,
0:12:06 > 0:12:08but an emotional intelligence too.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19So, we are almost ready to hear the first performer
0:12:19 > 0:12:22in this year's BBC Young Musician category finals.
0:12:25 > 0:12:28Five very excited performers are waiting backstage.
0:12:28 > 0:12:31First on is 18-year-old Elizaveta Tyun.
0:12:43 > 0:12:47From Russia, Elizaveta is currently a full-time student
0:12:47 > 0:12:49at Chetham's School of Music in Manchester.
0:12:49 > 0:12:53Two years ago, Mr Repko, my teacher, came to St Petersburg
0:12:53 > 0:12:56to give some masterclasses, and he invited me here.
0:12:56 > 0:12:57And I said yes.
0:12:58 > 0:13:02One of the professors, they asked me to have a listen to her,
0:13:02 > 0:13:04and I was very impressed with her playing.
0:13:04 > 0:13:07She hardly said a word, was very quiet,
0:13:07 > 0:13:12but I could sense a deep enthusiasm and really wanted to play.
0:13:14 > 0:13:17It's really the sort of inner passion in her playing,
0:13:17 > 0:13:20the clarity, the purity of her expression.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23She's a good musician. She's a very, very good musician.
0:13:25 > 0:13:29As well as studying the violin, Elizaveta is taking her A-levels
0:13:29 > 0:13:33in music, history and English literature.
0:13:33 > 0:13:35Thou wouldst trust me then.
0:13:35 > 0:13:37OK, can we go back over that, please,
0:13:37 > 0:13:39and just sort of pick things up...?
0:13:39 > 0:13:40Yes?
0:13:40 > 0:13:43Maybe it has got something to do with taste.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46Like, taste of forbidden fruit. Maybe it means pleasure.
0:13:46 > 0:13:48Yes, that's right.
0:13:48 > 0:13:52In-between schoolwork, violin practice and chamber music,
0:13:52 > 0:13:54there is not a lot of time for much else.
0:13:54 > 0:13:56I like reading as well.
0:13:56 > 0:14:00That's why I've chosen English literature at school.
0:14:00 > 0:14:02Although she's a long way from home,
0:14:02 > 0:14:05she never misses an opportunity to share her mother tongue.
0:14:05 > 0:14:08"I love, I like..." Oh, it's the same. Ya lyublyu... Mm-hm. ..edu.
0:14:08 > 0:14:11Ya lyublyu... Actually, you know, "eda",
0:14:11 > 0:14:12and, you know, "ya lyublyu", so...
0:14:12 > 0:14:15Ya lyublyu edu. Yeah. Spasibo! You're welcome!
0:14:20 > 0:14:24Whether it's leading the quintet she's formed or the school orchestra,
0:14:24 > 0:14:28she's earned the admiration of her fellow students and teachers alike.
0:14:30 > 0:14:32She's quite quiet and reserved, you think,
0:14:32 > 0:14:35but there's this kind of unexpected humour
0:14:35 > 0:14:38that she comes out with now and again, which is great.
0:14:38 > 0:14:42I mean, her playing, it's so strong and confident, powerful.
0:14:42 > 0:14:44She's a good leader to play with.
0:14:46 > 0:14:48Two, three.
0:14:50 > 0:14:52She's leading the symphony orchestra at the moment.
0:14:52 > 0:14:54I came into to rehearsal the other day
0:14:54 > 0:14:57and found her at the beginning, sorting out all the chairs,
0:14:57 > 0:14:59running round, getting everybody organised,
0:14:59 > 0:15:02and there was this quiet girl getting everybody sorted out.
0:15:02 > 0:15:04It's quite fabulous.
0:15:07 > 0:15:09I miss my friends, I miss my parents,
0:15:09 > 0:15:12but I see them every two months...
0:15:12 > 0:15:14and everyone here is very welcoming.
0:15:14 > 0:15:16So, I feel like I'm home here.
0:15:20 > 0:15:22On one of those rare visits back home,
0:15:22 > 0:15:25there is a chance to catch up with friends and family.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28Her parents are both language professors
0:15:28 > 0:15:30at the University of St Petersburg.
0:15:31 > 0:15:33Next year, she will go on to study
0:15:33 > 0:15:35at the Royal College of Music in London
0:15:35 > 0:15:38and, by now, the family are well used
0:15:38 > 0:15:41to this travelling musician's life on the road.
0:15:41 > 0:15:43The first time she left, she was ten.
0:15:43 > 0:15:47She went to Switzerland with a series of concerts,
0:15:47 > 0:15:49and that was quite an adventure,
0:15:49 > 0:15:52because she was the smallest in the group.
0:15:52 > 0:15:53It's not the question
0:15:53 > 0:15:56of whether you like it or you dislike it.
0:15:56 > 0:15:58If you are a professional, you do it.
0:15:58 > 0:16:00You do it seriously.
0:16:00 > 0:16:03I think this is the main thing. She has become more serious about that.
0:16:07 > 0:16:10And here is Elizaveta to open this strings category final.
0:16:12 > 0:16:15I'm playing Meditation by Tchaikovsky.
0:16:15 > 0:16:16It's a very nice piece
0:16:16 > 0:16:19and I feel quite the same, because Tchaikovsky wrote it
0:16:19 > 0:16:20whilst he was away from home from Russia.
0:20:59 > 0:21:00APPLAUSE
0:21:00 > 0:21:03Next, Elizaveta is going to play Subito
0:21:03 > 0:21:06by the 20th-century Polish composer Lutoslawski.
0:21:06 > 0:21:11It was composed especially for a competition in 1994,
0:21:11 > 0:21:14so I thought it would be a nice piece to play for a competition.
0:23:52 > 0:23:54APPLAUSE
0:23:55 > 0:23:57Well, we're off to a great start.
0:23:57 > 0:23:59It's always really hard going first,
0:23:59 > 0:24:01but I thought Elizaveta did really fantastically.
0:24:01 > 0:24:03She held the audience's attention,
0:24:03 > 0:24:05she played with great aplomb and grace.
0:24:12 > 0:24:15You opened the show and you absolutely nailed it.
0:24:15 > 0:24:18How did it feel? Oh, I really enjoyed it.
0:24:18 > 0:24:20I think that's the most important thing.
0:24:20 > 0:24:22And I hope the audience enjoyed it as well. I think they did.
0:24:22 > 0:24:26They were electric. Elizaveta played very, very beautifully.
0:24:26 > 0:24:28I especially enjoyed the sort of stillness
0:24:28 > 0:24:31to her performance of the Tchaikovsky.
0:24:31 > 0:24:34She just sort of let her playing do the talking.
0:24:34 > 0:24:37She's obviously a thoughtful musician.
0:24:37 > 0:24:41She's not into sort of extrovert show for the sake of it.
0:24:42 > 0:24:46Overall, I enjoyed the Lutoslawski more than the Tchaikovsky.
0:24:46 > 0:24:50I think she was more relaxed in that piece and there was more...
0:24:50 > 0:24:52a broader sense of character
0:24:52 > 0:24:55and really getting into the style of that piece in particular.
0:24:57 > 0:25:01It's so beautiful and you made us all proud. Now go rest.
0:25:01 > 0:25:04I will keep my fingers crossed for you. Bravo. Thank you. Ciao.
0:25:08 > 0:25:11Now, it's worth mentioning that this category
0:25:11 > 0:25:13has produced more of the overall winners of BBC Young Musician
0:25:13 > 0:25:15than any other.
0:25:15 > 0:25:188 out of 18 have been from this category.
0:25:18 > 0:25:21Next to stake their claim is our second violinist,
0:25:21 > 0:25:2317-year-old Roberto Ruisi.
0:25:38 > 0:25:41For the past three years, Roberto has been leader
0:25:41 > 0:25:43of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain.
0:25:43 > 0:25:48It's one of the greatest privileges that I've had the experience
0:25:48 > 0:25:49to be a part of.
0:25:50 > 0:25:55He was just 15 when appointed - the orchestra's youngest ever leader.
0:25:55 > 0:25:59I remember standing there on the first day, I was terrified.
0:25:59 > 0:26:00Felt out of my depth.
0:26:00 > 0:26:02He's a born leader, I think.
0:26:02 > 0:26:07And not a leader by the words, by the speech, but leader by example.
0:26:07 > 0:26:12So, exemplary playing, leads the whole section behind him
0:26:12 > 0:26:16and, actually, the whole orchestra, to improve themselves.
0:26:16 > 0:26:20I believe he's a very, very bright prospect for the future
0:26:20 > 0:26:22to become a virtuoso soloist.
0:26:22 > 0:26:25Roberto goes to King Edward's School, Birmingham,
0:26:25 > 0:26:27where he's studying for an International Baccalaureate
0:26:27 > 0:26:32in music, Italian, English, maths, physics and philosophy.
0:26:32 > 0:26:34Roberto?
0:26:34 > 0:26:36He observed that in the natural world,
0:26:36 > 0:26:39everything seems to have a purpose, telos, or a direction.
0:26:44 > 0:26:46When he's not performing or theorising about music,
0:26:46 > 0:26:49sport plays a large part in Roberto's life.
0:26:50 > 0:26:53I like the fact that Robbie's mucked in with school life,
0:26:53 > 0:26:55and I'm particularly delighted by his hockey career,
0:26:55 > 0:26:57which annoys the music teachers no end.
0:26:57 > 0:27:00The fact that Robbie turns out as centre forward for the third 11
0:27:00 > 0:27:04whilst being the best musician we've had in the school for 40 years
0:27:04 > 0:27:06is a great thrill to us.
0:27:06 > 0:27:09I've been trying to get him banned from playing hockey
0:27:09 > 0:27:11for the last three years. It's...
0:27:11 > 0:27:15It can be a lethal...game, and you get injuries.
0:27:15 > 0:27:19And, of course, his fingers are going to be his livelihood.
0:27:19 > 0:27:21There's been a few times where he's gone into tackles
0:27:21 > 0:27:23and I've just gone, "What is he doing?"
0:27:23 > 0:27:27Especially with his hands, you get a broken finger fairly easily, so...
0:27:27 > 0:27:29Obviously I'm happy to have him involved in the hockey,
0:27:29 > 0:27:32but there's been times where I'm just like...
0:27:32 > 0:27:35with your music career, I wouldn't be going into that tackle, Robbie.
0:27:41 > 0:27:43From September, Roberto will be studying
0:27:43 > 0:27:45at the Royal College of Music in London,
0:27:45 > 0:27:47following in the footsteps of his brothers,
0:27:47 > 0:27:50cellist Max and violinist Alessandro.
0:27:50 > 0:27:51Good. That's good. Nice to see you.
0:27:51 > 0:27:55It's crazy you're going to be in London next year.
0:27:55 > 0:27:57You're making me feel really old!
0:27:57 > 0:27:59Although it is really nice that the three of us
0:27:59 > 0:28:02are going to be in the same city now. Yeah.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05Especially if we're going to be still studying at the same place.
0:28:05 > 0:28:08It's going to be really odd. The three of us bumping into you!
0:28:08 > 0:28:11The trio's early enthusiasm for music-making
0:28:11 > 0:28:15came as a bit of a surprise to their non-musical parents.
0:28:15 > 0:28:18It started when our eldest, Max, he was about eight and a half,
0:28:18 > 0:28:21and came home with a cello, and I said, "What's that?"
0:28:21 > 0:28:24He said, "It's a cello." I said, "Well, you can take that back.
0:28:24 > 0:28:27"You're not playing cello." He said, "I am. I've been picked."
0:28:30 > 0:28:34And then my second son saw a violin and said, "What's that?"
0:28:34 > 0:28:36So, that was it.
0:28:36 > 0:28:38And then by the time I had Roberto,
0:28:38 > 0:28:42he was three and demanding a small violin.
0:28:42 > 0:28:44And that was it. He was hooked.
0:28:52 > 0:28:54So, here is Roberto Ruisi.
0:28:54 > 0:28:56Just three days ago, his violin broke
0:28:56 > 0:28:59and tonight, Roberto's playing on a borrowed instrument.
0:28:59 > 0:29:03He begins with the second movement from Britten's Violin Concerto.
0:29:03 > 0:29:05It's fiendishly difficult.
0:29:05 > 0:29:09It's notorious in the violin world and it's really great to play.
0:29:09 > 0:29:12It's also got an incredible cadenza at the end of it,
0:29:12 > 0:29:13which I'll be playing.
0:29:13 > 0:29:16But, yeah, generally, it's certainly
0:29:16 > 0:29:19one of the most technical pieces I've ever played, actually.
0:32:02 > 0:32:07From the 20th century to the 18th. A violin sonata by Bach.
0:32:07 > 0:32:10'It's a complete change in mood from the Britten.'
0:32:10 > 0:32:15Hopefully, I'll be able to convey it as this relaxing
0:32:15 > 0:32:18but also extremely emotionally deep piece, which it is.
0:34:31 > 0:34:33APPLAUSE
0:34:34 > 0:34:38'The Gershwin and Heifetz is It Ain't Necessarily So.'
0:34:38 > 0:34:41I know with a piece like that that I will always end it with a smile
0:34:41 > 0:34:43no matter what's happened, erm,
0:34:43 > 0:34:45so I think it's a really good way to end the programme.
0:37:30 > 0:37:32CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:37:34 > 0:37:37Fantastic playing from 17-year-old Roberto Ruisi.
0:37:37 > 0:37:40Three very contrasting pieces, and right at the beginning
0:37:40 > 0:37:43so fiery you could even see the hairs flying off his bow.
0:37:48 > 0:37:52That was absolutely mesmerising, and so much drama and energy,
0:37:52 > 0:37:55but I hear there has been a lot of drama with the violin.
0:37:55 > 0:37:57How did she behave tonight?
0:37:57 > 0:37:58Yeah, OK.
0:37:58 > 0:38:00I mean, it's been hard in the last few days
0:38:00 > 0:38:03just trying to get it together and try and get used to it,
0:38:03 > 0:38:05but I certainly did as best as I could.
0:38:05 > 0:38:07This was a really satisfying programme,
0:38:07 > 0:38:10three very different pieces, and I think he inhabited
0:38:10 > 0:38:13the styles of those three different pieces beautifully.
0:38:13 > 0:38:17'He chose a very difficult programme, but he handled himself really well'
0:38:17 > 0:38:21and showed, I think, that he's capable of a polished performance.
0:38:21 > 0:38:24'His Bach was very beautiful, on the romantic side of Bach playing,'
0:38:24 > 0:38:27I think, and sometimes quite full-throated in his way of
0:38:27 > 0:38:29singing out the Bach line.
0:38:29 > 0:38:31'And his Gershwin was really great.'
0:38:33 > 0:38:36So far, we've heard from two fantastic violinists
0:38:36 > 0:38:37in our String Final.
0:38:40 > 0:38:43'Next, another violinist, and the youngest competitor of the evening.
0:38:43 > 0:38:45'16-year-old Dogyung Anna Im.'
0:38:49 > 0:38:54Somerset - and Millfield School at the foot of Glastonbury Tor,
0:38:54 > 0:38:57training ground to many a sporting legend.
0:39:01 > 0:39:04But for one student, while others are out playing, she's practising hard.
0:39:04 > 0:39:06But for one student, while others are out playing, she's practising hard.
0:39:13 > 0:39:16With the school building a reputation in music,
0:39:16 > 0:39:19Dogyung Anna Im accepted a scholarship,
0:39:19 > 0:39:21leaving her home and family in South Korea.
0:39:23 > 0:39:26Millfield does have a reputation as a sporting academy,
0:39:26 > 0:39:29but people here, from the headmaster and senior management,
0:39:29 > 0:39:32are keen to redress that misconception, I have to say.
0:39:34 > 0:39:36She is on a reduced academic timetable
0:39:36 > 0:39:38to allow for her violin study.
0:39:38 > 0:39:41Try a bit more direction into this, er, to the D there.
0:39:41 > 0:39:43HE SINGS # D... #
0:39:47 > 0:39:51After successes at numerous competitions in the Far East,
0:39:51 > 0:39:54which led to playing in front of the Thai Royal Family,
0:39:54 > 0:39:59Anna was encouraged to leave her home to come and study in the UK.
0:39:59 > 0:40:01Good, well done, and now the piece starts properly.
0:40:01 > 0:40:03OK, so, marcato.
0:40:03 > 0:40:05Real articulation.
0:40:09 > 0:40:12'She's a very driven musician, very secure.'
0:40:12 > 0:40:14She has a good deal of consistency which,
0:40:14 > 0:40:17when it comes to competition playing, is a big plus.
0:40:20 > 0:40:24But learning the violin hasn't always been rosy for Anna.
0:40:24 > 0:40:28'At first I absolutely hated it.'
0:40:28 > 0:40:31Now it's kind of like my life now.
0:40:31 > 0:40:33It's just, like, me.
0:40:35 > 0:40:38There's nothing else to talk about except music now.
0:40:38 > 0:40:41Next year, Anna is hoping to study in the US
0:40:41 > 0:40:46and is preparing for an audition at the exclusive Curtis Institute.
0:40:46 > 0:40:50What we can't provide at Millfield is like-minded people,
0:40:50 > 0:40:53like-minded players of that calibre.
0:40:53 > 0:40:55After the string final, she gets on a plane,
0:40:55 > 0:40:59flies to Philadelphia and auditions that day for the Curtis Institute.
0:40:59 > 0:41:03So it's a tough couple of days, and, er, fingers crossed.
0:41:03 > 0:41:06It's a challenge, and I think it's a great,
0:41:06 > 0:41:09great opportunity for me in my life.
0:41:10 > 0:41:14Meanwhile, there is still time to introduce her fellow boarders
0:41:14 > 0:41:17to the pop stars from back home.
0:41:17 > 0:41:20So, Anna, what's the name of the boys on your wall?
0:41:20 > 0:41:22G-Dragon. Taegoon.
0:41:22 > 0:41:24Taegoo.
0:41:24 > 0:41:26It's only about, like, they're fit.
0:41:26 > 0:41:28LAUGHTER DROWNS SPEECH
0:41:30 > 0:41:34For now, Anna travels to London every Friday for lesson-packed
0:41:34 > 0:41:37weekends with a professor from the Royal Academy,
0:41:37 > 0:41:39South Korean violinist So-Ock Kim.
0:41:41 > 0:41:42Instead of slapping it.
0:41:44 > 0:41:45Yes.
0:41:48 > 0:41:52'She has a lot of, erm, natural gift for the violin.'
0:41:52 > 0:41:56She has a knack of being able to play the instrument very freely.
0:41:56 > 0:42:00However, she is still very young
0:42:00 > 0:42:03and so there's still a lot that she needs to learn.
0:42:03 > 0:42:07But she's getting there, and she does already play very beautifully.
0:42:13 > 0:42:14Yeah, that's better.
0:42:16 > 0:42:18APPLAUSE
0:42:18 > 0:42:22'For the Strings Final, Anna has a very special guest in the audience.
0:42:22 > 0:42:26'Her mum has flown in from South Korea to hear her play.
0:42:26 > 0:42:29'She begins with the 1st Movement from Brahms' Sonata in A Major.'
0:43:54 > 0:43:58There's some bits that are, like, so, so beautiful.
0:43:58 > 0:44:02I feel like I can't play that bit cos it's so beautiful.
0:44:02 > 0:44:06I feel like, "I'm terrified to play this." So beautiful.
0:46:47 > 0:46:50APPLAUSE
0:46:50 > 0:46:53'Next, it's Kreisler's Recitativo and Scherzo.'
0:46:54 > 0:46:59The first, Recitativo, you can kind of play with the rhythm there,
0:46:59 > 0:47:04and, like, rubato, and I can feel that it's really intensive.
0:48:58 > 0:49:02'The Scherzo, I heard loads of people playing it like etudes,'
0:49:02 > 0:49:04but I'm trying to not play it like that.
0:49:04 > 0:49:07I'm trying to play it a bit fun, yeah?
0:49:07 > 0:49:09Yeah. Like a caprice.
0:51:04 > 0:51:06APPLAUSE
0:51:06 > 0:51:09'Dogyung Anna Im, just 16.'
0:51:11 > 0:51:13What a great performance. She seemed so at home on stage
0:51:13 > 0:51:16and her sound was so rich and colourful throughout.
0:51:20 > 0:51:22Anna, congratulations.
0:51:22 > 0:51:25You did so beautifully, they were eating out of your hand.
0:51:25 > 0:51:26How did that feel?
0:51:26 > 0:51:31Erm, I was a bit nervous in the Brahms,
0:51:31 > 0:51:33but I think I couldn't have played the Brahms better.
0:51:33 > 0:51:36You certainly played it so beautifully.
0:51:36 > 0:51:39The Kreisler I'm especially impressed by because I think she
0:51:39 > 0:51:43brought to the music some new things that I've never heard people do.
0:51:43 > 0:51:46She's obviously a really, really talented violinist,
0:51:46 > 0:51:48very, very beautiful to listen to.
0:51:48 > 0:51:51An enormous range of colour and sense of adventure in her playing.
0:51:51 > 0:51:52Very cultivated, sophisticated, mature performance, I think.
0:51:52 > 0:51:55Very cultivated, sophisticated, mature performance, I think.
0:51:55 > 0:51:58And I hear another thing, that your mum flew in. Er, yeah.
0:51:58 > 0:52:00Did it make it easier for you, more friendly?
0:52:00 > 0:52:04Mm, I still can't believe that she's here.
0:52:04 > 0:52:07I'm really, really happy. I'm so happy for you. Thank you.
0:52:07 > 0:52:11And you made your mum so proud, I'm sure, and all of us here,
0:52:11 > 0:52:12and you have such a fantastic future in front of you.
0:52:12 > 0:52:13and you have such a fantastic future in front of you.
0:52:13 > 0:52:14Thank you so much.
0:52:18 > 0:52:20So far, the Strings Final this evening has been
0:52:20 > 0:52:24the Battle of the Violinists, and there is still one more to come.
0:52:24 > 0:52:27Up against them is 17-year-old harpist Juliana Myslov.
0:52:36 > 0:52:36SHE PLUCKS REPEATED NOTE
0:52:37 > 0:52:38SHE PLUCKS REPEATED NOTE
0:52:40 > 0:52:42'I started playing the harp when I was five,
0:52:42 > 0:52:44'but I kind of knew that'
0:52:44 > 0:52:46I needed to play the harp around four-ish.
0:52:46 > 0:52:50Erm, I don't think there's a logical explanation to it,
0:52:50 > 0:52:53I just kind of decided, erm, yeah.
0:52:53 > 0:52:57And, erm, I think my mum was a bit wary of me
0:52:57 > 0:53:00starting the harp considering it's so expensive and big.
0:53:08 > 0:53:12Juliana lives in Hertfordshire with her Russian mother Sofia.
0:53:14 > 0:53:17'We never had an issue about practising or whatever,
0:53:17 > 0:53:19'because, you know, it was madness'
0:53:19 > 0:53:21in our financial situation to do harp.
0:53:21 > 0:53:24So if she will not practising,
0:53:24 > 0:53:28I will not allow her to fooling around, and we will stop this all.
0:53:28 > 0:53:30And that's why it never, never happened.
0:53:32 > 0:53:35If I would say, "We will do it in a few years,
0:53:35 > 0:53:38"when our financial situation will be better,"
0:53:38 > 0:53:40then maybe she will lose all the interest.
0:53:40 > 0:53:43It is necessary to give the child what she want,
0:53:43 > 0:53:44in the right time.
0:53:47 > 0:53:50With a full scholarship to the nearby Purcell School,
0:53:50 > 0:53:53Juliana enjoys art as well as music
0:53:53 > 0:53:56and feels there is a strong link between the two.
0:53:57 > 0:53:59I've always really liked art
0:53:59 > 0:54:03and I'm not particularly great at traditional art forms like drawing
0:54:03 > 0:54:07and painting, but I like to look at different ways of portraying stuff.
0:54:07 > 0:54:11It's probably cos of my synaesthesia that I feel quite a link
0:54:11 > 0:54:13to music and art.
0:54:13 > 0:54:17Whenever I hear stuff or certain words have a real colour to them
0:54:17 > 0:54:20so it's always interesting to kind of match them up
0:54:20 > 0:54:23and what you get from a painting or what you get from a sound
0:54:23 > 0:54:27and how they go together - it's interesting to look at that.
0:54:28 > 0:54:31Her teacher at Purcell is internationally-renowned harpist
0:54:31 > 0:54:35Daphne Boden. Very nice. That's beautiful.
0:54:35 > 0:54:39You tend to start it a tiny bit too slowly.
0:54:39 > 0:54:43Try and think of the semiquavers in your head before you start it
0:54:43 > 0:54:45and really take your speed from there. Off you go.
0:54:49 > 0:54:51I mean, she has so many strengths in her playing.
0:54:51 > 0:54:55She has a wonderful sound. She's an excellent sight-reader.
0:54:55 > 0:54:57A very, very musical player.
0:54:59 > 0:55:03I used to criticise her a lot for spreading her chords
0:55:03 > 0:55:04very, very slowly.
0:55:04 > 0:55:06'Maybe it's something with being Russian. I don't know.
0:55:06 > 0:55:10'She gets very, very involved in the romantic side of things,
0:55:10 > 0:55:12'but she's so enthusiastic about everything
0:55:12 > 0:55:14'and she's an absolute delight to teach.'
0:55:14 > 0:55:19She's one of the most outstanding pupils I've ever, ever had.
0:55:19 > 0:55:22One, two, three, four.
0:55:23 > 0:55:26As head of department at Purcell and conductor of the school orchestra,
0:55:26 > 0:55:28Kevin Hathaway has learnt to appreciate Juliana's many strengths.
0:55:28 > 0:55:30Kevin Hathaway has learnt to appreciate Juliana's many strengths.
0:55:32 > 0:55:34Juliana is one of those people I would take anywhere
0:55:34 > 0:55:37as a true ambassador for the Purcell School.
0:55:39 > 0:55:42Juliana seems to be quite a master at such a young age
0:55:42 > 0:55:44at drawing you into the performance.
0:55:46 > 0:55:49It just works so well as an instrument.
0:55:49 > 0:55:51It can be a bit underrated
0:55:51 > 0:55:54because everyone thinks it's just arpeggios and pretty sounds
0:55:54 > 0:55:58but you could be a whole orchestra and that's why I really love it.
0:56:02 > 0:56:04Juliana Myslov,
0:56:04 > 0:56:07the only non-violinist in this year's strings final.
0:56:09 > 0:56:12She begins with her own arrangement of a Bach prelude.
0:56:12 > 0:56:14APPLAUSE
0:56:14 > 0:56:17The prelude that I'm playing is one of my favourite pieces.
0:56:17 > 0:56:21It's really beautiful with really, really nice harmonies
0:56:21 > 0:56:23and it's kind of really calming.
0:56:23 > 0:56:25There's a kind of chord all the time that's a bit
0:56:25 > 0:56:27like a raindrop kind of effect.
0:58:19 > 0:58:21APPLAUSE
0:58:21 > 0:58:23Next, Juliana is going to play the second movement
0:58:23 > 0:58:26from Hindemith's harp sonata.
0:58:26 > 0:58:32The second movement, I always think, is quite a kind of almost chaotic
0:58:32 > 0:58:34but a really fun movement to play,
0:58:34 > 0:58:36so it's a complete contrast to the Bach.
1:00:58 > 1:01:00APPLAUSE
1:01:03 > 1:01:04To finish, Juliana is performing Grandjany's spellbinding rhapsody.
1:01:04 > 1:01:07To finish, Juliana is performing Grandjany's spellbinding rhapsody.
1:01:07 > 1:01:09A real crowd-pleaser.
1:01:10 > 1:01:14The rhapsody by Grandjany really uses the harp the way...
1:01:14 > 1:01:17the best way you can get, like, good sounds
1:01:17 > 1:01:21and just generally such a really beautiful piece.
1:04:30 > 1:04:32APPLAUSE
1:04:34 > 1:04:38A captivating performance there from Juliana Myslov.
1:04:38 > 1:04:42She's a very stylish and technically accomplished performer.
1:04:47 > 1:04:49You transported me and everybody
1:04:49 > 1:04:53into some sort of a magical parallel universe.
1:04:53 > 1:04:54How did it feel? I think it was OK. Yeah. It was more than OK!
1:04:54 > 1:04:58How did it feel? I think it was OK. Yeah. It was more than OK!
1:04:58 > 1:05:00It was incredible!
1:05:00 > 1:05:02Juliana played wonderfully.
1:05:02 > 1:05:05She chose three very contrasting pieces.
1:05:05 > 1:05:08She had great technique
1:05:08 > 1:05:11and there were some really lovely musical moments.
1:05:11 > 1:05:15Juliana's programme - a really lovely, balanced programme.
1:05:15 > 1:05:18Great poise in her playing. Beautifully accomplished.
1:05:18 > 1:05:21Really musical playing. I very much enjoyed that performance.
1:05:21 > 1:05:26You have such an incredible journey in front of you, and bravo.
1:05:26 > 1:05:28Truly, truly heartfelt. Thank you very much.
1:05:30 > 1:05:32Bravo.
1:05:33 > 1:05:35Bringing the strings final to a close
1:05:35 > 1:05:39is the fourth of our violinists, 19-year-old William Dutton.
1:05:49 > 1:05:55# The first thing which I do relate... #
1:05:57 > 1:06:02A seasoned competitor, William's early success was as a singer.
1:06:02 > 1:06:07In 2006 he was crowned Radio 2 Young Chorister Of The Year.
1:06:07 > 1:06:11# The next thing which to you I'll tell... #
1:06:11 > 1:06:13What would you like to do in the future?
1:06:13 > 1:06:16Would you like to carry on with singing? I could...
1:06:16 > 1:06:18I play the violin as well so I could go on to that.
1:06:18 > 1:06:21Or sell ice cream. I still like ice cream.
1:06:21 > 1:06:23You still like ice cream. Yeah.
1:06:23 > 1:06:28Now 19, William is at his final year in the Yehudi Menuhin School.
1:06:28 > 1:06:33His violin playing was in its early stages
1:06:33 > 1:06:36but he demonstrated such musicality and passion for music
1:06:36 > 1:06:38that we thought this was the right place for him to be
1:06:38 > 1:06:42and over the years he's developed his violin playing wonderfully.
1:06:42 > 1:06:46His teacher at the Menuhin is Russian violinist Lutsia Ibragimova.
1:06:46 > 1:06:50Remember about changing colours when you're changing fingers and strings.
1:06:50 > 1:06:55We're doing it for some... making different colour. Yeah?
1:06:56 > 1:06:58The eldest of our five strings finalists,
1:06:58 > 1:07:02William is looking to travel further afield to study next year.
1:07:08 > 1:07:10'I'm in Italy today, in Bergamo,
1:07:10 > 1:07:14'to have some violin lessons with Professor Pavel Vernikov
1:07:14 > 1:07:17'because I intend, next year,'
1:07:17 > 1:07:21to audition for a place in his class in Sion in Switzerland.
1:07:22 > 1:07:25Obviously, he's not my teacher yet. I'm still learning with Lutsia.
1:07:25 > 1:07:28She's a wonderful teacher.
1:07:28 > 1:07:32She took me in and completely changed the way I played.
1:07:32 > 1:07:35And now she's given me the opportunity to go
1:07:35 > 1:07:39and study with Pavel, who's just a really extraordinary person.
1:07:42 > 1:07:46The lessons take place at the Academia Santa Cecilia.
1:07:53 > 1:07:56Not every note. HE SINGS
1:07:56 > 1:07:58One note here. Not five.
1:08:01 > 1:08:03One.
1:08:03 > 1:08:05Better.
1:08:06 > 1:08:10Continue phrase. Oh. Oh. Oh.
1:08:10 > 1:08:12More.
1:08:12 > 1:08:15'I like this boy what is very sympathique.'
1:08:17 > 1:08:20He understand very quick. Very quick.
1:08:20 > 1:08:23He change lot of his last temp.
1:08:23 > 1:08:25This for me is great pleasure.
1:08:31 > 1:08:34It was very intense. We worked on lots of things together.
1:08:34 > 1:08:37Things about intonation. Things about phrasing.
1:08:37 > 1:08:41He teaches me how to listen more.
1:08:41 > 1:08:44Not to kind of say to yourself, "OK, I think that sounds quite good.
1:08:44 > 1:08:47"It's fine, let's just move on." You know, really think,
1:08:47 > 1:08:50"What sound am I producing now? Why am I making the sound?"
1:08:50 > 1:08:53# I can do anything at all... #
1:08:53 > 1:08:57Back in the UK, William still keeps up his singing,
1:08:57 > 1:09:00helping out in the local church choir with his friends.
1:09:03 > 1:09:07Will is a great friend and an amazing violinist.
1:09:07 > 1:09:09I've been here for three years now and,
1:09:09 > 1:09:12you know, he was the one to introduce me to come to church here
1:09:12 > 1:09:14and sing with the choir as well.
1:09:14 > 1:09:19And everything that he has done for me as a friend has been great.
1:09:19 > 1:09:21Absolutely wonderful.
1:09:28 > 1:09:31APPLAUSE
1:09:32 > 1:09:35In the strings final, William is accompanied
1:09:35 > 1:09:38by one of his best friends from school, Menachem Rozin.
1:09:40 > 1:09:43'The first piece that I'm going to be playing is Nigun by Ernest Bloch.
1:09:43 > 1:09:45'It's a song that has no words.'
1:09:45 > 1:09:48It can either be very, very joyous or in this case,
1:09:48 > 1:09:53this piece is a song that's very, very sorrowful
1:09:53 > 1:09:56and he dedicated the piece to the memory of his mother.
1:14:38 > 1:14:40APPLAUSE
1:14:40 > 1:14:43To end this year's strings final, William has chosen the same piece
1:14:43 > 1:14:46that helped Laura Van Der Heijden win the category two years ago.
1:14:46 > 1:14:49It's an arrangement of Rimsky-Korsakov's opera,
1:14:49 > 1:14:52Le Coq d'Or. It's a really, really fun piece to play.
1:18:19 > 1:18:21APPLAUSE
1:18:24 > 1:18:28William Dutton bringing what has been a high-quality
1:18:28 > 1:18:30strings final to an impressive close.
1:18:34 > 1:18:37Let's find out what William thought about his performance.
1:18:37 > 1:18:39He's backstage with Milos.
1:18:44 > 1:18:47William. Finishing in grand style. How did that feel?
1:18:47 > 1:18:50That was pretty awesome. That... No, it was a big buzz out there.
1:18:50 > 1:18:54Fantastic audience. I wish I was on the other side of the door.
1:18:54 > 1:18:58I was like...urgh! I wish I was on this side of the door! No!
1:18:58 > 1:19:00I thought he had a wonderful tone. I enjoyed very much...
1:19:00 > 1:19:04I thought it was very warm, very velvety playing.
1:19:04 > 1:19:08Wonderful musical ideas, so yeah, a very polished performance.
1:19:08 > 1:19:11A very impressive and bold presence on stage.
1:19:11 > 1:19:14Possibly for me slightly overstretching himself
1:19:14 > 1:19:17in the second piece, but I very much enjoyed the Bloch,
1:19:17 > 1:19:18the first piece. It's...
1:19:18 > 1:19:19the first piece. It's...
1:19:19 > 1:19:24I get a real buzz out of doing it and I try to calm myself before.
1:19:24 > 1:19:27I was a little bit nervous but I tried to control it
1:19:27 > 1:19:29as much as I possibly could, but no,
1:19:29 > 1:19:32I had a really... You know, I had a really great time.
1:19:33 > 1:19:38And what a way to begin our coverage of BBC Young Musician 2014.
1:19:38 > 1:19:41Five young performers have given it their all, but only one
1:19:41 > 1:19:44can win that all-important place in the semifinal.
1:19:44 > 1:19:46Thankfully, it's not up to me.
1:19:46 > 1:19:49It's time for the jury to make their decision.
1:19:51 > 1:19:54And making the decision tonight...
1:19:55 > 1:19:57Violinist Jack Liebeck.
1:20:02 > 1:20:04Harpist Catrin Finch.
1:20:10 > 1:20:13And our general adjudicator, Meurig Bowen.
1:20:21 > 1:20:24So, let's start getting into this. Elizaveta.
1:20:26 > 1:20:29I had a feeling that you were particularly impressed
1:20:29 > 1:20:33by her Tchaikovsky, when she started. Yeah.
1:20:33 > 1:20:35I feel that she really sung that line
1:20:35 > 1:20:37and didn't let anything interfere.
1:20:37 > 1:20:40She is a very still player, but just let her violin do the talking
1:20:40 > 1:20:42and my spine was tingling all the way through.
1:20:42 > 1:20:44I thought it was very beautiful.
1:20:46 > 1:20:48Occasionally she could have graded her...
1:20:48 > 1:20:51the climaxes of the phrase a bit.
1:20:51 > 1:20:54I had a sense that her piano wasn't quiet enough
1:20:54 > 1:20:59and that it was all a bit mezzo forte upwards from there, which is...
1:20:59 > 1:21:02I wanted her to open up. I felt she was playing a bit to herself.
1:21:03 > 1:21:07I don't agree. See, I like that because she's not...
1:21:07 > 1:21:10She's not just showing, "Look at what I can do."
1:21:10 > 1:21:12She had something serious to say.
1:21:16 > 1:21:21Roberto. He wasn't so much of an internalised performance, was he?
1:21:21 > 1:21:25He's more extrovert and you couldn't get more extrovert than that
1:21:25 > 1:21:28Britten violin concerto movement. Brave choice, right?
1:21:28 > 1:21:31To start with that? Very brave. Difficult start.
1:21:32 > 1:21:36And I think, at the beginning, he maybe felt a little bit tight
1:21:36 > 1:21:40and there was a little bit, I felt, a bit of skating over some things
1:21:40 > 1:21:44in the scales and things, but it's one of the most difficult movements.
1:21:44 > 1:21:47The Britten Violin Concerto is seriously difficult
1:21:47 > 1:21:50and he's a natural performer, I think.
1:21:52 > 1:21:55Anna. Another very big performance.
1:21:55 > 1:21:59A very accomplished and cultivated tone, I think.
1:22:01 > 1:22:03Absolutely. A very beautiful sound.
1:22:03 > 1:22:05Occasionally I felt a little bit that her...
1:22:05 > 1:22:07especially early on in the performance,
1:22:07 > 1:22:09that her vibrato was a little bit on the wide side.
1:22:09 > 1:22:11We both said that independently.
1:22:12 > 1:22:14The Kreisler was very beautiful.
1:22:14 > 1:22:18The Scherzo had lots of individual things you don't hear people do.
1:22:18 > 1:22:20She took some time at places where people...
1:22:20 > 1:22:22I race through.
1:22:22 > 1:22:24And other people do as well.
1:22:24 > 1:22:27So she was quite individual. Very nice.
1:22:27 > 1:22:30I didn't get that sense of discomfort that you sometimes get
1:22:30 > 1:22:33with really difficult music when you feel as though
1:22:33 > 1:22:35you're on the edge of your seat slightly a bit too much,
1:22:35 > 1:22:37with the performer, sharing in their discomfort.
1:22:37 > 1:22:40I didn't have that with her. She's not such an extrovert performer.
1:22:40 > 1:22:44She felt a little... To me, I felt like she was a bit shy.
1:22:44 > 1:22:48She's our youngest, right? I think? She's still only 16, so...
1:22:48 > 1:22:50Very impressive.
1:22:50 > 1:22:54So, Juliana. It was a great... Great, wonderful playing.
1:22:54 > 1:22:58She had great technique. Her weakest link for me was the Bach.
1:22:58 > 1:23:01And I think it's always quite hard starting with Bach.
1:23:05 > 1:23:07It is very difficult music. It's very intricate.
1:23:07 > 1:23:10You have to be very careful and sometimes you need to have
1:23:10 > 1:23:13warmed up a bit to have that care in your playing. The Hindemith was...
1:23:13 > 1:23:16You know, that's a really tough movement.
1:23:16 > 1:23:18The most difficult movement of that sonata.
1:23:18 > 1:23:20She had a great pace to it.
1:23:23 > 1:23:26Sometimes she got a bit too excited.
1:23:26 > 1:23:29You know, she nearly fell off the cliff a couple of times.
1:23:29 > 1:23:33Hindemith's not a composer that many of us love easily, is he?
1:23:33 > 1:23:35But I really loved that piece. It was great.
1:23:35 > 1:23:38She made a very strong case for it. And finished with the Grandjany,
1:23:38 > 1:23:42which is prime-time repertoire. Stunning piece. Wonderful.
1:23:42 > 1:23:46I felt like she was free to express herself.
1:23:46 > 1:23:47I felt very relaxed listening to it. I did too.
1:23:47 > 1:23:49I felt very relaxed listening to it. I did too.
1:23:49 > 1:23:51I enjoyed it very much. I did too.
1:23:52 > 1:23:54William, our fourth violinist.
1:23:54 > 1:23:58Another really bold presence on stage and really ambitious repertoire.
1:23:58 > 1:24:00How did you...
1:24:00 > 1:24:03The Bloch, sometimes it felt a little bit like he sort of
1:24:03 > 1:24:05was showing his cards too early sort of thing.
1:24:09 > 1:24:11He was a little bit too overpowering.
1:24:11 > 1:24:15So sometimes he lost it a little bit but I think on the whole,
1:24:15 > 1:24:18it was a very, you know, sort of wild and musical performance.
1:24:18 > 1:24:21Very idiomatic, wasn't it? Yeah. Absolutely.
1:24:21 > 1:24:24He really just played the socks off both pieces
1:24:24 > 1:24:27and the Rimsky-Korsakov is fiendish.
1:24:30 > 1:24:34Risky to play in a competition like this.
1:24:36 > 1:24:38There was the odd little thing here and there,
1:24:38 > 1:24:40which you're going to have, but he brought it off
1:24:40 > 1:24:43and took risks with it, which I actually really appreciate.
1:24:43 > 1:24:46Beautiful sound as well, so... Very nice sound.
1:24:46 > 1:24:52Well, we have to make that difficult choice. It's hard, isn't it?
1:24:52 > 1:24:54Oh, boy! It's going to be a long night.
1:24:58 > 1:25:00And what a night we had here in Cardiff.
1:25:00 > 1:25:04An outstanding display of musicianship and young talent
1:25:04 > 1:25:06but there can be only one winner.
1:25:06 > 1:25:10And to announce it, here is Meurig Bowen.
1:25:11 > 1:25:14On behalf of my fellow adjudicators, Catrin and Jack,
1:25:14 > 1:25:17it's my pleasure to announce that the winner
1:25:17 > 1:25:22of the BBC Young Musician 2014 Strings Category Final is...
1:25:23 > 1:25:26..William Dutton. APPLAUSE
1:25:28 > 1:25:30CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
1:25:35 > 1:25:38An incredibly enthusiastic response to that result.
1:25:40 > 1:25:4319-year-old William Dutton. APPLAUSE
1:25:45 > 1:25:47And a well-deserved round of applause
1:25:47 > 1:25:49for four more outstanding young performers
1:25:49 > 1:25:51as they return to the stage.
1:25:51 > 1:25:56Roberto Ruisi, Dogyung Anna Im, Elizaveta Tyun and Juliana Myslov.
1:25:56 > 1:25:58APPLAUSE
1:26:01 > 1:26:04In the end... And it really was incredibly tough for us
1:26:04 > 1:26:08because all five, I think, we agreed we would love to hear again
1:26:08 > 1:26:11in a recital or concerto context.
1:26:11 > 1:26:14But with William, I think in the end it was that boldness
1:26:14 > 1:26:18and that sense of adventure in his performance.
1:26:18 > 1:26:21So, William the Conqueror! THEY LAUGH
1:26:21 > 1:26:23Congratulations.
1:26:23 > 1:26:25That looks pretty good, no? It's really...
1:26:25 > 1:26:29It's really beautiful actually. And how does it feel to hold it?
1:26:29 > 1:26:31Feels very rewarding. You know, it's...
1:26:31 > 1:26:32Feels very rewarding. You know, it's...
1:26:32 > 1:26:35You know, from even from bits that I heard, everybody played really,
1:26:35 > 1:26:39really well today and, you know, it was very, very close, I'm sure.
1:26:39 > 1:26:45And, you know, it's just this once but it feels really, really special.
1:26:46 > 1:26:49I think he really was the player that performed
1:26:49 > 1:26:52with his heart on his sleeve. He took the risks brilliantly.
1:26:56 > 1:26:58He had confidence.
1:26:58 > 1:27:01He had wonderful tone and he came on and he gave a polished,
1:27:01 > 1:27:03very mature performance.
1:27:04 > 1:27:07And I'm sure he will go on to many a great thing
1:27:07 > 1:27:10and best of luck to him.
1:27:14 > 1:27:16Very well done to William Dutton.
1:27:16 > 1:27:20And you will be able to see him perform again in four weeks' time
1:27:20 > 1:27:22as he takes his place in the semifinal
1:27:22 > 1:27:25of BBC Young Musician 2014.
1:27:25 > 1:27:28In the meantime, join us again here on BBC Four next week
1:27:28 > 1:27:31when we will have five extremely talented young players
1:27:31 > 1:27:33in the percussion final.
1:27:33 > 1:27:35See you then. BOTH: Good night.
1:27:37 > 1:27:40I wanted to give it a go and see what happened, really.
1:27:40 > 1:27:43Having the audience there is just thrilling.
1:27:43 > 1:27:47I'm just really, really excited and want to get out there and perform.
1:27:47 > 1:27:49It's a really great tradition to be part of.
1:27:49 > 1:27:53Making it to the final to play a concerto would be awesome.
1:27:53 > 1:27:55This competition is an actual music competition
1:27:55 > 1:27:58for people who work hard and want to be the best at their instrument.
1:27:58 > 1:28:00Not just be famous.
1:28:51 > 1:28:54In 1750, two visionaries were brought together