New classical music for 2022
Your favourite new classical musician could be in this list. Read on to discover top classical music composers on the rise in 2022.
Classical musicians in 2022 will be hoping, as we all are, that the worst of the pandemic is over. The classical music world suffered from restrictions meaning that choral performances, in particular, couldn’t go ahead, and subsequently new recordings were thinner on the ground in 2021.
Despite this, resourceful composers made the best of restrictions to explore innovate ways to write and perform orchestral music, embracing social media. And there were still plenty of highlights in the classical music world, such as the UK’s first all-woman and non-binary orchestra, Her Ensemble, hitting their stride after forming in lockdown.
Our classical musicians list for 2022 features ensembles and solo artists, emerging musicians and seasoned composers stretching out in new and interesting directions. Read on to discover our top classical music recommendations, from traditional to avante-garde, to challenge your ear and broaden your horizons.
Tangram
The composers in Tangram aim to bridge the gap between Chinese and western music cultures. Since 2018 co-founders Alex Ho and Reylon Yount have been gathering a group of orchestral musicians for boundary-pushing works.
2022 will see the collective launch more of their excellent projects like workshops, concerts and symposiums, all based around non-Eurocentric traditions.
Francesca Chiejina
Soprano Francesca Chiejina spent 2021 working relentlessly, and the world is richer for her versatile performances full of character.
This year Chiejina looks to be just as successful, with plans including lending her superb voice to play Mimì in La bohème for the English Touring Opera.
Rothko Collective
Rothko Collective challenge the traditional culture of orchestral music, aiming to bring classical music to a more diverse audience. They do this by encouraging their listeners to really focus on the sounds and exciting emotions of their experimental orchestral music, as witnessed on their debut album IINK.
Further projects in 2022 are sure to be just as fascinating and stimulating, and all with 50% of music by women or non-binary composers and a focus on non-white composers.
Abeo Quartet
Abeo Quartet is made up of Brian Gadbow, James Kang, Njioma Grievous, and Rebecca Benjamin. The four musicians perform with an enthusiastic freshness, opening up the world of classical music to the listener with an encouraging smile.
The quartet ended 2021 as finalists for Young Concert Artists – 2022 sees the rising stars studying chamber music at the University of Delaware School of Music.
Emily D’Angelo
Canadian-Italian mezzo-soprano Emily D’Angelo focused on music by women for her newly released debut album enargeia, with compositions from across a thousand years.
Her full and rich operatic voice will captivate more listeners around the world over the months ahead.
Klein
Experimental artist Klein’s 2021 album was the British-Nigerian composer’s first to be released through classical music label Pentatone. Recorded in lockdown, she repurposed what was available at home instead of recording with an orchestra as planned. The resulting album Harmattan is a playful, hypnotic work brimming with inventiveness.
Recap
Recap are four hugely talented percussionists Arlene Acevedo, Alexis Carter, Tiahna Sterling, and Aline Vasquez. See an example of their wordless synchronicity on a performance of “Count to Five” by Angélica Negrón played with found objects.
Focusing on bringing diversity to contemporary classical music, in 2022 Recap will collaborate with Alaskan indigenous artists on new work and tour their extraordinary debut album.
Want to discover more new music? Check out further lists of artists to watch in 2022: