Sasha Witteveen wins the Bottesini double bass competition
Dutch double bassist Sasha Witteveen has won the tenth International Bottesini Competition in Crema, Italy, receiving a new instrument made by Marco Nolli. Four finalists performed the same Bottesini concerto with an orchestra. The result adds to the 23-year-old musician’s earlier competition successes as she begins her tenure leading the Netherlands Philharmonic’s double bass section.
Arts··Night
Four finalists perform in Crema
Dutch double bassist Sasha Witteveen has won the tenth International Bottesini Competition, a contest devoted to her instrument in Crema, Italy. The 23-year-old musician received a new double bass built by instrument maker Marco Nolli. The final was held at Teatro San Domenico, the theatre hosting the competition in the town in Italy.[1], [2]
All four musicians who reached the final performed Giovanni Bottesini’s Double Bass Concerto No. 2 in B minor. They played with the Bottesini Orchestra, conducted by Enrico Fagone. The orchestral final brought each of the four soloists to the same concerto before the international jury decided the prize order.[1]
Carrara and Kang receive instrument prizes
Nicola Carrara, a 24-year-old double bassist from Italy, finished second and received an instrument made by Richard Gonon. Harine Kang, 21, from South Korea took third prize. Her awards included a bow made by Marco Pasquino and a hard-shell double bass flight case made by Bogaro & Clemente for transporting the large instrument.[1]
Juri Chae received fourth prize. Carrara also won the special award for the best performance of the work by composer Giovanni Sollima. The scholarship reserved for competitors under 18 went to Yeeun Kim. These additional awards recognised a specific performance and a younger competitor alongside the main competition places.[1]
Witteveen leads the Netherlands Philharmonic basses
Witteveen has served as principal double bass of the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra since August. Her earlier orchestral experience includes academy positions with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Budapest Festival Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra of Europe. Her earlier prizes include the International Youth Bass Competition in Lucca, the British Double Bass Competition, the Princess Christina Competition and the Viennese Bass Days Competition.[1]
The International Bottesini Competition, founded by Franco Petracchi in 1989, has now reached its tenth edition devoted to double bass playing. Valerio Vicari chaired this edition’s jury, joined by Enrico Fagone, Maren Reck, Young Soo Lee, Alberto Bocini and DaXun Zhang.[1]
