Martin James Bartlett, Piano

James Bartlett Martin James Bartlett possesses a fearless technique and plays with a maturity and elegance far beyond his years. The British pianist is the inaugural recipient of the Prix Serdang in 2022, a Swiss prize curated by Rudolf Buchbinder in recognition of the achievements of a promising young pianist while forging an international solo career.

Highlights of Bartlett’s 2023-24 season include debuts with the European Union Youth Orchestra under Manfred Honeck at the Grafenegg Festival, Stockholm Philharmonic under Jukka-Pekka Saraste at the Merano Festival and NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra under Jonathan Bloxham.

Recent concerto highlights include a UK tour with the Sinfonia of London under the baton of John Wilson, and a European tour with the LGT Young Soloists, performing Philip Glass’s ‘Tirol’ piano concerto at the Berlin Konzerthaus, Vienna Musikverein and Hamburg Elbphilharmonie, culminating in a gala performance for the Prince and Princess of Liechtenstein in London.

An exclusive recording artist with Warner Classics, Bartlett has released two widely acclaimed albums on the label. Rhapsody (2022), recorded with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Joshua Weilerstein and featuring concerti by Rachmaninoff and Gershwin, was released to critical acclaim, receiving accolades including Editor’s Choice on Gramophone and a 5-star review in BBC Music Magazine. His debut recital album Love and Death (2019), an exploration of the elemental themes and ranging from Bach to Prokofiev, received outstanding reviews in The Times, The Guardian and The Sunday Times. For Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s 90th Birthday, he performed at the National Service of Thanksgiving, which was broadcast live on BBC One from St. Paul’s Cathedral.

In August 2020, Bartlett was announced as the winner of the Virtu(al)oso Global Piano Competition by Piano Cleveland. In 2018, he was awarded 2nd prize and the Audience Award at the Kissingen Piano Olympiad. In 2021, he was awarded the Queen Mother Rosebowl by HRH Prince Charles and graduated with a first-class Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree, and an Artist’s Diploma from the Royal College of Music, having studied under Professor Vanessa Latarche. From 2020 to 2022, Bartlett was the RCM Benjamin Britten Piano Fellow, and made his play-direct and conducting debut with the London Mozart Players at the Cheltenham and Ryedale festivals in 2022 leading works by Pärt, Mozart and Britten. In 2019, Bartlett was awarded first place at the 2019 Young Concert Artists International Auditions in New York.