Page 99 - RPS Awards 2024 Coverage Book

"And it feels like we've really stepped forward into the classical psyche, which is
wonderful," he said.

Degun picked up his award at a ceremony in Manchester - the first time the RPS
event has been held outside London in its 35-year history.

He composed and appeared in Orpheus, an acclaimed new version of Monteverdi's
Orfeo combining Indian and Western classical music for Opera North, which was
nominated for best large-scale composition.

'Brilliant album'

Degun's debut album, Anomaly, came out on Peter Gabriel's Real World Records in
2022.
"One of the musicians who I worked with on the album plays tennis with Peter
Gabriel," he said.

"So he put me in touch, and then we got an email from Peter saying, 'This is a
brilliant album.' That was the first domino of me being signed."

Previous winners of the RPS instrumentalist award include violinist Nicola Benedetti,
cellist Steven Isserlis and percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie.

Other winners this year included charismatic Scottish tenor Nicky Spence, who was
named singer of the year; and the London Symphony Orchestra's principal guest
conductor François-Xavier Roth, who won best conductor.

Ukrainian opera Chornobyldorf - described as "a post-apocalyptic fantasy" and
featuring often naked performers - won the opera and music prize, beating entries by
the Royal Opera and Glyndebourne.

A team of 20 singers, musicians and technicians travelled from Ukraine to stage it at
the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival and in a Liverpool nightclub last year.

'Big joy'

Composer Illia Razumeiko described the award as "a miracle".

"It's very unexpected for us to be listed together with big classical class-A opera
houses like Royal Opera," he said.

"It's a big honour and a big joy for all our team and all our our colleagues in Ukraine."
The BBC Singers, who were under threat of closure until a reprieve last month,
were named best ensemble; and the two-day Manchester Classical festival won best
event.

The award ceremony was held at Manchester's Royal Northern College of Music,
and the decision to stage it in the city was partly inspired by last year's wins for the