Warner Classics has today announced a new partnership with the prestigious Leeds International Piano Competition. 

The record label will release a recording, both on CD and digitally, shortly after the September finals, ‘featuring The Leeds winner, or a finalist of their choice’ playing a Concerto with the Hallé conducted by Edward Gardner, and a selection of recital repertoire from the earlier rounds. The audio will be taken, and remastered, from medici.tv’s recording of the event.

The Leeds International Competition has long been a high-profile platform for young artists, and the exposure of a swiftly released major-label recording will further enhance that. Whoever the pianist may be, they will find themselves sitting in a catalogue among Warner’s other pianists, including George Li, Beatrice Rana, Bertrand Chamayou and David Fray. 

The competition prize also offers management with Askonas Holt, engagements with leading international promoters, festivals and orchestras including London’s Wigmore Hall, Southbank Centre and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, mentoring by pianist and Leeds co-artistic director Paul Lewis, and a cash prize.

Adam Gatehouse, co-Artistic Director of Leeds International Piano Competition said the deal is ‘part of our re-envisaging of what the Competition can bring to both audiences and competitors…Warner Classics, who have such a strong history in truly nurturing young artists, are the ideal partner in this and we couldn't be more thrilled to be working with them’.

Past winners of the Leeds International Competition include Radu Lupu, Murray Perahia and Alessio Bax.