Top Classical Music Artists of 2020

A list of the top classical music artists of 2020.

Introduction

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Classical music is art music produced or rooted in the traditions of Western culture, including both liturgical (religious) and secular music. While a more precise term is also used to refer to the period from 1750 to 1820 (the Classical period), this article is about the broad span of time from before the 6th century AD to the present day, which includes the Classical period and various other periods. The central norms of this tradition became codified between 1550 and 1900, which is known as the common-practice period.

Yiruma

Yiruma is a South Korean musician and composer. Born and raised in South Korea, Yiruma currently resides in England. His pieces have been featured on BBC Radio 3’s Pianothon and Classic FM’s More Music Breakfast. His work “River Flows in You” has been used in various films and television dramas, including The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 and The CW teen drama television series One Tree Hill.

Yiruma began playing the piano at the age of five and moved to England when he was eleven to study at Purcell School of Music. After graduating from Purcell, he attended King’s College London, where he studied for his Bachelor of Music degree. In 2006, Yiruma released his first album First Love, which topped the Korean music charts and reached number seven on the US Billboard World Albums chart.

Yiruma’s music is classified as contemporary classical or “new-age” music, but often incorporates elements of jazz and pop into his arrangements. He frequently releases new albums and compilations of older pieces; his latest album, Nocturne, was released in 2019.

2Cellos

2Cellos is a Croatian duo consisting of classical cellists Luka Šulić and Stjepan Hauser. They electrify audiences around the globe with their unique renditions of popular hits. 2Cellos continues to break down barriers by expanding the traditional definition of a classical music artist.

Lang Lang

Lang Lang is a Chinese classical pianist who has performed with leading orchestras in Europe, the United States, and Asia. He has been hailed as a virtuoso and one of the finest classical pianists of his generation.

Born in Shenyang, China, in 1982, Lang Lang began playing piano at the age of three and gave his first public performance at five. He was admitted to the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing at age nine, where he studied under Liu Wei. In 1999, he won the First Prize and Gold Medal at the International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians in Japan.

Lang Lang made his American debut in 2002 with the Cleveland Orchestra, and his European debut with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra in 2003. He has since gone on to perform with some of the world’s most prestigious orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, and London Symphony Orchestra. In 2006, he became the first Chinese musician to perform at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy.

Lang Lang is also a dedicated philanthropist and educator. He is a UNICEFAmbassador and goodwill ambassador for Special Olympics International. In 2013, he founded Lang Lang International Music Foundation to promote music education for children around the world.

Andrea Bocelli

Andrea Bocelli, (born September 22, 1958, Lajatico, Italy), Italian tenor and crossover artist who achieved international fame with his unique blend of opera and pop.

Bocelli’s parents worked the land in the small Tuscan town of Lajatico, and his father, Alessandro, also played the trumpet in a local band. At the age of five Bocelli began studying piano and soon added flute and saxophone to his arsenal. His talent was evident early on: by 12 he was playing in piano bars to help supplement the family income. Two years later he won a vocal competition that resulted in some local radio exposure.

David Garrett

David Garrett (born David Bongartz on September 4, 1980) is a German violinist and music producer. He specializes in classical crossover and rock Violin, and has released a number of successful albums. His playing style combines classical technique with improvisation, often in the form of electric or acoustic rock riffs.

Garrett was born in Aachen, Germany, to an English mother,Georgina, and a German father, Heinz-Georg Bongartz. His maternal grandparents were from Liverpool; his grandfather was oboist Maurice Kraemer, who played with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Garrett’s great-grandfather Leonard Hubner had been a composer and conductor in pre-war Germany; his grandfather John Hubner had been an actor in the UK during the war.

Josh Groban

Josh Groban is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. His first four solo albums have been certified multi-platinum, and he has achieved success as a crossover artist, bringing classical music to the mainstream. He was born in Los Angeles, California.

Groban’s musical style encompasses pop, rock, adult contemporary, classical crossover, and opera. His voice has been praised for its smoothness, power and range. He has sold over 30 million albums worldwide.

Groban began his career singing in high school productions and community theater; he was later discovered by producer David Foster. He made his recording debut in 2001 with the release of his self-titled album Josh Groban. This album featured covers of songs by popular artists such as “You’re Still You” and “To Where You Are”. In 2003, he released his second album Closer which included the hit singles “You Raise Me Up” and “All I Ask of You”. This album established him as a successful crossover artist bringing classical music to the mainstream.

Groban’s third album Awake was released in 2006 and featured the hit single “Your Body Is a Wonderland”. His fourth album Illuminations was released in 2010 and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart making it Groban’s highest charting album to date. The album includes the single “Hidden Away” which was co-written by Groban and American singer/songwriter Lionel Richie. Groban’s fifth album All That Echoes was released in 2013 and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Classical Albums chart making it his fourth consecutive No. 1 album on that chart. The album includes the lead single “The Lucky One”.

Sarah Brightman

Sarah Brightman is an English singer, actress, songwriter, and dancer. She has sung in many languages including English, Spanish, French, Latin, German, Turkish, Italian, Russian, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, and Catalan. Brightman began her career as a member of the dance troupe Hot Gossip and then joined the musical theater group Cats as a replacement for Judi Dench. She made her West End musical debut in 1984 playing Jemima in Cats and also performed in Starlight Express and The Phantom of the Opera.

Hayley Westenra

Hayley Westenra is a New Zealand singer, classical crossover artist, songwriter, and UNICEF ambassador. Her first internationally released album, Pure, reached No. 1 on the UK classical charts in 2003 and became the fastest-selling international debut classical album ever. She has performed for royalty and dignitaries all over the world, including Queen Elizabeth II, the Prince of Wales, and Nelson Mandela. In 2007, she was named Young New Zealander of the Year.