Three finalists for the final of the 9th Suggia International Prize

The three finalists for the 9th Suggia International Prize have been selected. Following the recital rounds on 27 and 28 June, three young cellists will take to the stage at the Sala Suggia for the final round on Friday 3 July at 9.00 pm, accompanied by the Porto Casa da Música Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Jan Wierzba.

Established in memory of Guilhermina Suggia — the Porto-born cellist who became one of the few women of her time to forge an international career as a soloist — the Prize brings together in the city some of Europe’s most promising young cellists, representing prestigious schools and conservatoires. In the final, each competitor performs a demanding concerto for cello and orchestra before a jury chaired by Maria de Macedo.

Florianne Remme (Netherlands, 2000) graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of Brussels, having begun her studies at the School voor Jong Talent at the Royal Conservatoire of The Hague. She was a member of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Academy and, since August 2025, has been co-principal cellist with the Residentie Orkest in The Hague. In the final, she performs Edward Elgar’s Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85.

Karolína Žáková (1999) is currently studying for a Master’s degree at the National Conservatoire of Music and Dance in Lyon, in Anne Gastinel’s class, having previously completed her Bachelor’s degree at the Haute École de Musique de Genève-Neuchâtel. Having won awards at various international competitions — including the Gustav Mahler Prize in Jihlava — she has shared the stage with orchestras such as the Prague Chamber Philharmonic. She performs Bohuslav Martinů’s Cello Concerto No. 1, H. 196.

Ziyang Zhao is studying at the Berlin University of the Arts in Danjulo Ishizaka’s class, having trained in Shanghai with Wang Jian and Li Jiwu. He won first prize at the 8th Antonio Janigro International Cello Competition and the Max Reger Prize at the Markneukirchen International Competition, and plays a cello by Niccolò Bianchi on loan from the Deutsche Stiftung Musikleben. The programme concludes with Edward Elgar’s Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85 — the same work chosen by Florianne Remme, in a comparison of interpretations that promises to be one of the highlights of the evening.

The evening thus brings together two of the great works from the cello concertante repertoire: Elgar’s twilight lyricism and Martinů’s rhythmic energy. The winner of the Prize will be announced at the end of the concert.