Lisa Beznosiuk (baroque/classical flute)

Key details:

Department:
Historical Performance
Role:
Baroque and Classical Flute

Biography

Born in England of Ukranian/Irish descent Lisa Beznosiuk is one of the world’s leading performers on early flutes. In her dual capacities as soloist and orchestral principal, she has travelled throughout Europe, Asia and North and South America, playing a wide range of 18th and 19th century repertoire with some of its finest interpreters.
 
It was whilst studying modern flute at Guildhall School that Lisa heard a lunchtime recital given by Stephen Preston; the simplicity, beauty & expressive power of the one-keyed, wooden instrument played by such a master made a huge impression on her. She completely fell in love with the new sound world and the possibilities it opened for understanding and playing baroque music, and went on to study  baroque and classical flutes with Stephen Preston and harpsichord continuo with David Roblou. This has led to a busy and varied career playing all sorts of different early flutes in music from the Renaissance, through Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Rossini, Brahms, Wagner to Tchaikovsky and Mahler.

The considerable enthusiastic critiques Lisa receives for her live and recorded performances regularly cite her “real musical intelligence” (Goldberg Magazine) and beauty of tone in particular (“warmest, woodiest and most alluring of them all” BBC Magazine.)Her solo recordings include the complete Handel Flute Sonatas for Hyperion “laser-accurate articulation and her blissfully precise intonation “ (Early Music Today), Vivaldi’s Op 10 Concerti which was chosen as the preferred choice on BBC Radio 3’s Building a Library, Mozart’s Flute Concertos, several versions of Bach’ Suite in B minor and his Fifth Brandenburg Concerto. 2002 saw the release of her complete Bach Flute Sonatas also for Hyperion which was hailed as the “prime recommendation” for the works and as “an outstanding achievement”, demonstrating  an “expressive and technical virtuosity of the highest order” by BBC Music Magazine. The Independent described this recording as “a perfect example of Beznosiuk’s dark, sweet tone and understated musicianship” and it received another 5 star recommendation from Goldberg Magazine. Her latest recording (for Avie) is of the Mozart Flute Quartets and the Beethoven Serenade which she performs on an original Grenser 4-keyed flute - “performances that are alert and sparkling” (Early Music). Concerto appearances in London have prompted press comment praising her “absolutely scintillating performance” with “pearly tone and breathtaking virtuosity” (The Times.)

As a valued principal player over many years in some of England’s best period instrument orchestras (Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, English Concert, English Baroque Soloists, Academy of Ancient Music, London Classical Players) she features prominently on many discs of orchestral music from Bach to Brahms. 

Lisa is a passionate and dedicated teacher and holds an international reputation as a teacher and chamber music coach and many of her former students are now successful and well-known flautists.