OK, they're not really new — though we'll surely be hearing much more of them than we have so far. Some of these artists are already quite prominent, if not yet superstars: mezzos Joyce DiDonato and Sarah Connolly, conductors Vladimir Jurowski and Alan Gilbert. Some are quickly ascending the operatic and concert ladders: countertenor Philippe Jaroussky, bass-baritone Jonathan Lemalu, violinist Julia Fischer.

A few gained rapid prominence as a result of impressive, high-profile awards. 25-year-old Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel, for instance, won the first Gustav Mahler Conducting Competition in 2004, and promptly acquired international management (Askonas Holt) and a recording contract (Deutsche Grammophon). Trumpeter Alison Balsom was selected as one of BBC Radio 3's New Generation Artists, the sort of honor more likely to go to a pianist, violinist or cellist. Argentine-born pianist Ingrid Fliter was just named the 2006 Gilmore Artist — and it's worth remembering, in terms of her future, that her two immediate predecessors are Piotr Anderszewski (2002) and Leif Ove Andsnes (1998).

And at least one musician on Gramophone's list is, in the humble opinion of a certain writer and editor, already among the very best in the world at what she does: 32-year-old soprano Carolyn Sampson, to these ears unsurpassed in the music of the late Baroque.

The magazine has found some very eminent persons to sing the praises of these rising young stars. Daniel Barenboim declares that Dudamel already "knows everything one cannot learn about music." Mariss Jansons says that the singing of his fellow Latvian, mezzo Elina Garanca, will "bring joy to music lovers around the world." Alfred Brendel calls young violinist Lisa Batiashvili "a musician of the highest gifts"; Christoph von Dohnšnyi says Alan Gilbert is a "born musician" and "one of the leading conductors of the future." Martha Argerich calls pianist Nicholas Angelich "a very special case, quite fascinating, who also interests me as a person."

The August 2006 issue of Gramophone magazine is now on sale.

Gramophone's 20 "Classical Music Superstars of the Future"

_㢠Nicholas Angelich, piano; Age 35; Born in USA
_㢠Alison Balsom, trumpet; Age 27; Born in Britain
_㢠Lisa Batiashvili, violin; Age 27; Born in Georgia
_㢠Han-Na Chang, cello; Age 23; Born in Korea
_㢠Sarah Connolly, mezzo-soprano; Age 43; Born in Britain
_㢠Joyce DiDonato, mezzo-soprano; Age 37; Born in USA
_㢠Gustavo Dudamel, conductor; Age 25; Born in Venezuela
_㢠Ingrid Fliter, piano; Age 32; Born in Argentina
_㢠Julia Fischer, violin; Age 23; Born in Germany
_㢠Martin Fr‹st, clarinet; Age 25, Born in Sweden
_㢠Elina Garanca, mezzo-soprano; Age 29; Born in Latvia
_㢠Alban Gerhardt, cello; Age 37; Born in Germany
_㢠Alan Gilbert, conductor; Age 39; Born in USA
_㢠Philippe Jaroussky, countertenor; Age 28; Born in France
_㢠Vladimir Jurowski, conductor; Age 34; Born in Russia
_㢠Jonathan Lemalu, bass-baritone; Age 30; Born in New Zealand
_㢠Kate Royal, soprano, Age 27; Born in England
_㢠Carolyn Sampson, soprano; Age 32; Born in Britain
_㢠Yevgeny Sudbin, piano; Age 26; Born in Russia
_㢠Ilan Volkov, conductor; Age 29; Born in Israel