The Gramophone Classical Music Awards, an event steeped in tradition since its inception in 1977, celebrated its centenary year with a star-studded ceremony in London. The awards aim to honour exceptional solo artists, ensembles, and record labels for their significant contributions to the classical recording industry.
According to a The Violin Channel
report, the 2023 winners were announced, reflecting the rich diversity and talent within the classical music world.
Dame Felicity Lott, one of the UK’s most beloved sopranos, received the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. With over 100 recordings and a remarkable career interpreting Mozart and Strauss, she was recognized for her dedication to introducing new generations to the art form.
The Recording of the Year title was awarded to Fabio Luisi and the Danish National Symphony Orchestra for their outstanding performance of Nielsen’s Symphonies Nos 4 & 5 on Deutsche Grammophon.
French soprano Véronique Gens was crowned Artist of the Year, celebrating her exceptional contributions to French opera and song.
American violinist Stella Chen, a VC Artist, received the Young Artist of the Year award, acknowledging her extraordinary talent and promising future. Chen’s recent album, ‘Stella x Schubert,’ earned her this recognition, and she graced the ceremony with a mesmerizing performance.
The Orchestra of the Year, a public vote, was won by the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, with Artistic Director Paavo Järvi expressing gratitude to the public and his colleagues.
Swedish label BIS was celebrated as Label of the Year, marking its 50th year of excellence in the industry.
Helen Charlston and theorbo-player Toby Carr claimed the Concept Album Award for ‘Battle Cry: She Speaks,’ a collection of modern and early works that challenge the historical portrayal of female abandonment and lament in early music.
In category awards, British violist and VC Artist Timothy Ridout earned the Concerto Award for his recording of Elgar’s ‘Viola Concerto.’ This rare interpretation, originally a Cello Concerto for viola, was recorded with the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
The Opera Award went to the London Philharmonic Orchestra’s recording of Tippett’s ‘The Midsummer Marriage,’ conducted by Edward Gardner, marking the first commercially available recording of the work in half a century.
The Contemporary category was claimed by the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra’s album of works by composer Lotta Wennäkoski, conducted by Nicholas Collon, while Krystian Zimerman’s recording of piano works by Szymanowski won the Piano category. Nurit Stark’s collection of Hungarian music for solo violin and viola took home the Instrumental category award.
The Gramophone Classical Music Awards of 2023 were a testament to the enduring power and innovation of classical music, showcasing the talents that continue to shape the industry.
