Last Thursday at St. John's Smith Square in London, the 2015 Gramophone Classical Music Awards were presented to a wide range of honorees.
The prestigious Recording of the Year award went to Claudio Abbado's recording of Bruckner's Ninth with the Lucerne Festival Orchestra on Deutsche Grammophon—a recording made in the fall of 2013, just five months before the conductor's death.
The prize for best opera recording was presented to Esa-Pekka Salonen's take on Strauss's Elektra, with a cast led by Evelyn Herlitzius. Maria João Pires's reading of Beethoven's piano concertos Nos. 3 and 4, with the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Daniel Harding, took concerto honors; and the choral prize went to Sir Andrew Davis's reading of Elgar's Dream of Gerontius and Sea Pictures with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus.
Paavo Järvi, who Gramophone called "one of the most versatile and inspiring conductors of his generation," won Artist of the Year; German pianist Joseph Moog took Young Artist of the Year honors. The Lifetime Achievement award went to Bernard Haitink, who Gramophone editor-in-chief James Jolly regards as "one of the world's great conductors."
For a complete list of winners, see Gramophone's website.
Love the music?
Show your support by making a gift to YourClassical.
Each day, we’re here for you with thoughtful streams that set the tone for your day – not to mention the stories and programs that inspire you to new discovery and help you explore the music you love.
YourClassical is available for free, because we are listener-supported public media. Take a moment to make your gift today.
