BBC Music Magazine has announced its annual awards, voted on by the public and some by a jury of critics. The big winner was the cellist Alisa Weilerstein, whose recording of the Elgar and the Carter cello concertos with the Staatskapelle Berlin and Daniel Barenboim won Recording of the Year, as well as the Concerto Award.
Riccardo Chailly's Brahms symphonies cycle with the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra won the Orchestral Award, while the Ebene Quartet's Felix and Fanny Mendelssohn disc won the Chamber category. Violinist Rachael Podger was victorious in the Instrumental section for her album "Guardian Angel". And Steuart Bedford's Peter Grimes with Alan Oke won the Opera Award.
There was more from Britten in his big anniversary year, when the Paul McCreesh recording of the War Requiem (Gabrieli Consort & Players, Wroclaw Philharmonic Choir) bagged the Choral prize. Fellow anniversary composer Wagner was represented by winner Jonas Kaufmann for his arias disc in the Vocal section. No Verdi anywhere though!
Sony's recent pianist signing Igor Levitt got the Newcomer Award, with composer George Benjamin winning the Premiere Award for his much-admired new opera Written On Skin, recorded by Nimbus. That show was premiered at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and the same venue's Tosca won Best DVD Performance (with a cast including Bryn Terfel, Angela Gheorghiu and Kaufmann, conducted by Sir Antonio Pappano).
The DVD The Genius of Cavaillé-Coll won DVD Documentary. And DG's Beethoven's Ninth Symphony app won the App Award.
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