Awards,
BBC Music Magazine Awards 2023: The Winners!
I'm coming to you direct from Kings Place in London this evening, where winners of this year's BBC Music Magazine Awards ceremony have just been announced. The coveted Recording of the Year Award has gone to Rachel Podger for her 'fascinating snapshot of rarely performed violin repertoire' Tutta sola on Channel Classics, the Personality of the Year prize to Finnish-Ukrainian conductor Dalia Stasevska (partly in recognition of the extensive fundraising activities which she's undertaken in support of her compatriots), and Newcomer of the Year to South African cellist Abel Selaocoe, whose debut album Where is Home? / Hae Ke Kae also showcases his talents as vocalist and composer.
Until 26th June we're offering discounts of up to 20% off all the winners (please note that discounts do not apply to downloads).
Recording of the Year and Instrumental
'Violinist Rachel Podger took us on a real voyage of discovery with this fine recording, which sought to unearth the works that inspired JS Bach’s own solo violin jewels. With ‘an explorative sense of excited discovery', Podger proved that instrumental greatness didn’t just begin with Bach.'
Read our in-depth interview with Rachel about the genesis of the project here.
Available Formats: SACD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC, Hi-Res+ FLAC
Orchestral
Bacewicz: Music for Chamber Orchestra, Vol. 3
Amadeus Chamber Orchestra of Polish Radio, Agnieszka Duczmal
'In a set of recordings spanning a number of years, conductor Agnieszka Duczmal and the Amadeus Chamber Orchestra revived a series of string works by one of Poland’s greatest, and often unsung, musical voices. The gutsy performances were described as ‘dynamic and full of life’ in our June issue review.'
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC
Concerto
Eclipse: Dvořák - Ginastera - Sarasate
Hilary Hahn (violin), Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, Andrés Orozco-Estrada
'In breathtaking performances of concertos by Dvořák and Ginastera, Hilary Hahn shared not just her usual technical brilliance, but revealed a deeper view of the music somehow. As our original review said, ‘Phrases are now more subtly lingered over, as though on occasion she can hardly bear to let them go.’'
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Opera
Lampe: The Dragon of Wantley
Mary Bevan (Margery), Catherine Carby (Mauxalinda), Mark Wilde (Moore of Moore Hall), John Savournin (Gaffer Gubbins/The Dragon); The Brook Street Band, John Andrews
'This was the premiere recording of German composer John F Lampe’s 18th-century spoof of Italian opera. While it tickled George II in the 1730s, this particular Dragon (loosely drawn from a Yorkshire folk ballad) didn’t take flight. It tickled our reviewer, too, who enjoyed the characterful performances by soloists Mary Bevan, Catherine Carby, Mark Wilde and John Savournin.'
Available Formats: 2 CDs, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Choral
Handel: Theodora
Lisette Oropesa (Theodora), Joyce DiDonato (Irene), Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian (Didymus), Michael Spyres (Septimius), John Chest (Valens); Il Pomo d'Oro, Maxim Emelyanychev
''This is now the benchmark Theodora; it is optimally cast, dramatically intense and luminously beautiful.’ So said our original review in the Christmas issue, and it hits the nail on the head as all involved brought their A-game to Handel’s mighty oratorio.'
Available Formats: 3 CDs, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Vocal
'Charlston shone on this recording, spotlighting Baroque heroines and tragediennes like Boudica, Ariadne and Dido, with gloriously expressive performances in duo with theorbist Toby Carr. Owain Park’s title work proved a hauntingly contemporary take on Baroque themes, making for a cohesive and eloquent programme.'
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Chamber
'Clarinettist Martin Fröst was really allowed to spread his wings with this very satisfying programme. The programme, entirely curated by Fröst, exhibits all of his skill (not only as performer, but composer and arranger) and the versatility of the clarinet itself. As our June issue review said, this was ‘a thrilling display of virtuosity.''
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Premiere
'Violinist Fenella Humphreys commissioned a handful of the works presented on this glittering celebration of all things Caprice, alongside other premiere recordings and a few Paganini numbers. Humphreys channelled that composer’s virtuosity for a selection we called ‘diverse but surprisingly cohesive.’'
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Newcomer
'Cellist/vocalist Abel Selaocoe might be the star of the show in this debut album recording, but his passion for collaboration shone brightly in performances with fellow cellist Yo-Yo Ma, theorbist Elizabeth Kenny and a host of talented musical friends from groups like Chesaba and Manchester Collective.'
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Personality of the Year - Dalia Stasevska
The Kyiv-born conductor has devoted much of her energies this year to supporting the people of Ukraine, both on and off the podium: as well as leading concerts of music by Ukrainian composers and even conducting one such programme in Lviv, she's raised substantial sums of money for humanitarian charities and made numerous journeys to her homeland in order to deliver food-supplies and vital equipment in person.
Stasevska took up the position of Chief Conductor of the Lahti Symphony Orchestra in autumn 2021; her debut recording with them, featuring piano concertos Rautavaara and Martinů with Olli Mustonen, will be released on BIS next month.
Chris O'Reilly - Chief Executive
