Norway's Spellemann Prize Announces 2025 Nominees

Eldbjørg Hemsing, Klaus Mäkelä, Mathias Halvorsen, and the Oslo String Quartet have been nominated

Founded in 1972, the Spellemann Prize is Norway's equivalent of the GRAMMY Awards — and the prizes are presented annually to artists and creators who have released distinguished recordings in the past year. Each year, the jury comprises members of IFPI Norway and the label association FONO.

Awards are given out across many genres of music in 21 different categories. In 2025, there are four nominees in the classical music category.

Violinist Eldbjørg Hemsing has been nominated for her disc of works by Andreas Hillborg, including his Violin Concerto no. 2 and Liquid Marble. Recorded with Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, the album was released on the Sony Classical label.

Conductor Klaus Mäkelä and the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra have been nominated for their recording of Shostakovich Symphonies 4, 5, & 6, which was released on the Decca Classics label.

Pianist Mathias Halvorsen has been nominated for his disc, which contains two concerti for the left hand only, by Ravel and Korngold. He is joined by the Norwegian Radio Orchestra and conductor Otto Tausk, and the disc was released on the Backlash Music label.

Finally, the Oslo String Quartet has been nominated for their disc Learn to Wait. Released on the OSQ label, the album features works by Benjamin Britten, György Ligeti, and the contemporary Norwegian composer Nils Henrik Asheim.