Winners Announced at the UK's Gramophone Classical Music Awards

A range of soloists, ensembles, and labels were recognized for their work over the past year, including VC Young Artist Johan Dalene

The UK-based Gramophone Magazine recently held its annual awards in its first in-person ceremony since 2019. A range of individuals, ensembles, and labels were recognized for their work over the past year.

Orchestra of the Year went to the Budapest Festival Orchestra, which is directed by Iván Fischer. This was the only award to be determined by public vote. 24,000 individual voters had their say, with 38% of those opting for the Budapest ensemble.

A recording of Korngold's Die tote Stadt was the recipient of Recording of the Year. It featured Jonas Kaufmann and Marlis Petersen, as well as the Choruses and Orchestra of the Bavarian State Orchestra conducted by Kirill Petrenko, with stage direction by Simon Stone.

Pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim picked up a Lifetime Achievement Award for his prominence as a performer over many decades, as well as his extensive recording output. According to Gramophone, Barenboim has "occupied the very highest echelons of classical music for over half a century." The citation also recognized his humanitarian beliefs.

VC Young Artist Johan Dalene took home the award for Young Artist of the Year and was present at the ceremony to receive the honor. The 22-year-old Swedish violinist was named an ECHO Rising Star and BBC New Generation Artist from 2019-2022. Dalene has recorded both the Sibelius and Nielsen concerti and won Denmark's Carl Nielsen Competition in 2019.

Chandos received the award for Label of the Year. The company was described as "showcasing partnerships both long-established and being newly nurtured, [releasing] albums which add both breadth and depth to the catalogue, [and having] a dedication to sound quality."

Mezzo-soprano Emily D'Angelo was the recipient of the Concept Album Award for her disc Enargeia. The album traversed works by women such as Hildur Gudnadóttir, Hildegard von Bingen, Missy Mazzoli, and Sarah Kirkland Snider.

Finally, pianist Leif Ove Andsnes and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra were awarded the prize for Special Achievement for their twin releases titled Mozart Momentum. The discs explored Mozart's works from the years 1785 and 1786, including concertante and chamber music works.

"Music has provided solace and hope, it’s brought people together thanks to many new and innovative technologies, it’s been recognized for the huge part it plays in societies all around the world," said James Jolly, Gramophone's Editor-in-Chief.

You can read the full list of awards here.