Welcome to the 2026 BBC Music Magazine Awards.
The nominated recordings for the 2026 Concerto Award, in association with ABRSM, are listed below.
The nominees for the 2026 Concerto Award
Kalevi Aho • Magnus Lindberg
Clarinet Concertos
Julian Bliss (clarinet); BBC Scottish SO/Taavi Oramo
Signum Classics SIGCD898
In his introductory note, Julian Bliss says the Lindberg and Aho clarinet concertos are ‘two of the greatest of the 21st century.’ ‘It’s a bold claim,’ said our reviewer, ‘and one that is easy to endorse.’ Indeed, these engaging works are brought to life by the virtuoso, who thrives in their colourful sound worlds.
Vivaldi
The Four Seasons; Violin Concerto in E major; Concerto for Strings and Solo Violin in G minor; Aria from Nulla in mundo pax sincera* etc
*Julie Roset (soprano); Orchestre Le Consort/Théotime Langlois de Swarte (violin)
Harmonia Mundi HMM902757.58 (2CD)
February’s ‘Recording of the Month’ praised a new and fresh recording of Vivaldi’s classic by Théotime Langlois de Swarte, one of the most exciting young figures on the early music scene today. ‘This is so compelling it will have you on the edge of your seat,’ our reviewer said.
Walton
Cello Concerto; Symphony No.1; Scapino
Jonathan Aasgaard (cello); Sinfonia of London/John Wilson
Chandos CHSA5328
Walton’s vibrant colours and textures are brought to life in the hands of John Wilson, a master in this repertoire. This is a fantastic recording of the composer’s orchestral works from the London Sinfonia, with our review (Christmas’s ‘Concerto Choice’) praising cellist Jonathan Aasgaard’s mesmerising and eloquent performance of the Cello Concerto.
Vote for the winner of this year's Concerto Award
Voting runs from Thursday 29 January to Wednesday 3 March. You can vote for your favourite from our three Concerto nominees below.
The purpose of this vote is to allow users to share their opinions on the shortlisted recordings for the BBC Music Magazine Awards. While the results will be of interest to other users and the BBC Music Magazine editorial team, it is not a representative sample and only reflects the views of those who choose to participate. Full terms and conditions can be found on our Terms and Conditions page.
About ABRSM
Since 1889, our goal has been the same – to help people start or continue their journey with music. We support learners from the first note they play, empower teachers who help build musical skills and partner with organisations to nurture the future of music. https://www.abrsm.org
