Welcome to the 2026 BBC Music Magazine Awards.
The nominated recordings for the 2026 Instrumental Award are listed below.
The nominees for the 2026 Instrumental Award
Bach • Britten • Telemann • Caroline Shaw
JS Bach: Partita No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004 (Trans. viola); Britten: Elegy for Solo Viola; Telemann: Fantasia No. 1 in B flat major, TWV 40:14; Fantasia No. 7 in E flat major, TWV 40:20 (both Trans. viola); Caroline Shaw: in manus tuas (version for solo viola)
Timothy Ridout (viola)
Harmonia Mundi HMM902750
‘This is an album that proclaims the viola as a distinctive, individual solo instrument, ideally served here by its skilled interpreter.’ So said our review (June’s ‘Recording of the Month’) of this beautiful recital in which Timothy Ridout seamlessly interweaves arrangements of 18th-century and contemporary works, showcasing the often-overlooked instrument in all its glory.
Brahms • Schubert
Brahms: Piano Sonata No. 1 in C major, Op. 1; Schubert (Trans. Liszt): Song Transcriptions – Der Wanderer; Der Müller und der Bach; Frühlingsglaube; Die Stadt; Am Meer; Schubert: Fantasy in C major ‘Wanderer Fantasy’, D760
Alexandre Kantorow (piano)
BIS BIS-2660
January’s ‘Recording of the Month’ saw the outstanding Alexandre Kantorow add Schubert to his third disc featuring Brahms’s piano sonatas, a nod to the composer’s role in Schubert’s posthumous restoration. Kantarow is ‘blessed with a remarkable personal sound, it has the quality of a dark, warm roar from deep within the instrument, huge, highly coloured, but never harsh.’
Ravel: Fragments
Works by Ravel, Tansman et al
Bertrand Chamayou (piano)
Erato 2173260123
Ravel made keyboard transcriptions of his monumental orchestral works, including fragments from Daphnis et Chloé, which Bertrand Chamayou has assembled into a collection of original and tribute pieces, as well as his own transcriptions, for this marvellous album. The pianist brings dazzling colour and character to his imaginative programme, crowned by a ‘a titanic, gripping account’ of La Valse.
Vote for the winner of this year's Instrumental Award
Voting runs from Thursday 29 January to Wednesday 3 March. You can vote for your favourite from our three Instrumental 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.
