Welcome to the 2026 BBC Music Magazine Awards.
The nominated recordings for the 2026 Opera Award are listed below.
The nominees for the 2026 Opera Award
Bartók
Duke Bluebeard’s Castle
Rinat Shaham (mezzo-soprano), Gábor Bretz (bass-baritone); Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra/Karina Canellakis
Pentatone PTC5187225
Our reviewer was amazed and chilled by this concert take on Bartók’s blood-curdling masterpiece, Bluebeard’s Castle, our ‘Opera Choice’ for June. Gábor Bretz and Rinat Shaham are brilliantly risk-taking in their roles, and Karina Canellakis ‘conducts the orchestra as if her life depended on it,’ we wrote.
Lerner & Loewe
My Fair Lady
Scarlett Strallen, Jamie Parker et al; Sinfonia of London/John Wilson
Chandos CHSA5358(2) (2CD)
Lerner and Loewe’s musical has been a well-loved classic ever since its 1956 Broadway debut. Numerous cast recordings exist, but John Wilson and the London Sinfonia present here the first ever studio recording of the work in its theatrical entirety, played to ‘such a high standard as to make this an essential set for anyone seriously interested in the score.’
Wagner
Der fliegender Holländer
Lise Davidsen (soprano), Gerald Finley (baritone); Orchestra and Chorus of Norwegian National Opera/Edward Gardner
Decca 4870952 (2CD)
‘Edward Gardner generates massively pulsating energy every second of the way’ in Wagner’s mammoth opera, our June review said. Lise Davidsen gives a momentous, one-off performance as Senta, whilst Gerald Finley’s Holländer is penetrating. This electrifying recording is not one to be missed.
Vote for the winner of this year's Opera Award
Voting runs from Thursday 29 January to Wednesday 3 March. You can vote for your favourite from our three Opera 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.
