Welcome to the 2026 BBC Music Magazine Awards.
The nominated recordings for the 2026 Orchestral Award are listed below.
The nominees for the 2026 Orchestral Award
Handel
Water Music; Music for the Royal Fireworks (Water & Fire)
Collegium 1704/Václav Luks
Accent ACC24412
You might wonder what new insights can be brought to Handel’s Water Music and Music for the Royal Fireworks. But Collegium 1704’s reading ‘is so joyous and brashly nonchalant’ that our reviewer felt like they were hearing the works for the first time. Played exquisitely under the direction of Václav Luks, this recording ‘at times foregrounds inner voices unheard in previous recordings’.
Mahler
Symphony No. 7
Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra/Simon Rattle
BR Klassik 900225
Our ‘Orchestral Choice’ in March was a shining celebration of Simon Rattle’s 70th birthday. His latest take on Mahler’s Seventh – the composer’s ‘most fascinating and hallucinogenic symphony’, as our reviewer puts it – is mesmerising, inventive and detailed. The Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra exudes energy with ‘every dynamic, every sonority in its place.’
Schreker • Korngold • Krenek
Orchestra National des Pays de la Loire/Sascha Goetzel
BIS BIS-2722
Sascha Goetzel conducts lush and bold performances from the Orchestra National des Pays de la Loire in this brilliantly curated album which brings together three vital Austrian composers who were banned by the dictatorships of the 1930s. According to our review, ‘superb playing is matched by first-rate sound.’
Vote for the winner of this year's Orchestral Award
Voting runs from Thursday 29 January to Wednesday 3 March. You can vote for your favourite from our three Orchestral 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.
