Welcome to the 2026 BBC Music Magazine Awards.
The nominated recordings for the 2026 Vocal Award are listed below.
The nominees for the 2026 Vocal Award
Brahms
Lieder
Christian Gerhaher (baritone), Gerold Huber (piano)
Sony Classical 19802897352
The expressive depths of Brahms's Lieder are intricately explored in this captivating record from Christian Gerhaher and Gerold Huber. The pair’s immaculate storytelling and dynamic precision paired with Gerhaher’s masterful phrasing make ‘the composer’s dark emotional response to the world live for us,’ said our reviewer.
Mahler
Songs of Fate
Anna Lucia Richter (mezzo-soprano), Gürzenich-Orchester Köln/Jordan de Souza
Myrios Classics MYR036
Anna Lucia Richter brings striking expression and intimacy to this cherishable recording of Mahler’s Des Knaben Wunderhorn and Kindertotenlieder – Christmas’s ‘Recording of the Month’ – infusing these works with both ‘naturalness’ and ‘artistic sophistication’. Beautifully accompanied by the Gürzenich-orchester Köln conducted by Jordan de Souza, her delivery ‘seems to come from another dimension.’
Lines of Life
Songs by Brahms, Schubert and György Kurtäg
Benjamin Appl (baritone), György Kurtag, Pierre-Laurent Aimard, James Baillieu (piano)
Alpha Classics ALPHA1145
Benjamin Appl first worked on György Kurtag’s Hölderlin-Gesänge with the composer in 2018, and this record is the result of that ongoing process. Joined on the keys by Pierre-Laurent Aimard, James Ballieu and Kurtäg himself, Appl’s interpretations of the ‘diverse settings’ on this record are an unmissable treat – his ‘ever-expressive baritone is infinitely characterful.’
Vote for the winner of this year's Vocal Award
Voting runs from Thursday 29 January to Wednesday 3 March. You can vote for your favourite from our three Vocal 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.
