Welcome to the 2026 BBC Music Magazine Awards.
The nominated recordings for the 2026 Chamber Award, in association with Wigmore Hall, are listed below.
The nominees for the 2026 Chamber Award
Bach
Sonatas for Violin and Continuo
Isabelle Faust (violin), Kristin von der Goltz (cello), Kristian Bezuidenhout (harpsichord)
Harmonia Mundi HMM902698
Our ‘Recording of the Month’ in November saw Isabelle Faust team up with Kristin von der Goltz and Kristian Bezuidenhout to present a carefully considered and exquisitely performed programme showcasing the demanding material of Bach’s little-known violin works. According to our reviewer, Faust is a ‘splendid guide, not just thoughtful, but on occasion provocative.’
Bartok • Ligeti
Bartók: String Quartet No. 4; Ligeti: String Quartets
Marmen Quartet
BIS BIS-2693
‘The Marmen Quartet seem to have assimilated the music into their cells,’ said our reviewer about February’s ‘Chamber Choice’. Indeed, in their first album for BIS, the excellent ensemble take in their stride some of the most challenging string quartet repertoire of the 20th century. Highly expressive and extraordinarily intense throughout.
Schumann
Violin Sonatas
Alina Ibragimova (violin), Cédric Tiberghien (piano)
Hyperion CDA68354
This is Schumann’s violin sonatas understood to their very core and played with both the sensitivity and intensity that they demand. ‘Alina Ibragimova and Cédric Tiberghien are well established as a formidable, finely poetic duo,’ said our reviewer, ‘and this set of performances shows them at their vibrant best.’
Vote for the winner of this year's Chamber Award
Voting runs from Thursday 29 January to Wednesday 3 March. You can vote for your favourite from our three Chamber 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 Wigmore Hall
Wigmore Hall, in the heart of London’s West End, celebrates its 125th Anniversary this year. Renowned for its intimate, crystalline acoustic, it is one of the world’s leading concert halls and home to the UK’s largest classical music programme, presenting more than 600 concerts each year across chamber music, song, early music, solo recitals, jazz, world and experimental music.
Under the leadership of John Gilhooly CBE since 2005, Wigmore Hall attracts the world’s greatest artists while championing brilliant emerging talent. A centre for innovation since its earliest days, it is now one of the UK’s most important commissioners of new music, while remaining the custodian of a rich tradition and a celebrated home for chamber music and song. It hosts prestigious International Song and String Quartet Competitions to help identify and nurture the great musicians of tomorrow.
With its popular £5 ticket scheme for under 35s, regular free livestreams, partnership with BBC Radio 3, and an award‑winning Learning programme, Wigmore Hall continues to grow its audience and broaden its reach beyond its beautiful, 552-seat auditorium. Its work is sustained entirely through ticket sales and the generosity of its audiences and supporters.
