The winners of the 2020 BBC Music Magazine Awards

Welcome to the 2020 BBC Music Magazine Awards.

The BBC Music Magazine Awards celebrate the very best of the classical recording world, from ambitious symphony and opera releases to imaginative and intimate chamber and solo albums.

They're unique, too, as many of the winners are decided by you – from our shortlist announced back in January, thousands of you voted for the recordings that moved, excited and impressed you for their skill, musicianship and artistry.

We had planned to announce the winners at a ceremony at Kings Place in London – but we can instead the results for you here on our website. It's a phenomenal list, each winner showing a surfeit of variety, incredible talent and utmost dedication. And we hope they provide a lifetime of enjoyment for you all.

You can listen to all the winning recordings in our Spotify and Apple Music playlists.

So, as they say, on with the show!

Recording of the Year

Purcell
King Arthur
Anna Dennis, Mhairi Lawson, Rowan Pierce, Carolyn Sampson (sopranos), Jeremy Budd (high tenor), James Way (tenor), Roderick Williams (baritone), Ashley Riches (bass-baritone)
Gabrieli Players, Paul McCreesh
Signum SIGCD589

Orchestral Award

Korngold
Symphony in F sharp; Theme and Variations; Straussiana
Sinfonia of London/John Wilson
Chandos CHSA5220

Concerto Award

Dvořák * Martinů
Dvořák: Piano Concerto in G minor; Martinů: Piano Concerto No. 4, 'Incantation'
Ivo Kahánek (piano); Bamberg Symphony Orchestra/Jakub Hrůša
Supraphon SU 4236-2

Opera Award

Purcell
King Arthur
Anna Dennis, Mhairi Lawson, Rowan Pierce, Carolyn Sampson (sopranos), Jeremy Budd (high tenor), James Way (tenor), Roderick Williams (baritone), Ashley Riches (bass-baritone)
Gabrieli Players, Paul McCreesh
Signum SIGCD589

Chamber Award

Bartók * Veress
Veress: String Trio; Bartók: Piano Quintet in C major
Barnabás Kelemen, Vilde Frang (violins), Katalin Kokas (viola), Nicolas Altstaedt (violoncello), Alexander Lonquich (piano)
Alpha Classics ALPHA 458

Choral Award

Gabriel Jackson
The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ
Emma Tring (soprano), Guy Cutting (tenor); Choir of Merton College, Oxford, Oxford Contemporary Sinfonia/Benjamin Nicholas
Delphian DCD34222

Vocal Award

Janácek
The Diary of One Who Disappeared; Nursery rhymes; Moravian folk poetry in songs
Nicky Spence (tenor), Julius Drake (piano); Václava Housková (mezzo) et al; Victoria Samek (clarinet)
Hyperion CDA 68282

Instrumental Award

Andrey Gugnin
Shostakovich 24 Preludes, Op. 34; Piano Sonatas Nos 1 & 2
Andrey Gugnin (piano)
Hyperion CDA68267

Premiere Award

Edmund Finnis
The Air, Turning
Eloisa-Fleur Thorn (violin), Mark Simpson (clarinet), Víkingur Ólafsson (piano), Benjamin Bellman (violin)
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, London Contemporary Orchestra, Britten Sinfonia, Ilan Volkov, Richard Baker, Andrew Gourlay
NMC NMCD249

DVD Award

Barber
Vanessa
Emma Bell, Virginie Verrez, Edgaras Montvidas, Rosalind Plowright, Donnie Ray Albert (voices); The Glyndebourne Chorus; London Philharmonic Orchestra/Jakub Hrůša; Dir. Keith Warner (Glyndebourne, 2018)
Opus Arte DVD: OA1289D; Blu-ray: OABD7258D

Newcomer Award

Elicia Silverstein
The Dreams and Fables I Fashion
Works by Bach, Berio, Biber, Pandolfi and Sciarrino
Elicia Silverstein (violin), Michele Pasotti (lute), Mauro Valli (cello)
Rubicon RCD1031

BBC Music Magazine Personality of the Year

Mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton

Listen to the winning recordings on our Spotify and Apple Music playlists.