BEST ORCHESTRAL PERFORMANCE | |
The Lost Generation
Works by Adolph Busch, Hans Erich Apostel,
Hugo Kauder
The Orchestra Now
Leon Botstein, conductor
“a marvelous, adventurous delectation of works rarely heard ... an honor to celebrate the brilliance of composers who kept their creative spirits alive despite the desperate political conditions in their homelands” – Opening Night
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BEST CLASSICAL INSTRUMENTAL SOLO | |
In Evening Light
Pēteris Vasks: Violin Concerto No. 2 (world premiere recording)
Sebastian Bohren, violin
Munich Chamber Orchestra
Sergej Bolkhovets, conductor
“Bohren proves to be an ideal champion. The long soaring lines are lovingly sustained and his tone, although lucid, allows for melancholy and uncertainty too. Yet there’s no lack of power” – The Strad
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Rêves
Ysaÿe: Violin Concerto in E Minor, Poème Concertant (world premiere recordings)
Philippe Graffin, violin
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Jean-Jacques Kantorow, conductor
"an enjoyable swagger and sweep … Philippe Graffin is fully committed: agile, with a lean tone which in the quieter and sweeter passages takes on a confiding intimacy that I found very persuasive” – Gramophone
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The Irish Seasons
Ailbhe McDonagh, Antonio Vivaldi
Lynda O'Connor, violin
Anamus, orchestra
David Brophy, conductor
"well-crafted and neatly paying tribute to Vivaldi while asserting its own national origin to rather good effect. It deserves further hearings ... a splendid performance” – Infodad
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they/beast
Pat Posey, tubax
"Posey’s Tubax is like drinking a delicious porter. Its lows are glorious and Posey dextrously wrestles through some very complex material. they/beast is a unique and sonically adventurous treat”
– The WholeNote
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Ravel: Complete Works for Solo Piano, Vol. 1
Vincent Larderet, piano
"leaves nothing to be desired (the sound is also brilliant and absolutely transparent) and his performances are characterised by crystal-clear chords ... A captivating start to an impressive endeavour” ★★★★★ – Fono Forum
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Sea of Stars
Works by J.S. Bach, Ravel, Scott, Stadler and more
Lauren Scott, pedal and lever harps
“Think you know the harp? Think again. Scott uses both pedal and lever harps for this set of works, including standout ones she composed herself ... revelatory, beautiful, raw, and rhythmic” ★★★★★
– BBC Music Magazine
Scala Radio Album of the Week
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BEST CHAMBER MUSIC / SMALL ENSEMBLE | |
Something Like This
Works by J.S. Bach, Kats-Chernin, Mozart and more
Sally Walker, flute
Emily Granger, harp
“a beautifully programmed collection of well-known works performed in sumptuous style” 10/10 – harp column
Album of the Week – ABC Classic Radio
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Hidden Flame
Works by Amy Beach, Clara Schumann, Rita Strohl and more
Yoshiko Masuda, cello
HyeJin Kim, piano
“Superb renditions ... These intimate performances invite and warrant repeated visits” – Textura
“delightful … a fine CD full of excellent playing”
– Whole Note
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Soul of Brazil
Delgani String Quartet
Clarice Assad, vocals and piano
“exotic, passionate and exciting … first class performance … A most enjoyable album”
– Stringendo
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Boccherini: Chamber Works for Flute
Sally Walker, flute
Elizabeth Layton, violin | Alison Rayner, violin
Stephen King, viola | Thomas Marlin, cello
Celia Craig, oboe | Mark Gaydon, bassoon
Sarah Barrett, horn | Robert Nairn, double-bass
“Walker’s boldness gives emotional depth to the music … she clearly relishes this part, tinging her allegro melodies with dancing arabesques that fill her line with an impish, infectious humour” ★★★★★
– BBC Music Magazine
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BEST CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL COMPOSITION | |
The Irish Four Seasons
Ailbhe McDonagh, composer
Lynda O'Connor, violin | Anamus, orchestra |
David Brophy, conductor
"well-crafted and neatly paying tribute to Vivaldi while asserting its own national origin to rather good effect. It deserves further hearings ... a splendid performance” – Infodad
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Ija Mia: Soundscape of the Sephardic Diaspora
East of the River
Daphna Mor, voice and recorders
Nina Stern, recorders
“With their cosmopolitan, multi-instrumental bandmates, Stern and Mor perform on recorders with as much flair as scholarly acumen… these musicians serve as superb ambassadors with the verve of a 15th-century jam-session” – Early Music America
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BEST ENGINEERED ALBUM, CLASSICAL | |
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR, CLASSICAL | |
Adam Abeshouse
Ives: Piano Sonata No. 2 “Concord, Mass., 1840–1860”
The St. Gaudens (“Black March”)
Donald Berman, piano
David v.R. Bowles
J. S. Bach: Mass in B Minor
Sherezade Panthaki, soprano | Rhianna Cockrell, mezzo-soprano | Thomas Cooley, tenor |
Paul Max Tipton, bass-baritone
Cantata Collective
Nicholas McGegan, conductor/harpsichord
Erica Brenner
Biber: Mystery Sonatas
Alan Choo, violin
Apollo’s Fire | Jeannette Sorrell, director/harpsichord
Handel: Israel in Egypt
Margaret Carpenter Haigh, Molly Netter, sopranos |
Daniel Moody, countertenor | Jacob Perry, tenor |
Edward Vogel, baritone
Apollo’s Fire, Apollo’s Singers | Jeannette Sorrell, conductor
Judith Sherman
Hidden Flame
Yoshiko Masuda, cello | HyeJin Kim, piano
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