Grammophone's Greatest

It's awards-time again

Among the many awards that are handed out each year, there are only a few that can match the Grammophone's "Record of the Year" for both popularity and importance. That is because "Grammophone" has managed to write about classical music in a serious and yet accesible fashion, counting both Classical experts and occasional listeners among its many readers. And there's no arguing that this year's nominees are top of the crop:

Bach Cantatas Volume 1 Sir John Eliot Gardiner (SDG)

Beethoven Late String Quartets Takács Quartet (Decca)

Haydn The Seasons René Jacobs (Harmonia Mundi)
Berlioz Les Troyens (Lord Smith) Sir John Eliot Gardiner (Opus Arte)
Haydn The 'Paris' Symphonies (Nos 82-87) Nikolaus Harnoncourt (DHM)
Gounod. Massenet Opera arias Rolando Villazón (Virgin Classics)

On the other hand, there's also no arguing that this is the league of honourable gentlemen and that nominations sadly lack taking any riscs. The many superb discs recorded by young artists are strangely absent, with Rolando Villazon being the only exception - and his CD might present him as an excellent singer and great talent, but is merely yet another collection of arias.

All of this should not divert from the fact that we're dealing with some truly magnificent recordings here. And for the first time, the public will also be able to cast its vote. Let's see who makes it all the way to the top when the winner is announced on September 29th.

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