Gramophone Awards 2012 Special

Gramophone Award Special

View the Gramophone Award 2012 winners list here

After making his winners predictions David dedicated his show to three of the big winners: Joseph Calleja , the Artist of the Year, Claudio Abbado who collected the Lifetime Achievement Award and the recipient of the Piano Award, Murray Perahia.

David Mellor's predictions and his personal picks from the nominated recordings for the Gramophone Awards 2012 .

"I've selected some of my favourites from the thirty-nine albums that have been shortlisted for the thirteen 2012 Gramophone Category Awards and I'm thrilled that amongst the shortlisted albums are many that I have featured previously on my New Releases Show."

View the Gramophone Award 2012 nominations list here

Category: Concerto
 - Beethoven. Berg Violin Concertos


Isabelle Faust, Orchestra Mozart / Claudio Abbado
Harmonia Mundi
What David says: "A marvelous album featuring the violinist Isabelle Faust, I hailed this back in February 2012 as an outstanding performance, the whole thing is very special. It's a nomination for the best concerto recording, it's in a very strong group but I have a hunch that this might even win." Featured as David’s Album of the Week on 25th February 2012.

Category: Choral 
- Howells Requiem. St Paul’s Magnificat and Nunc dimittis03


Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge / Stephen Layton

Hyperion
What David says : "This is a quality recording and I love this album, the choir of Trinity College, Cambridge perform wonderfully well." David’s Album of the Week on 28th April 2012.

Category: Instrumental - Chopin Complete Waltzes


Stephen Hough

Hyperion
What David says : "This recording was my album of the week back in 2011, a fantastic recording from one of our finest pianists." 

Category: Instrumental Chopin. Liszt. Ravel Piano Works


Benjamin Grosvenor
Decca
What David says: "A very excitable performance of Chopin on this album from the young pianist. Everyone predicts a bright future for Benjamin Grosvenor and as a virtuoso he is very impressive."

Category: Historic - Chopin Etudes

Maurizio Pollini

Testament
What David says: "The Historic category includes a recording of Chopin Etudes which Maurizio Pollini, when very young recorded for EMI and then refused to have it released. It was finally released last year on Testament having lain in the archives for half a century. I must say that I gave it a good review when I had it on the New Releases Show and I'm glad to see that it's been picked up as potentially a worthy winner."

Category: Orchestral - Beethoven Symphonies Nos 1-9. Overtures

Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra / Riccardo Chailly
Decca Classics
What David says:   "I want to hail this recording in the orchestral category - these were trailblazing accounts where Chailly threw out the traditional way that orchestras played Beethoven and got into something more propulsive, faster and fleeter of foot. I made this my orchestral recording of the year for 2011 so I hope very much that it will do well."

Category: Recital - Arias for Guadagni


Iestyn Davies, Arcangelo / Jonathan Cohen
Hyperion
What David says: "This tribute album featuring Iestyn Davies was one of my recent albums of the week. Iestyn recalls Guadagni in 18 arias by various internationally celebrated European composers of the period and even manages to dig up an aria that Guadagni wrote himself - splendid stuff." Featured as David’s Album of the Week on 7th July 2012.

Category: Recital - Wagner Scenes

René Pape, Plácido Domingo, Staatskapelle Berlin / Daniel Barenboim
Deutsche Grammophon
What David says: "René Pape is one of my favourite singers and this recording with the choir and orchestra of the Berlin Staatskapelle consists of some of the finest bass arias from Wagners cannon."

Category: Concerto - Shostakovich Piano Concertos

Alexander Melnikov, Mahler Chamber Orchestra / Teodor Currentzis
Harmonia Mundi
What David says: "One of Alexander Melnikov's competitors in this category is his partner Isabelle Faust. Melinikov rattles through the first movement of Shostakovich's Piano Concerto and it is thrilling - really thrilling recording!" Featured as David’s Connoisseur’s Choice on 19th May 2012.

Category: Opera - Massenet Werther 

Villazón; Koch, Royal Opera / Sir Antonio Pappano
Deutsche Grammophon 
What David says: "I don't know if it will win the Opera category as there is some stiff competition for this live recording  but I love  it and and I'm thrilled that it's been nominated for a Gramophone opera award."  Featured as David’s Album of the Week on 21st April 2012.

Category: Orchestral - Stravinsky The Rite of Spring. Firebird Suite

Budapest Festival Orchestra / Iván Fischer
Channel Classics
What David says: "The marvelous Budapest Festival Orchestra deliver delightful performances of Stravinsky's the Firebird Suite. Who will win the orchestral award? Well, all will be revealed on Thursday 27 September at the Dorchester Hotel." Featured as David’s Album of the Week on 3rd March 2012.

The prestigious Gramophone Awards took place on Thursday 27 September at London’s Dorchester Hotel, hosted by Eric Whitacre and international opera star Danielle de Niese.