Double triumph for Philharmonia at RPS Awards

Classic FM's Orchestra on Tour, The Philharmonia Orchestra, scooped two wards at this year's RPS Music Awards - the UK's most prestigious accolades for live classical music - and Classic FM was there...

The evening's only double-winner, The Philharmonia Orchestra picked up the RPS Award for Audience Development and RPS Music Award for Creative Communication for their re-rite project. Their interactive performance of Stravinsky's Rite of Spring, which took place over four floors of a Thames warehouse and at The Old Nursery, Leicester, gave visitors the chance to experience conducting, playing and being inside an orchestra.

Winner's of the 21st RPS Music Awards, announced at an awards ceremony at London's Dorchester Hotel on Tuesday 11 May, included composers Kaija Saariaho and Kevin Volans, pianist Stephen Hough, the London Sinfonietta, the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival and conductor Oliver Knussen. There was also a posthumous award for tenor Philip Langridge who died earlier this year.

Speaking at the awards, Graham Sheffield, Chairman of the Royal Philharmonic Society commented: "This is an exciting time for classical music in the UK. The quality, ambition and musical intelligence of our award winners - distinctive music makers from across the generations - speaks volumes. Whether through a fresh approach to traditional repertoire or a desire to seek out the new and different, nurture young talent or engage with new audiences, they are turning bold, often daring artistic ambitions into dazzling reality. Living proof that, even in straitened times, bold thoughts and brilliance can win through."

The keynote speech was given by award-winning artist Grayson Perry, who spoke about the importance of taking art and music seriously...

Listen to an interview with Grayson Perry

RPS Music Awards Winners 2010

Audience Development (in partnership with Classic FM)

Philharmonia with re-rite

Principal Conductor of the Philharmonia Orchestra Esa-Pekka Salonen tell Classic FM how the project's success exceeded expectations and why he's a 'bit of a geek' when it comes to new technology.

Listen to the interview with Esak-Pekka Salonen

Chamber Music and Song

Wigmore Hall: Haydn Bicentenary Season Celebrations

Executive Director of Wigmore Hall John Gilhooly talks about their win. Listen to the interview.

Chamber-Scale Composition

Kevin Volans: viola/piano

Concert Series and Festivals

Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival

Conductor

Oliver Knussen

Listen to an interview with Oliver Knussen

Creative Communication

Philharmonia with re-rite

Education

English touring Opera with Hall of Cornwall - One Day, Two Dawns

Ensemble

London Sinfonietta

Instrumentalist

Stephen Hough

Large-Scale Composition

Kaija Saariaho: Notes on Light

Opera and Music Theatre