Gramophone Awards 2016: pianist Igor Levit wins Recording of the Year

15 September 2016, 21:33 | Updated: 15 December 2016, 11:50

Rachel Podger and Andris Nelsons also take awards this year, while Christa Ludwig was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award

Pianist Igor Levit won the top award at this year's Gramophone Awards when his recital recording of variations by Bach Beethoven and Rzewski was named Recording of the Year 2016.

Conductor Antonio Pappano had led the way in the nominations with five recordings shortlisted – he wins the Opera category for his recent recording of Verdi’s Aida. Elsewhere, Vilde Frang wins the Concerto Award. 

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The 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award went to mezzo-soprano Christa Ludwig for her career that spanned over 45 years. The Young Artist of the Year Award went to baritone Benjamin Appl, who performed Schubert's song 'Erlkönig' at the ceremony.

The Orchestral category was won by the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Andris Nelsons with their recording of Shostakovich’s Symphony No.10. 

The Concerto award – supported by Classic FM – was won by violinist Vilde Frang for her performances of Britten and Korngold Violin Concertos.

Markus Stenz’s recording of Schoenberg’s Gurelieder takes the Choral Award while pianist Igor Levit’s album of Bach, Beethoven and Rzewski was named best Instrumental recording.

Warner Classics was named Label of the Year.

Here’s the full list of winners

Baroque Instrumental

Biber: Rosary Sonatas

Rachel Podger et al

Channel Classics (dist: RSK)

Baroque Vocal

Monteverdi: Madrigali, Vol 1 - Cremona

Les Arts Florissants / Paul Agnew

Les Arts Florissants (HM)

Chamber

Tippett: String Quartets

Heath Quartet

Wigmore Hall Live (HM)

Choral

Schoenberg: Gurrelieder

Gürzenich-Orchester Köln / Markus Stenz

Hyperion

Concerto

Britten, Korngold: Violin Concertos

Vilde Frang

Frankfurt RSO / James Gaffigan

Warner Classics

Contemporary

Abrahamsen: let me tell you

Barbara Hannigan, BRSO / Andris Nelsons

Winter & Winter (Discovery)

Early Music

Taverner: Western Wind

Taverner Choir & Players / Andrew Parrott

Avie (Proper)

Instrumental

Bach. Beethoven. Rzewski: Variations

Igor Levit

Sony Classical

Opera

Verdi: Aida

Sir Antonio Pappano

Warner Classics

Orchestral

Shostakovich: Symphony No 10

Boston SO / Andris Nelsons

DG

Recital

‘Mozart & the Weber Sisters’

Sabine Devieilhe

Pygmalion / Raphäel Pichon

Erato 

Solo vocal

‘Néere’ - Chausson, Duparc, Hahn

Véronique Gens; Susan Manoff

Alpha (RSK)