Gramophone’s annual awards are a highlight of the classical music year and are often referred to as the Oscars of the classical world.

A panel of reviewers and staff, under the stewardship of the editor, select the classical music recordings of the year, and reveal them in a special celebratory issue of the magazine.

The winning musicians – who usually attend in person – receive their awards at a glittering and often emotional ceremony in London, one that’s attended by the leading figures of the classical music world. Recent recipients and presenters have included Dame Janet Baker, Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Sir Peter Hall, Joyce DiDonato, Antonio Pappano and Sir David Attenborough.

The power of a Gramophone accolade means that sales of the winning discs increase significantly as soon as the awards are announced, and the media coverage generated by the Awards is not only substantial but also global.

Apart from highlighting the outstanding musical performances of the year, the Gramophone Awards also honour a leading figure with the presentation of a much-coveted Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Gramophone Awards podcasts, a series of bi-weekly discussions with Gramophone’s critics, saw a massive growth in 2011, with a reach of over 22,000 downloads each.