Gramophone Awards 2010

The Gramophone Awards – the most influential such prizes in the classical music world – took place on Friday, 1 October, at London’s Dorchester Hotel, before an audience which included many of music’s brightest and best. These included winners such as the conductor Antonio Pappano, the great pianist Alfred Brendel, and mezzo-soprano of the moment Joyce DiDonato.

Various music performances alternated with speeches that were witty or touching, and often both. The ceremony culminated in a rapt performance of, of all things, “Somewhere Over The Rainbow’ by a clearly moved DiDonato (who had only moments before been surprised to win the Artist of the Year accolade), with Pappano at the piano – a real collectors’ item.

There has been vast media coverage, including the now-annual partnership with The Times – Gramophone’s media partner for the Music In The Community Award (presented to a choirmaster from the voluntary music world) – BBC Radio Four’s Today Program, and BBC Breakfast Television. There was lavish coverage on BBC Radio Three and more features are still to come in other newspapers. In addition, syndicated news agency Reuters reported and sent a camera crew to the event.

The launch of the new Gramophone Player on the Gramophone website provided an incentive this year for us the film the event ourselves, and edited highlights of the day are available to view, either at www.gramophone.co.uk or on Gramophone’s YouTube channel. As well as full coverage of all the recording awards at our website, there is a most enjoyable whirlwind overview of the event below. Thanks for a hugely successful event go to everyone involved, especially ever-urbane host and Gramophone editor-in-chief James Jolly.