Special Award Winners 2009
Harry Christophers and his group The Sixteen triumph as Artist of the Year at the Classic FM Gramophone Awards 2009.
It is the first time the award voted for by Gramophone readers and listeners to radio stations around the world including Classic FM, has been given to an ensemble. They have also won the awards in the Baroque Vocal category for their recording on Handel Coronation Anthems on their own label CORO.
The Sixteen emerged as clear front-runners from an extremely prestigious field. Their fellow nominees were: pianists Pierre-Laurent Aimard and Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, mezzo-soprano Sarah Connolly, soprano Diana Damrau, conductors Gustavo Dudamel, René Jacobs and Mariss Jansons, and bass-baritones Gerald Finley and Bryn Terfel. Not a bad selection to beat.
Other big wins at the lunchtime ceremony included a Lifetime Acheivement award for Nikolaus Harnoncourt, DG’s recent signing and young pianist Yuja Wang and a special achievement award to the founder of the much-loved classical label Harmonia Mundi, Bernard Coutaz.
Classic FM Gramophone Award Winners:
Artist of the Year: The Sixteen
Lifetime Achievement: Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Specialist Classical Chart Award: Howard Goodall’s “Enchanted Voices”
Label of the Year: ECM
Special Achievement (sponsored by BPI): Bernard Coutaz
Classic FM Innovation Award: Covent Garden and The Sun Paul Hamlyn First Night
Editor’s Choice: Stephen Kovacevich Beethoven Diabelli Variations
Young Artist of the Year (sponsored by Steinway): Yuja Wang
Music in the community Award: Streetwise Opera
