Gramophone Awards 2011

The 2011 Gramophone Classical Music Awards 

Rarely have the Gramophone Awards so effortlessly celebrated the breadth of what the classical record industry has to offer, and this year there are a few surprises, too. The Awards, which this year we’re delighted to be presenting in association with Steinway & Sons, have been marking the industry’s outstanding work since 1977 and many of the recordings we’ve singled out have taken on classic status.

We have no doubt that this month's Recording of the Year, the Pavel Haas Quartet's recording of Dvorák Quartets Nos 12 (American) and 13 has every chance of earning such status. 'Plenty of feeling', 'rhythmic cut and thrust', 'drama' – these are are the words and phrases Gramophone turned to when inititally reviewing this remarkable recording. Do listen for yourself, and hear a superb ensemble on absolutely top form. You can explore the other category winners by clicking the links at the bottom of this page, as well as the winners of the Special Awards – join us as we celebrate the rich contribution to musical life across many decades made by Dame Janet Baker, and we salute the choice of you, our readers, in the Artist of the Year Award. If you'd like to know more about how the voting process worked, James Jolly explains here.

Six free tracks on iTunes

To mark this year’s Gramophone Awards, we are offering all our readers a free playlist with tracks from six Award-winners. You can enjoy this offer whether you listen to your music on your computer, iPad or iPhone. You’ll find plenty of other music from all of this, and some past, years’ honourees at great prices. There are also podcasts and much more that every follower of these Awards will want to explore. Offer is available until November 30 2011.

If you already have an iTunes account, type www.iTunes.com/gramawards into your browser, then click on the free playlist. If new to iTunes, visit www.iTunes.com/uk and click on the blue “Download Now” button to install (you'll need to set up an account, which requires registering your credit card details, though the Gramophone playlist is free - for more information about iTunes, and how it works, visit www.apple.com/uk/itunes/what-is.) Now type www.iTunes.com/gramawards into your browser and iTunes will open.

Download our special Awards Podcast
You can download or stream a special Awards Podcast. Introduced by editor-in-chief James Jolly, Gramophone critics introduce each of the winners, and you can listen to excerpts from the recordings. 

Listen to the winners and watch films from the event on the Gramophone Player
We've put together films of all the Gramophone Awards being presented, with comments from the critics and speeches from the recipients. Find them all in the Gramophone Player where you can also listen to tracks from all the winners.

Find out more more about our Awards headline sponsor Steinway & Sons