Gramophone's Orchestra of the Year Award is the only Gramophone Classical Music Award decided by public vote (vote here). The 10 orchestras nominated this year are:

BBC Philharmonic (UK), Berliner Philharmoniker (Germany), Chicago Symphony Orchestra (USA), Le Concert des Nations (Spain), Danish National Symphony Orchestra (Denmark), Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen (Germany), Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra (Finland), London Philharmonic Orchestra (UK), Orchestre de Paris (France), National Symphony Orchestra (USA)

This week, we focus on ...

Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra (Finland)

In the UK we’re used to Finnish conductors dominating our orchestral life (with great results!), but now the tables have been turned and Nicholas Collon, of Aurora Orchestra fame, is the first British conductor to head a Finnish orchestra. And what an auspicious start they’ve made together – and the recordings come thick and fast. Music by Grażyna Bacewicz takes an Editor’s Choice this month, one of Thomas Adès had Andrew Mellor suggesting ‘it shows up the class of the FRSO’ and an album of Lotta Wennäkoski’s music was an ear-opener, not only for the music but for the superb orchestral playing. And these terrific recordings perfectly demonstrate the breadth and questing nature of this fine ensemble’s approach to repertoire and genuinely inspired programming.

Vote for the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra

Playlist

Vote for Gramophone's Orchestra of the Year 2023: