In this third, and final, Orchestra of the Year Award podcast, James Jolly is joined once again by Rob Cowan to talk about the last quartet of orchestras competing for this prestigious award. They consider the two period ensembles - François-Xavier Roth's Les Siècles who have recorded a magnificent album of Debussy for Harmonia Mundi, and the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin who, with Isabelle Faust, have made a terrific Bach collection including the violin concertos (also for Harmonia Mundi). Our two modern instrument groups are the Hong Kong Philharmonic whose Wagner Ring under Jaap van Zweden, for Naxos, garnered some very fine reviews, and Vasily Petrenko's Royal Liverpool Philharmonic who have recorded Elgar for Onyx.

To listen to the contenders for the Orchestra of the Year Award, presented with Apple Music, go to our Awards page, sign up for a free three-month Apple Music trial subscription, listen to the playlists and cast your vote. The winner will be revealed at the Gramophone classical Music Awards on October 16. 

You can also listen to Episode 1 and Episode 2 of this special series of Orchestra of the Year podcasts. To hear other Gramophone podcasts, or to subscribe for free to new editions, search for 'Gramophone Magazine' in your Podcast application of choice, or visit Gramophone's page at iTunes.