Instrumental Award 2023
The nominees this year's BBC Music Magazine Instrumental Award
Voting has now closed
Welcome to the 2023 BBC Music Magazine Awards
This year’s nominated recordings for the Instrumental Award are listed below. Voting has now closed and the winners will be revealed at our Awards ceremony at Kings Place on Wednesday 19 April.
The nominations for the Instrumental Award
Mozart
Complete Piano Sonatas
Robert Levin (fortepiano)
ECM ECM 2710-16
Robert Levin proved fearless and insightful in this complete survey of Mozart’s piano sonatas, performed on the composer’s own fortepiano. ‘The whole project is a stunner,’ said our review. ‘Without neglecting faithfulness to the letter, Levin prioritises faithfulness to the spirit. This treasurable set may cast crucial light not only on these sonatas, but also on how we consider the very nature of historical performance.’
Tutta sola
Works by Westhoff, Roman, JS Bach, Matteis, Tartini, Geminiani
Rachel Podger (violin)
Channel Classics CCSA44422
Violinist Rachel Podger took us on a real voyage of discovery with this fine recording, which sought to unearth the works that inspired JS Bach’s own solo violin jewels. With ‘an explorative sense of excited discovery,' Podger proved that instrumental greatness didn’t just begin with Bach.
Bacewicz
Piano Works
Peter Jablonski (piano)
Ondine ODE1399-2
The Polish composer’s energy and focus is more than apparent in this collection of piano compositions, including her Ten Concret Etudes. The whole was showcased with ‘muscular conviction’ by Swedish pianist Peter Jablonski, who brings intelligence and sensitivity to the keyboard in this much-needed survey.
