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: Bayerisches Staatsorchester (Germany), Budapest Festival Orchestra (Hungary), Czech Philharmonic (Czech Republic), The Hallé (UK), Les Siècles (France), Mahler Chamber Orchestra (Europe), Oslo Philharmonic (Norway), Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (USA), Sinfonia of London (UK), Vienna Philharmonic (Austria).

This week, we focus on ...

Oslo Philharmonic

To launch a conductor-orchestra partnership with the complete Sibelius symphonies makes quite a statement, but with one of the most sought-after conductors around on the podium, Klaus Mäkelä’s recorded debut clearly justified the decision. Deeply impressed by the cycle, Edward Seckerson concluded that ‘Mäkelä’s cycle is all of a piece, accomplished, insightful and full of the beauty and intrigue that make these works so perennially exciting. An uber-auspicious debut.’ While Mäkelä’s himself declared his Norwegian orchestra ‘a really wonderful group of people, but very serious and really engaged’.

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