Welcome to the 2024 BBC Music Magazine Awards
The nominated recordings for the 2024 Choral Award are listed below.
The nominees for the 2024 Choral Award
Saariaho
Reconnaissance: Choral Music
Helsinki Chamber Choir/Nils Schweckendiek
BIS BIS-2662
This collection of atmospheric choral works by the Finnish composer ended up being a rather poignant tribute to her, coming out just a matter of weeks after her untimely death. The Helsinki Chamber Choir made expressive work of the programme, inclding the otherworldly title work, Reconnaissance, here in its premiere recording.
Monteverdi
Vespro della beata Vergine
Pygmalion/Raphaël Pichon
Harmonia Mundi HMM 902710.11
Raphaël Pichon and Pymalion made some judicious creative decisions when taking on Monteverdi’s oft-recorded sacred work. Eschewing some of the liturgical elements, this recording was called ‘an attractive addition’ in our original review, its bright and lyrical tone offering a refreshing view of the great work.
James MacMillan • Tavener • Vaughan Williams
Choral Works
The Choir of Westminster Abbey/James O'Donnell
Hyperion CDA68420
This recording marked the end of music director James O’Donnell’s two-decade tenure at Westerminster Abbey and the performance of Vaughan Williams’s Mass in G minor was particularly special. ‘As the summation of a golden era in Westminster Abbey’s venerable choral tradition, this consummately performed programme is unmissable,’ said our original review.
Vote for the winner of this year's Choral Award
Voting will be open from Tuesday 23 January.
Choral Award
- Saariaho Reconnaissance: Choral Music
- Monteverdi Vespro della beata Vergine
- James MacMillan • Tavener • Vaughan Williams Choral Works
