Welcome to the 2025 BBC Music Magazine Awards in association with Cruise Collective.
The nominated recordings for the 2025 Opera Award are listed below.
The nominees for the 2025 Opera Award
Louise Bertin
Fausto
Karine Deshayes; Karina Gauvin et al; Les Talens Lyriques; Flemish Radio Choir/Christophe Rousset
Bru Zane BZ1054
According to our May review (indeed the ‘Opera Choice’) Bertin’s music has ‘extraordinary qualities’, so it’s amazing to think that the opera was pretty much forgotten after its 1831 premiere until 2023. Christophe Rousset reveals Fausto’s riches with the help of a committed cast who each perform to a very high standard.
Kevin Puts
The Hours
Joyce DiDonato, Renée Fleming, Kelli O’Hara et al; The Metropolitan Opera/Yannick Nézet-Séguin
Erato 5419791052
Everything about this new opera got a big tick when it was reviewed in the June issue and while it may be based on both an esteemed novel and Oscar-winning film, Kevin Puts’s The Hours stands on its own, artistically. We described it as ‘…an absorbing, even harrowing, experience,’ brilliantly cast and thrillingly performed.
John Adams
Girls of the Golden West
Julia Bullock (soprano), Davóne Tines (bass-baritone), Paul Appleby (tenor); LA Phil/John Adams
Nonesuch 75597900484
American composer John Adams described Girls of the Golden West as ‘maybe’ his most personal opera; it shines a light on the inequality of California’s ‘golden’ dawn, when dreams were made of precious metal. Our ‘Opera Choice’ review praised both soprano Julia Bullock (‘on scintillating form’) and Davóne Tines, not to mention the brilliantly brooding choir.
- John Adams features in our list of the greatest American composers of all time
Vote for the winner of this year's Opera Award
Voting runs from Thursday 23 January to Friday 28 February. You can vote for your favourite from our three Opera nominees below.
The purpose of this vote is to allow users to share their opinions on the shortlisted recordings for the BBC Music Magazine Awards. While the results will be of interest to other users and the BBC Music Magazine editorial team, it is not a representative sample and only reflects the views of those who choose to participate. Full terms and conditions can be found on our Terms and Conditions page.
