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:

BBC Philharmonic (UK), Berliner Philharmoniker (Germany), Chicago Symphony Orchestra (USA), Le Concert des Nations (Spain), Danish National Symphony Orchestra (Denmark), Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen (Germany), Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra (Finland), London Philharmonic Orchestra (UK), Orchestre de Paris (France), National Symphony Orchestra (USA)

This week, we focus on ...

National Symphony Orchestra (USA)

If the orchestra of the USA’s capital has lagged in recognition behind the old-established Big Five of America (Chicago, Cleveland, New York, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh) or the newer wave of superb West Coast ensembles like Los Angeles and San Francisco orchestras, things may be changing. Led by Gianandrea Noseda, well known for his work at the BBC Philharmonic and Turin Opera, and as a dynamic guest with the LSO, the National SO of Washington is sounding very fine, the ensemble tighter and more punchy, the winds showing real character. These qualities are well demonstrated by the first releases in a series focusing of the music of the African-American George Walker (1922-2018), undeniably thorny, but music that responds excitingly to the kind of committed advocacy that Noseda and his orchestra bring. But if you want to sample them on more familiar ground, there’s a Beethoven symphony cycle in the offing – and we know how exciting Noseda can be in that music.

Walker Sinfonia No 4 Gianandrea Noseda (NSO, 1/23)

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Vote for Gramophone's Orchestra of the Year 2023: