It’s unusual to devote an editorial to looking ahead to the next issue but, well, we boldly defy convention. And it will be a special occasion for two reasons. The first, the most obvious, is that it will be time once again to announce the Gramophone Awards. Another exceptional year in music-making will be recognised on October 1 at London’s Dorchester Hotel – and you can certainly see the quality of the field on page 14 of this issue, where we announce the shortlisted recordings. From Daniel Barenboim’s marvellous DVD of Prokofiev’s The Gambler to a magnificent trio of song discs from Messrs Goerne, Gerhaher and Padmore, the list is stunning. It is bittersweet to note that the late Sir Charles Mackerras has two of the three nominations for the Orchestral Award, a worthy tribute to a much-missed conductor.

But there’s another reason why the next issue will be special. Having trialled the online Gramophone Listening Room for several months to a hugely encouraging response we are, instead of the cover-mounted CD that currently accompanies each issue, about to launch the all-new Gramophone audio player. From October, visitors to gramophone.co.uk will be able to access a listening experience that not only dwarfs the amount of music we have previously been able to offer on the CD but will act as the perfect way to enhance your experience of the magazine.

So, rather than brief excerpts of each of my Editor’s Choice recommendations, you will be able to stream much longer portions – whole movements, complete arias and so on. In addition, every month we plan to offer one complete recording which we’ll have selected from the archives and another complete recording related to one of the main features in the current issue. As if this isn’t enough, there will be music to accompany various other magazine features (you will be able to compare several recordings discussed in The Gramophone Collection, for instance) – and we’re working on a terrific series of podcasts involving some of the world’s great musicians. Log on, listen in. It’s something special.

james.inverne@haymarket.com