As I write this, memories of the Classic FM Gramophone Awards still glow bright, a wonderful day at London’s Dorchester Hotel. But it was also, hearteningly, one of those occasions where it wasn’t about the venue, it wasn’t about the food or the wine, it was about the artists and the music and the people there who had worked so hard to put together some magnificent recordings. The feeling of a special occasion was only enhanced by some wonderful moments. Some highlights – Jean Efflam Bavouzet presenting Lady Solti with a miniature locomotive he had made as a thank you for the Soltis’ support (they were apparently great model railway enthusiasts), Antonio Pappano delightedly yelling, “Get up here, Kaufmann!” and then happily bear-hugging his star tenor, the Ebène Quartet’s Matthieu Herzog celebrating Recording of the Year by taking photos from the stage on his iPhone to show everyone back home. And, for the first time in several years, there were live performances. The Sixteen (well, 12 of them) were uplifting in Purcell, Tallis and MacMillan, Steven Osborne swaggered his way through some dazzling Oscar Peterson, Jean-Efflam Bavouzet managed to make a renegade mobile phone ring seem (almost) part of his Debussy finale. There were two entries from the NMC Songbook and co-host Elizabeth Watts joined in to sing Copland’s “Why do they shut me out of Heaven?” As usual when industry types get together, there’s a lot of buzz about the new recordings that have captured the imagination and at our Awards I heard at least one earnest conversation about the wonders of the new Paul Lewis/Mark Padmore Winterreise on Harmonia Mundi. It is indeed a remarkable achievement and something of a shock that it happened at all. Both artists have just hit major stardom and that they paused their solo activities at precisely that moment for this collaboration is testament to what has made them both so admired - a deep focus on the music, on the art. Do read Richard Wigmore’s fascinating interview with the pair, then read the review, then buy the disc! Another artist in that truest sense who has achieved superstardom doing exactly what he wanted as opposed to what marketing people told him is Yo-Yo Ma. And here he is with a 90-disc set – shall we say that again? – a 90-disc set from Sony. Join Gramophone and Natalie Clein, as together we pay tribute to the career of one of the most revered cellists of them all. james.inverne@haymarket.com