Gramophone's Orchestra of the Year Award is the only Gramophone Classical Music Award decided by public vote. The 10 orchestras nominated this year are: Academy of Ancient Music, Accademia Bizantina, Bamberger Symphoniker, Berliner Philharmoniker, The Cleveland Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Philharmonia Orchestra, Singapore Symphony Orchestra and Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich.

This week, we focus on the Singapore Symphony Orchestra ...

Introduction

After 22 years at the helm of this elegant Asian orchestra, Lan Shui, has handed over the reins to Hans Graf, but his recordngs still keep coming – and very impressive they’ve been. In May Rob Cowan was warm in his praise for their Rachmaninov, commenting that the performances ‘securely disprove the tiresome myth that the best performances of a particular composer always originate from his/her country of origin’. And Christian Hoskins commented of Strauss’s Tod und Verklärung that it ‘is also very impressive. The various instrumental solos are beautifully delivered and the sweep and drama of the music is powerfully conveyed.’ 

Recommended Album

Strauss Tod und Verklärung

Singapore SO / Shui

‘Following his well-regarded series of Debussy recordings for BIS, Lan Shui’s latest release finds the Hangzhou-born conductor equally at home in the works of Richard Strauss ...’ (Christian Hoskins)

Read the review in Gramophone's Reviews Database

Singapore Symphony Orchestra Playlist

Enjoy recent highlights from the Singapore Symphony Orchestra in our exclusive Apple Music playlist.

Apple Music offers a three-month free trial to new subscribers and with its vast catalogue of recordings – plus the addition of lossless audio and Spatial Audio, offering an immersive audio experience from 44.1kHz/16-bit (CD quality) up to 192kHz/24-bit – it is the perfect music streaming platform for anyone who loves classical music. Find out more and start your free trial here: Apple Music 

Listen to all of the Orchestra of the Year playlists on Apple Music: Orchestra of the Year 2021

Vote for the Singapore Symphony Orchestra

You can cast your vote for Gramophone's Orchestra of the Year 2021 either using the voting form below or by following this link: 2021 Orchestra of the Year Vote

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