Mackerras wins BBC Music Magazine award

(BBC)

Veteran conductor Sir Charles Mackerras picked up two awards at the prestigious BBC Music Magazine Awards 2009 for classical recording excellence today.

His recording of Mozart Symphonies 38-41 with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra (Linn) won both the Orchestral Award and Disc of the Year. Sir Charles was presented with his awards by actress Jane Asher and by Lord Robert Winston, human fertility specialist and presenter of Child of Our Time.

Sir Charles Mackerras commented: "I am absolutely delighted by the success of this record - because I've spent my whole life trying to get these four symphonies right! When I think about this recording, I don't think I can do them any better - that's my final word on these marvellous works."

Other winners picking up their Awards at BBC Music Magazine Awards presented by James Naughtie and editor Oliver Condy included Sir John Eliot Gardiner for his Bach Cantatas Vol 27 (Choral), the British Dante Quartet for their Franck/Faure quartets (Chamber), and a host of French artists: pianist Jean-Efflam Bavouzet for his Debussy recordings (Instrumental), the young French quartet, Quatuor Ebène (Newcomers), soprano Patricia Petibon for her disc Amoureuses and soprano Natalie Dessay and director Laurent Pelly for Donizetti's La fille du regiment (DVD).

The artistry of German baritone Christian Gerhaher won the Vocal Award for his Schumann lieder and cutting-edge theatre composer Heiner Goebbels wins the Premiere Award for his opera Landscape with Distant Relatives.

Helen Wallace, Chair of the Jury and Consultant Editor of BBC Music Magazine, says: "We are delighted that the public has responded so enthusiastically to one of our great musical heroes - Sir Charles Mackerras, and the brilliant Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Our list of Award-winners is a dazzling one: a reflection of the extraordinary devotion, superlative artistry and abundant variety of talent in classical music worldwide."

Oliver Condy, Editor of BBC Music Magazine, says: 'The BBC Music Magazine Awards are a fantastic snapshot of one of the most sensational 12 months for classical music recording in recent years - the winning discs feature extraordinary performances of both instantly familiar repertoire and stunning lesser-known gems. And each superb recording will keep you company for the rest of your life.'

A free digital magazine to promote the winners is available to read at www.bbcmusicmagazine.com. It features extracts of the winning discs, videos of the artists and links through to retailers to purchase the recordings.

The May issue of BBC Music Magazine, on sale 8 April 2009 priced £4.50, features full interviews with the winners of the BBC Music Magazine Awards 2009.