First-round nominations for the 2015 International Classical Music Awards (ICMA) were announced on November 19th, and THREE recent Delos CD releases were selected for final consideration! The ICMA – having taken the place of the Cannes Classical Awards (later known as MIDEM) – first awarded prizes in 2011, and has since taken its place as the leading pan-European competition for excellence in classical recording. Its jury of 16 distinguished classical critics and broadcasters represents countries from Turkey to Russia, including most European nations in between.
Two of Delos’ three nominations are in the Best Vocal Recital category: American tenor Lawrence Brownlee’s spectacular Virtuoso Rossini Arias (DE 3455), and Russian bass Ildar Abdrazakov’s Power Players (DE 3456): a gripping program of Russian arias. And these artists – both international operatic superstars – chose to make their recordings with Delos’ own resident maestro Constantine Orbelian, leading the Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra (Lithuania): an ensemble which he now serves as Principal Conductor. Our third nominee – for Best Solo Instrumentalist – is the fabulous young Russian pianist (and winner of the 2013 Van Cliburn competition) Vadym Kholodenko, in a brilliant program of Medtner and Rachmaninoff (DE 3467).
Final winners will be announced on January 20, 2015, with the awards ceremony and gala concert to follow in Ankara, Turkey, on March 28. We call on all Delos fans to wish us luck … and keep your fingers crossed!
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