The Philadelphia Orchestra has been named Gramophone’s Orchestra of the Year 2020, celebrating collaborative music-making at the highest level.

The Philadelphia Orchestra named Gramophone’s Orchestra of the Year 2020

(Philadelphia, October 6, 2020)—The Philadelphia Orchestra has been named Gramophone’s Orchestra of the Year 2020, celebrating collaborative music-making at the highest level. This coveted award, decided entirely by international public vote from a pool of ten renowned orchestras from around the world, was presented to The Philadelphia Orchestra during a special online ceremony of the Gramophone Classical Music Awards, streamed live today on gramophone.co.uk and medici.tv.

“It is an extraordinary honor to be named Gramophone Orchestra of the Year, particularly during this moment in time, when the connection to our fans is more important than ever,” said Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin. “The Philadelphia Orchestra has remained resolute, resilient, and responsible throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and we are proud to have kept music alive at a time when people need it more than ever. As music migrated to the digital universe, we have felt the presence of our fans with us, around the world, and it has inspired us every day. Now, we begin to make music together again, safely, but with all the joy and beauty that is at the heart of The Philadelphia Orchestra.”

“The Philadelphia Orchestra was 23 years old when the first issue of Gramophone was published (April 1923), and the first mention of this great ensemble appeared in our pages the following year. Ever since then it has been a constant presence thanks to its extraordinary recorded legacy—under a series of great conductors, and always linked to comments about its unique sound,” said Gramophone editor-in-chief James Jolly. “Well, here we are in 2020 and The Philadelphia Orchestra, re-energized by a conductor of extraordinary talent and great charisma, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, has been voted our Orchestra of the Year in the Gramophone Classical Music Awards’ only public vote, presented with Apple Music. And still people talk about its sound! Congratulations, and long may The Philadelphia Orchestra retain its distinctive personality and gorgeous cultivated tone.”

Nominees for Orchestra of the Year Award are chosen by Gramophone’s editors and reviewers looking at each ensemble’s artistic merit and body of work over the past year. This year’s nominees included the BBC Symphony Orchestra (United Kingdom); Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra (Norway); Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin (Germany); City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (United Kingdom); Freiburger Barockorchester (Germany); Orchestre National de Lille (France); Los Angeles Philharmonic (USA); musicaAeterna (Russia); and NHK Symphony Orchestra (Japan). A playlist for each ensemble was also available on Apple Music, sponsor of the Orchestra of the Year Award.

“We are thrilled! On behalf of Yannick and everyone at The Philadelphia Orchestra, we congratulate our fellow nominees and extend our deepest gratitude to our beloved fans across the globe. That this award is decided entirely by public vote means the world to us. We strive, every day, to be the orchestra everyone is proud to call My Philadelphia Orchestra,” said Orchestra President and CEO Matías Tarnopolsky.

About Gramophone Awards

The annual Gramophone Classical Music Awards, the world’s most influential classical recorded-music prizes, were launched in 1977 by Gramophone magazine (founded in 1923 by Sir Compton Mackenzie). The Awards celebrated their 40th anniversary in 2017.

Available internationally, Gramophone publishes a bespoke edition of the magazine for North America. Gramophone’s full, searchable archive of magazines from 1923 to the latest issue is available digitally for iPad and other tablet devices, smartphone, or computer.