Gramophone Critics Choice

Gramophone Magazine is considered by many collectors to be the definitive monthly publication concerned with Classical music and Classical recordings. Founded in 1923 by Scottish writer Compton McKenzie, the Gramophone is one of the oldest established Classical music publications. Over the years the Magazine gained a reputation as the authoritative voice for reviews of new and re-issued Classical music recordings. For many years Gramophone has highlighted selected new releases each month as being worthy of special mention as ‘Editor’s Choices’. The best of these earns the accolade of ‘Recording of the month’. The annual Gramophone Awards, first presented in 1977, highlight the best of the year’s recordings across 15 disc categories including genre categories such as Early Music, Opera and Contemporary, concerto etc. In addition there are a number of special awards that honour categories such as Artist of the Year, Label of the Year and a Lifetime Achievement Award. Of the 15 disc categories one of the winners is also voted as Recording of the year. Gramophone launched its Classical Music guide book for Classical recordings in 1986, formerly known as the Gramophone Good CD Guide. The Gramophone Guide has been updated annually, and whilst not attempting to comment all available classical recordings, it covers a wide range of works and choices of recordings. The guide offers useful introductory overviews on the rise of the Download market and the different eras of Classical music along with suggested recordings illustrating the best music from those eras. The Guide’s rating system is indicated with easy to understand symbols denoting different levels of recommendation including ‘Simply the Best’, ‘Classic’,’ Outstanding ‘and ‘strongly recommended’. Passionato has detailed information on available downloads of many of Gramophone’s Editor’s Choice titles as well as an archive of past Gramophone Award winners, Records of the Month and the current Gramophone Guide’s top recommendations.