The Associazione Nazionale Critici Musicali (ANCM) has announced the winners of the 2026 Premio Abbiati del Disco, honoring excellence in classical music recording. Twelve titles were selected across six categories, reflecting the voting of over 100 music critics from across Italy. The official presentation of the awards is scheduled to take place during the "Cremona Musica" event, running from October 2 to October 4, 2026.
2026 Premio Abbiati del Disco: Category Winners
The jury, comprised of the ANCM executive board and six elected critics, evaluated submissions to recognize high-level artistic and technical achievement in the recording industry.
Opera
- Henry Purcell, Dido and Aeneas: Featuring Joyce DiDonato, Michael Spyres, and the ensemble Il Pomo d’Oro, conducted by Maxim Emelyanychev (Warner-Erato).
- Mieczysław Weinberg, The Idiot: A video recording of the 2024 Salzburg Festival production, conducted by Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla with the Wiener Philharmoniker and directed by Krzysztof Warlikowski (Unitel).
Symphonic Repertoire
- Arvo Pärt, Complete Symphonies: Performed by the Iceland Symphony Orchestra under Eva Ollikainen (Chandos).
- Arnold Schönberg: A comprehensive collection performed by the Berliner Philharmoniker, conducted by Kirill Petrenko (Berliner Philharmoniker Recordings).
Chamber Music
- Signum Quartet, A Dark Flaring (ECM).
- Belcea Quartet: A recording of string quartets by Claude Debussy and Karol Szymanowski (Alpha).
Solo Repertoire
- Miriam Prandi: Recognized for her performance of the Cello Suites by Johann Sebastian Bach (Fuga Libera).
- Marina Comparato and Gianni Fabbrini: Honored for their tribute to Luigi Gordigiani, Romantic Florence (Dynamic).
New Music
- Anne-Sophie Mutter: For East Meets West (Alpha), featuring works by Aftab Darvishi, Unsuk Chin, Jörg Widmann, and Thomas Adès.
- Simon Steen-Andersen, Chambered Music: Performed by Rei Munakata and the Oslo Sinfonietta (Dacapo).
Special Recognition Awards
The jury awarded two special prizes to acknowledge significant contributions to the recorded canon:
- Fabio Luisi and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra: For their complete recording of Richard Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen (Delos).
- Jean Rondeau: For his comprehensive recording, The Complete Works of Louis Couperin (Warner/Erato).
Selection Process and Jury
The winners were determined by a jury chaired by Andrea Estero, president of the ANCM. The panel included Gianluigi Mattietti, Alessandro Cammarano, Carlo Fiore, Carla Moreni, Roberta Pedrotti, and Alessandro Rigolli. To ensure a broad range of perspectives, the association added six critics elected by the membership: Luca Chierici, Francesco Cristiani, Silvia Del Zoppo, Giancarlo Landini, Gregorio Moppi, and Lorenzo Tozzi. The specific motivations for each award will be disclosed during the upcoming ceremony in Cremona.
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