Gramophone - Awards 2006

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My Top 10

As classical music critic for the Sunday Telegraph and editor of Opera magazine, JOHN ALLlSON spends much of his life travelling the world. Here he names his favourite music venues ... and the best seats in the house

As classical music critic for the Sunday Telegraph and editor of Opera magazine, JOHN ALLISON spends much of his life travelling the world. Here he names his favourite music venues ... and the best seats in the house

5SIBELlUS HALL LAHTI Of all modern concert hal ls, not hing beats t he experience of Finland's Sibelius Hall in Lahti; sitting inside the wooden shel l (itself enclosed in glass) is like being in a great big musical inst rument. Try the stalls.

SIBELIUS HALL LAHTI Of all modern concert hal ls, nothing beats t he experience of Finland's Sibelius Hall in Lahti; sitting inside the wooden shel l (itse lf enclosed in glass) is like being in a great big musical instrument. Try the stalls.

1WIGMORE HALL LONDON Thoug h London lacks a large concert hal l worthy of comparison with Amsterdam's Concertgebouw or Berli n's Philharmonie, in t he Wigmore Hall it does boast one of the world's best intimate venues. Recita ls can be enjoyed from any seat.

WIGMORE HALL LONDON Though London lacks a large concert hall worthy of comparison wi t h Amsterdam's Concertgebouw or Berlin's Philharmonie, in the Wigmore Hall i t does boast one of the world's best intimate venues. Recita ls can be enjoyed from any seat.

3SEMPEROPER DRESDEN Desp ite rebuilding after wartime bombing, Dresden's very civilised Semperoper still evokes the spirit of Richard Strauss. Many of his operas were premiered here, and there is re ally nowhere better to enjoy them than from a seat in the Parkett.

SEMPEROPER DRESDEN Despite rebu i lding after wartime bombing, Dresden's very civilised Semperoper still evokes the spi ri t of Richard Strauss. Many of his operas were premiered here, and there is really nowhere better to enjoy them than from a seat in the Parkett.

2GLYNDEBOURNE EAST SUSSEX Many British opera houses are a t heatrical embodiment of the great British compromise but

GLYNDEBOURNE EAST SUSSEX Many British opera houses are a t heatrical embodiment of the great British compromise but

G lyndebourne's new house represents perfection: a modern interior grafted on to th e tradit ional horseshoe shape. I like Row N seat 22 at the back of the sta lls.

G lyndebourne's new house represe nts perfection: a modern interior grafted on to the traditional horseshoe shape. I like Row N seat 22 at the back of the sta lls.

4MUSIKVEREIN VIENNA The gilded Grosser Saa l of Vienna's Musikverein really is one of music's high temples. Savour the view as well as the sound from Row 11 at the fro nt of the Parterre .

MUSIKVEREIN VIENNA The g ilded Grosse r Saa l of Vienna's Musikvere in really is one of music's high temples. Savour the view as well as the sound from Row 11 at the front of the Parterre.

6WALT DISNEY HALL LOS ANGELES Frank Gehry's gleaming Wait Disney Concert Hal l in LA is visually stunning on the inside, too - down to the "des igner organ pipes". Wherever you sit, you'll f ee l connected with the stage.

WALT DISNEY HALL LOS ANGELES Frank Gehry's gleaming Walt Disney Concert Hal l in LA is visually stunning on the inside, too - down to the "des igner organ pipes". Wherever you sit, you'll feel connected with the stage.

7SEVERANCE HALL CLEVELAND Traditio na lists might prefer the view from the front of the dress circle in Cleveland's Severance Ha ll. The city may be unlove ly but the art deco inte rio r is hard to match - just like the Cleveland Orchestra itself.

SEVERANCE HALL CLEVELAND Traditionalists m ight prefer the view from the front of the dress circle in Cleve land's Severance Hal l. The city may be unlove ly but the art deco interior is hard t o match - just l ike the Cleveland Orchestra itself.

8GREAT HALL MOSCOW So much Russian musical history has been made in the Great Hall of t he Moscow Conservatory. Sit anywhere in the middle and you may feel i t coming al ive.

GREAT HALL MOSCOW So much Russian mus ical history has been made in the Great Hall of t he Moscow Co nservatory. Sit anywhere in the midd le and you may feel i t coming al ive.

9CROSBY THEATRE SANTA FE Good weather and great natural settings help, too. Savour a sunset over the New Mexican Desert from your seat in the orchestra stalls at Santa Fe Opera's Crosby Theatre ...

CROSBY THEATRE SANTA FE Good weather and great natural settings help, too. Savour a sunset ove r t he New Mexican Desert from yo ur seat in the orchestra stalls at Santa Fe Opera's Crosby Theatre ...

10OperaHouse.

SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE

... or enjoy a strawberry da iqu i ri on the te rrace of t he splendid, spectacular Sydney

Jreclt U~(UllUUlI" to'Deccds

$ CLASSIC ADS Mackerras's Kat'a Kabanova, October 1977

"One of the most vivid and dramatic recordings Decca have ever released," proclaims the company's ad for Ktit'a Kabanovd, conducted by that champion of Czech opera, Charles Mackerras. Judging by the critical acclaim that followed, it was also one of

CLASSIC ADS Mackerras's Kat'a Kabanova, October 1977 "One of the most vivid and dramatic recordings Decca have ever released ," proclaims the company's ad for ]{£it'a Kabanovd, conducted by that champion of Czech opera, Charles Mackerras. Judging by the critical acclaim that followed, it was also one of their most successful: "An outstanding operatic recording by any standards," was how Edward Greenfield described it in his review that month. It turned out to be a prize-winner, too: in Gramophone's inaugural Awards the following February i t won the Opera their most successful: "An outstanding operatic recording by any standards," was how Edward Greenfield described it in his review that month. It turned out to be a prize-winner, too: in Gramophone's inaugural Awards the following February it won the Opera category and then the prestigious Record of d1e Year Award. Decca have reissued this classic recording in The Originals series (475 7518DOR2) and as part of a nine-CD box-set with Mackerras's other Janacek opera recordings (475 6872DC9).

category and then the prestigious Record of dle Year Award. Decca have reissued this classic recording in The Originals series (475 7518DOR2) and as part of a nine-CD box-set with Mackerras's other Janacek opera recordings (475 6872DC9).

GR.AMOPHONE AWARDS 2006 19