Sibelius disc by Soile Isokoski and HPO wins BBC Music Magazine’s Disc of the Year Award 2007

The disc by soprano Soile Isokoski and the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Leif Segerstam (Ondine ODE 1080-5) of orchestral songs by Sibelius has won one of the most prestigious classical music honours on being selected Disc of the Year 2007 by the BBC Music Magazine.

An expert jury first selected 18 finalists, three in each of the six categories, out of a total of 1,500 discs. The winners were then chosen by readers of the BBC Music Magazine and listeners to BBC Radio 3. The Luonnotar disc released by Ondine was the winner of the vocal category. The winners of each category then competed for the overall title of Disc of the Year, the final decision being made by the nine-member expert jury.

The BBC Music Magazine is the world’s most widely-read classical music magazine and the BBC Music Magazine Awards are among the most coveted and prestigious honours in the world for classical music discs. The award ceremony was held in London after Easter. Both Soile Isokoski and conductor Leif Segerstam were present to receive the prize in person.

The award-winning disc contains Luonnotar and other orchestral songs by Jean Sibelius, such as Säv, säv, susa, Var det en dröm and Illalle. In January this year this same disc won the MIDEM Classical Award 2007 in Cannes.