We are proud to announce that PENTATONE has been awarded Label of the Year 2020 by the ICMA (International Classical Music Awards). The label also received the ICMA Vocal Music award 2020 for the recording of Schubert Winterreise with Ian Bostridge, Thomas Adès.
The ICMA jury consists of music critics from magazines, radio stations and music platforms throughout entire Europe, replacing the former Cannes/Midem Classical Awards. The ceremony was originally scheduled to take place earlier this year, in April, at the Teatro de la Maestranza Seville, Spain, but had to be cancelled due to the impact of the COVID-19 virus.
ICMA’s jury member Franz Patay (CEO of VBW & IMZ Legal Counsel) handed over the awards at the Opera House “Theater an der Wien” in Vienna. PENTATONE’s Managing Director Simon M. Eder was there to receive them, accompanied by the label’s violinist Arabella Steinbacher, and singers Anna Lucia Richter and Piotr Beczala, who came to celebrate with PENTATONE. The label recently released Vivaldi & Piazzola – The Four Seasons with Arabella Steinbacher, Vincerò! with Piotr Beczala, and will release Il Delirio della Passione with Anna Lucia Richter in Spring 2021.
“After the ICMA gala had to be cancelled, I was thankful to receive the award in my hometown and excited that so many of our artists living in Vienna came to accept the award together with PENTATONE. A label is nothing without its artists, the award is due to the great recordings with them.”, says Simon M. Eder (Managing Director PENTATONE), “Receiving the award this year is a bittersweet recognition as so many musicians, artists and professionals in our sector find themselves currently in an extremely precarious situation due to the pandemic impacts. Especially in this extraordinary period, which hit the entire music and cultural sector so hard, we must not rest on our laurels but should think together how we can get through these challenging times, making sure that music, arts and culture remain a vital part of our daily lives.”
Prof. Dr. Franz Patay, ICMA Juror stated that “The International Classical Music Awards recognise creativity, imagination in choice of repertoire and artistic excellence. We are honoured to award PENTATONE in the categories “Vocal Music” and “Label of the Year” in recognition of their exceptional catalogue, the unrivalled classical music experience they offer and the superior audio quality of their work!
Congratulatory messages from the artists:
“Congratulations to my label PENTATONE for winning the ICMA award ‘Label of the Year’. It is their hard work, trust and support that allows us artists to be fully creative and to be able to produce wonderful records. I thank PENTATONE for their great cooperation and wish them all the best for everything that is ahead of us.” Piotr Beczala
“Congratulations to PENTATONE on this wonderful prize! I am so grateful to be a member of this family. For me PENTATONE is not only Label of this Year, but for three years it has been the Label of every Year! Thank you!” Anna Lucia Richter
“A big congratulation from my side to the fantastic team of PENTATONE! I am very proud and grateful for all the wonderful projects we have done together over the past years, thank you so much!“ Arabella Steinbacher
Photo credits by IMZ International Music + Media Centre
