We are proud to announce that the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, under the baton of principal conductor Karina Canellakis, has won the 2026 BBC Music Magazine Award in the Opera category. The orchestra received the award for the album *Bartók: Duke Bluebeard’s Castle*, released by Pentatone, featuring mezzo-soprano Rinat Shaham and bass-baritone Gábor Bretz.

The award was presented on April 22, 2026, during a festive ceremony in London. The BBC Music Magazine Awards are determined based on an initial selection by a panel of experts, followed by a public vote.

Simone Meijer, director of the Omroep Muziek Foundation, responds with pride: “This award is a wonderful testament to the exceptional caliber of our musicians and artistic partners. The BBC Music Magazine Awards are among the most prestigious awards in the international classical music world. We are therefore particularly proud of this international recognition.”

Principal Conductor Karina Canellakis: “It is a tremendous honor to receive this award. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the jury and the readers of BBC Music Magazine for this recognition. It was a great pleasure for me to record this work with two of my favorite singers: Gábor Bretz and Rinat Shaham. I am also particularly proud of the orchestra and the way they gave their all and played with heart and soul. You can hear that in every bar of the piece.”

We would like to thank the jury and the audience for voting for us. This award is a wonderful recognition of the work and dedication of all the musicians and partners involved.