Tonight, at the Gramophone Magazine’s annual awards ceremony Editor-in-Chief, James Jolly, announced that Paavo Järvi has been voted by the public as Artist of the Year stating “One of the most sought-after conductors of today, and one of the most recorded, Paavo Järvi continues the family tradition. An interpreter of imagination who brings something fresh to everything he tackles, he is a musician well worth listening to.”

Receiving the award in London, Paavo Järvi commented ”When I am in the recording studio all thought is of the “here” and “now” – the music and the musicians.  It’s easy to forget that the audience is as important a part of the whole experience because they will be the ones who decide whether your recording should stand the test of time … or not! So from now on I shall go into the studio reminding myself of the music, the musicians and audiences around the world who voted for me to receive this award. Its a humbling thought to be chosen as Gramophone’s Artist of the Year and I am hugely proud to be standing here today to receive this.”

Last week Paavo Järvi was presented the Sibelius Medal by Finland’s Ambassador during the opening concert of the Orchestre de Paris’s season at the Philharmonie – his final season with them as Music Director – and the previous week it was announced that their recording of Dutilleux was voted best recording of contemporary orchestral music by Germany’s ECHO Klassik Prize.