Home wins at the Gramophone Awards

Soprano Natalya Romaniw, a favourite at Scottish Opera with her Tatyana in Eugene Onegin and the title role in Tosca, was named Young Artist of the Year in this year’s Gramophone Awards. Most recently seen as Mimi in English National Opera’s Drive-In La Boheme at Alexandra Palace, and televised on Sky Arts, she prepared for the role by visiting Scottish Opera’s car park Boheme in Glasgow as a member of the socially-distanced audience.

Scotland was well-represented on both the short-list of the awards, with nominations in four categories, and among the winners, where two of those romped home: the RSNO’s recording of the Chopin Piano Concertos under the baton of Elim Chan, accompanying soloist Benjamin Grosvenor, and tenor Nicky Spence for his recording of Janacek’s The Diary of One Who Disappeared with pianist Julius Drake. Spence was to have sung the role with Scottish Opera for the company’s filmed contribution to the Lammermuir Festival, but was taken ill and replaced by Ed Lyon in Rosie Purdie’s production. It can still be viewed on the Scottish Opera’s YouTube site.

Image: Natalya Romaniw ©Patrick Allen