Recordings conducted by Steuart Bedford and Oliver Knussen have been shortlisted in the Opera category for the 2014 BBC Music Magazine Awards. The recordings both feature Britten operas; Bedford and Knussen have long been associated with the composer’s music, and the recordings were released to mark the Britten centenary in 2013. 

Oliver Knussen conducts The Rape of Lucretia in a recording available on the Erato label. The disc has already won a prestigious ECHO Klassik award. Reviewing the CD in the Financial Times, Andrew Clark commented: ​“Oliver Knussen draws out not only the pungency of Britten’s language but also its almost touchable beauty and Mediterranean warmth… it’s hard to imagine a more welcome addition to the Britten discography in his centenary year.”

Also nominated in the category is Steuart Bedford’s live recording on Signum Classics of Peter Grimes, which was performed in the ground-breaking production on Aldeburgh Beach at the 2013 Aldeburgh Festival. Reviewing in The Times, Michael Kennedy wrote: ​“This performance was one of the finest heard during the 70 years of the opera’s existence. I have never heard it conducted with such electrifying power, care for detail and elemental emotion as Steuart Bedford brought to the score.”

The shortlist of 21 recordings over seven categories was chosen by a jury of critics; the winner in each category will be chosen by online public vote.

Voting closes on 28 February, and the winners will be announced in April.