Red carpets aren’t just for film premieres or couture collections. This weekend, the world of classical music gathered in Berlin as Germany’s most prestigious award in classical music, OPUS KLASSIK, staged its 2025 concert and gala. Hosted at the Konzerthaus, the event proved once again that artistry, presence, and aesthetic go hand in hand — whether it’s in the concert hall or on the red carpet.
Organised by the Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Klassischen Musik, the OPUS KLASSIK celebrates excellence across 30 categories, honouring artists who inspire, captivate, and set new standards in classical music. An independent jury of experts from the music and media industries selected this year’s recipients.
This Year's Award Winners
Female Singer of the Year – Emily D’Angelo – Freezing
Male Singer of the Year – Benjamin Bernheim – Douce France
Instrumentalist of the Year – Antje Weithaas – Pēteris Vasks: Violin Concerto No. 2
Instrumentalist of the Year – Seong-Jin Cho – Ravel: The Complete Solo Piano Works
Instrumentalist of the Year – Lucienne Renaudin Vary – Winter Gardens (Jardins d’Hiver)
Conductor of the Year – Joana Mallwitz – The Kurt Weill Album
Composer of the Year – Jüri Reinvere – On the Ship of Fools
Lifetime Achievement – Arvo Pärt
Young Talent of the Year – Timothy Ridout – Telemann / Bach / Britten / Shaw
Young Talent of the Year – Hayato Sumino – Human Universe
Young Talent of the Year – Leia Zhu – Camille Saint-Saëns: Complete Concertos
Young Talent of the Year – Aigul Akhmetshina – Aigul
Orchestra/Ensemble of the Year – lautten compagney BERLIN – Dancing Queen – Rameau meets ABBA; mit Asya Fateyeva
Solo Recording Singing of the Year – Pene Pati – Nessun Dorma
Solo Recording Singing of the Year – Golda Schultz – Mozart, You Drive Me Crazy!
Solo Recording Instrument of the Year – Fazil Say – Oiseaux tristes
Concert Recording of the Year – Igor Levit, Christian Thielemann, Wiener Philharmoniker – Brahms: Piano Concertos & Solo Piano Opp. 116–119
Chamber Music Recording of the Year – Augustin Hadelich, Orion Weiss – American Road Trip
Solo Live-Performance of the Year – Hayato Sumino – Human Universe
Orchestra/Ensemble Live-Performance of the Year – Tenebrae Choir – Georg Friedrich Händel: Oratorium “Messias” HWV 56
Classic without Limits – TrioColores – En Couleur
Classic without Limits – Louis Philippson – Exposition
Classic without Limits LIVE – Abel Selaocoe, Manchester Collective – Hymns of Bantu
Symphonic Recording of the Year – Johannes Klumpp, Heidelberger Sinfoniker – Haydn Sinfonien
Choral Recording of the Year – Paul van Nevel, Huelgas Ensemble – Max Reger: Melancholy (Vocal Works)
Opera Recording of the Year – Sophie Gordeladze, Marcus Bosch, Cappella Aquileia – Giuseppe Verdi: Giovanna d’Arco
World Premiere Recording of the Year – Oliver Triendl, Christiane Silber, Konstanze von Gutzeit, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin – Maria Herz: Piano Concerto, Cello Concerto, Orchestral Works
Innovative Concert of the Year – Mozartfest Würzburg – Hell ist die Nacht
Innovative Concert of the Year – Julien Chauvin, Le Concert de la Loge – Vivaldi: Le Quattro Stagioni & La Follia
Tour of the Year – The World of Hans Zimmer – A New Dimension
Audiovisual Music Production of the Year – Alice Sara Ott – John Field: “Nocturne” – ein Film von Andrew Staples
Video Clip of the Year – Eldbjørg Hemsing – Bach Partita Variation
Innovative Listening Experience of the Year – David Chalmin – Sonic Wires
Film Music / Score of the Year – Daniel Blumberg – The Brutalist
New Classic / Neoclassic – Pascal Schumacher, Danae Dörken – Glass Two
Prize for Promotion of Young Talent (Child and Youth Work) – Werkstatt ‘Zukunftstöne’, Ensemble Quillo
Bestseller of the Year – Lang Lang – Saint-Saëns
Innovation Award for Sustainability – Staatstheater Karlsruhe – FLOW – Tage der Nachhaltigkeit
Special Award for Curatorial Achievement – Kirill Gerstein – Music in Time of War – Debussy/Komitas
This Best OPUS KLASSIK 2025 Looks
As the concert and gala unfolded, all eyes were on the red carpet. Below, some of the best red carpet looks from OPUS KLASSIK 2025:
