Our annual Recording of the Year Awards saw the Limelight critics poring over 50 outstanding recordings reviewed during the past 12 months. Although some categories had runaway winners, the top prize was particularly close this year. 

In a triumph for an orchestra’s in-house label over the industry’s bigger beasts, Roderick Williams’ survey of English song, A Shropshire Lad, was awarded the coveted title of Recording of the Year. The British baritone – seen recently singing at the coronation – not only devised and performed the program, he orchestrated each song himself. The disc also features the Manchester-based