The winners of the 2023 Ivors Classical Awards have been announced in London. Australia’s Brett Dean was one of 11 composers honoured.

Dean collected an Ivors statuette for Best Orchestral Composition for his Cello Concerto.

Written for symphony orchestra and solo cello, Dean’s work had its world premiere with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in 2018 with cellist Alban Gerhardt. This is Dean’s second Ivor Novello Award, having won one last year for his chamber ensemble piece Madame ma bonne sœur.

The jury commented that “it demonstrates an incredibly focused and precise use of instrumental timbre […] it boasts a broad range of expressions, from rhythmically driven sections to delicate, refined soundscapes”.

Brett Dean, winner of Best Orchestral Composition at the 2023 Ivors Classical Awards

Thomas Adès was awarded his third Ivor Novello Award, and fifth award from The Ivors Academy, this time for Best Chamber Music Composition for Növények.

Written for mezzo-soprano and piano sextet, the piece sets seven poems by four major Hungarian poets. One of the songs, Gyökér, won an Ivor Novello Award in 2021 when it was released as part of Oliver Zeffman’s Eight Songs...