Amid fierce competition, a relative rarity has carried off the top prize.

Brilliant recordings of works by Messiaen, Elgar, Schumann and Debussy – and of a near forgotten opera – top this year's poll of Limelight's critics.

Competition was fierce but independent labels swept the board.

In a nail-bitingly close contest, an independent label carries off the top prize.

The judges listened, the votes are in, and the verdict is…

Our critics have scrutinised 50 outstanding discs released in the past 12 months for the annual Limelight Recording of the Year.

Limelight's critics reveal the 25 finest releases of the last 12 months.

The votes are in, the judges have spoken, and the winner is...

The votes are in, the judges have spoken . . . and here are the winners.

Features this month include summer reads for music lovers, the Limelight Artists of the Year for 2021, the transformation Simone Young will bring to the SSO, and Henry Handel Richardson's love of music and her treasure trove of songs.

Catch up on what's been in the Limelight with the top arts stories to recently make headlines.

Icelandic pianist Víkingur Ólafsson’s intriguing coupling of Debussy and Rameau sweeps the board.