Gramophone Awards 2025
Winner - Early Music

Matthieu Romanens, Raitis Grigalis, Reiner Schneider-Waterberg, Agnieszka Budzińska-Bennett, Jane Achtman, Elizabeth Rumsey, Marc Lewon, Grace Newcombe (soloist, positive organ, lute-harpsichord), Hanna Järveläinen, Caroline Ritchie, Cameron Drayton, Lorenza Donadini, Tessa Roos, Henry Van Engen,...

Miraculously saved from the conflagration of war, the Krasiński Codex takes us back to fifteenth-century Poland. The heart of the country is Kraków, where the royal castle resounds with music by the first Polish composers known by name, as well as works by European masters such as Johannes Ciconia and Zachara da Teramo. The first complete recording of the manuscript under the direction of Agnieszka Budzińska-Bennett was undertaken by the international Ensemble Dragma, presenting the entire palette of medieval instruments in virtuoso compositions, while the pure voices of the ensemble Peregrina invited to collaborate present the vocal works. Recognised early music specialists are a guarantee of thoughful and beautiful renditions of the fascinating compositions from the Krasinski manuscript, many of which will be heard for the first time after 600 years.

"The lion’s share of music that’s recorded here for the first time is superbly done. Mostly known only to specialists of Central European music, Nicholas of Radom gets a proper outing here, his unfussy, stylish music beautifully showcased." - Gramophone Magazine, March 2025