Lifetime win for composer Previn

Andre Previn did not attend Thursday's ceremony

Conductor and composer Andre Previn has won the lifetime achievement award at this year's Gramophone Awards.

The Grammy and Academy Award winner, who turns 80 next year, was presented with the prize for his musical work in the classical, film and jazz world.

British pianist Stephen Hough won the gold disc award at the ceremony held at London's Dorchester Hotel.

Gramophone editor James Inverne said he was pleased the prize had gone to "an imaginative and consistent artist".

Hough's complete Saint-Saens Piano Concertos, with the CBSO and Sakari Oramo, was named the most popular recording of the past 30 years.

'Best of the best'

A panel of experts whittled down the 10 recordings, with winner Hough selected by an online poll.

"This gold disc award... salutes the best of the best since 1978 and consolidates both critical and public opinion," said Mr Inverne.

Another British pianist, Paul Lewis, took record of the year, for volume 4 of the Beethoven Piano Sonatas.

Violinist Hilary Hahn, from the US, was named artist of the year.