Joseph Calleja wins Gramophone's Artist of the Year 2012

The Maltese tenor has won the prized Gramophone Award, celebrating his achievements in classical music over the past year.

Joseph Calleja is the Gramophone Awards Artist of the Year 2012. The award, a highlight of the ceremony, was announced at London's Dorchester Hotel this afternoon to an audience of the best classical artists and industry professionals.

Joseph is in Vienna at the moment, rehearsing for his appearance in Puccini's Madam Butterfly, but he found the time to chat to Classic FM about winning the prestigious award. Speaking to Jamie Crick, he said: "I'm extremely honoured and grateful for the people who decided to vote for me - I'm pretty much speechless!"

He added: "There's no sense of achievement; of relaxing, of laying back. This art requires constant diligence, you can always reach the top - the top, not of the charts, but of your artistry."

Joseph adds his name to a list of the best classical performers in the world, including Sir Simon Rattle, Yo Yo Ma, and Joyce DiDonato.

Listen to our interview with Joseph Calleja