For almost six decades, the Grammys (presented by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences) have been one of the major events in the global record-industry year, and yesterday the shortlist for the 2018 Awards was announced, with nominees including Joyce DiDonato, Murray Perahia, Steven Isserlis, and the late Dmitri Hvorostovsky. The winners will be revealed in a star-studded ceremony at New York City's Madison Square Gardens in New York on Sunday 28th January.
Read on for full details of the five contenders nominated in each of the eight classical categories - many of our own favourites from the past twelve months or so make an appearance, plus a few wild cards which we'll be exploring in more depth over the coming weeks!
Orchestral Performance
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Louis Langrée
Available format: Download & Streaming (up to 44.1 kHz, 16 bit)
Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Leonard Slatkin
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
San Francisco Symphony, Michael Tilson Thomas
Available format: SACD
Minnesota Orchestra, Osmo Vänskä
Available format: SACD
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Manfred Honeck
Available formats: SACD, Download & Streaming (up to 192 kHz, 24 bit)
Opera Recording
Roman Trekel, Anne Schwanewilms, Marc Molomot, Nathan Berg; Houston Symphony. Hans Graf
Available formats: 2 CDs, Download & Streaming (up to 44.1 kHz, 24 bit)
Diana Damrau, Matthew Polenzani, Mariusz Kwiecien; Metropolitan Opera, Gianandrea Noseda, Penny Woolcock
Available format: DVD Video
Max Emanuel Cenčić, Lauren Snouffer, Ann Hallenberg, Xavier Sabata; Il Pomo d’Oro, George Petrou
Available format: Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Choral Performance
The Crossing & PRISM Saxophone Quartet, Donald Nally
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 88.2 kHz, 24 bit)
Erin Wall (soprano), Elizabeth DeShong (mezzo-soprano), Andrew Staples (tenor), John Relyea (bass-baritone); Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Sir Andrew Davis
Available formats: 2 SACDs, Download & Streaming (up to 192 kHz, 24 bit)
Anja Petersen (soprano), Andrew Redmond (bass); RIAS Chamber Choir Berlin, Munich Chamber Orchestra, Alexander Liebreich
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Tenebrae, Nigel Short
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Christopher Jacobson (organ), South Dakota Chorale, Brian A. Schmidt
Available formats: SACD, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance
Sophie Gent (violin), Jonathan Manson (cello), Thomas Dunford (lute); Arcangelo, Jonathan Cohen
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Patricia Kopatchinskaja (violin), The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 192 kHz, 24 bit)
Martha Argerich (piano), Renaud Capuçon (violin), Stephen Kovacevich (piano), Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana
Available format: Download & Streaming (up to 44.1 kHz, 24 bit)
Classical Instrumental Solo
Murray Perahia (piano)
Available format: Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Steven Isserlis (cello/director), The Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Maria Lettberg (piano), Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Ariane Matiakh
Available format: Download & Streaming (up to 44.1 kHz, 16 bit)
Frank Peter Zimmermann (violin), NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester, Alan Gilbert
Available format: SACD
Daniil Trifonov (piano)
Available formats: 2 CDs, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Classical Solo Vocal Album
Philippe Jaroussky (countertenor), Freiburger Barockorchester
Available format: Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Philippe Jaroussky (countertenor), Freiburger Barockorchester
Available format: Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Barbara Hannigan (soprano/conductor), Ludwig Orchestra
Available formats: CD + DVD Video, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Nicholas Phan (tenor), Myra Huang (piano)
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Joyce DiDonato (mezzo), Il Pomo d'Oro, Maxim Emelyanychev
Available format: Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Dmitri Hvorostovsky (baritone), St Petersburg State Symphony Orchestra, Style of Five Ensemble, Constantine Orbelian
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 44.1 kHz, 24 bit)
Classical Compendium
Alexandre Tharaud (piano), with Juliette Binoche, Vanessa Paradis, Jane Birkin et al
Available format: Download & Streaming (up to 44.1 kHz, 24 bit)
Roberto Díaz (viola), James Button (oboe), Nashville Symphony Orchestra, Giancarlo Guerrero
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Asko, Schoenberg Ensemble, Netherlands Radio Choir, Reinbert de Leeuw
Available formats: 3 CDs, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Hespèrion XXI, La Capella Reial de Catalunya, Jordi Savall
Available formats: 2 SACDs + DVD Video, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Nicole Cabell (soprano), Alek Shrader (tenor), Edwin Crossley-Mercer (baritone), Amit Peled (cello), François-Henri Houbart (organ), Lucy Mauro (piano)
Available formats: 2 CDs, Download & Streaming (up to 44.1 kHz, 24 bit)
Contemporary Classical Composition
Thomas Hampson (baritone), Nashville Symphony Orchestra, Giancarlo Guerrero
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Roberto Díaz (viola), Nashville Symphony Orchestra, Giancarlo Guerrero
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Anja Petersen (soprano), Andrew Redmond (bass), RIAS Chamber Choir Berlin, Munich Chamber Orchestra, Alexander Liebreich
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Kansas City Symphony, Michael Stern
Available formats: SACD, Download & Streaming (up to 176.4 kHz, 24 bit)
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Louis Langrée
Available format: Download & Streaming (up to 44.1 kHz, 16 bit)
