For 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 the shortlist for the 2020 Awards has just been announced, with nominees including Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla, Yuja Wang and Sir George Benjamin. The winners will be revealed in a star-studded ceremony at Staples Center in Los Angeles on 26th January.
Read on for details of the contenders nominated in each of the nine 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!
Best Orchestral Performance
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Manfred Honeck
Available formats: SACD, Download & Streaming (up to 192 kHz, 24 bit)
Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Leonard Slatkin
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Los Angeles Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel
Available format: Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Louis Langrée
Available format: Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Gidon Kremer (violin), Kremerata Baltica, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla
Available format: Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Best Opera Recording
Stéphane Degout (King), Barbara Hannigan (Isabel), Gyula Orendt (Gaveston/Stranger), Peter Hoare (Mortimer), Samuel Boden (Boy/Young King)
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, George Benjamin
Available format: DVD Video
Stéphane Degout (King), Barbara Hannigan (Isabel), Gyula Orendt (Gaveston/Stranger), Peter Hoare (Mortimer), Samuel Boden (Boy/Young King)
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, George Benjamin
Available format: Blu-ray
Christopher Maltman (Wozzeck), Eva-Maria Westbroek (Marie), Frank van Aken (Drum Major), Sir Willard White (Doctor)
Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, Chorus of Dutch National Opera, New Amsterdam Children's Choir, Marc Albrecht (conductor) & Krzysztof Warlikowski (director)
Available format: DVD Video
Christopher Maltman (Wozzeck), Eva-Maria Westbroek (Marie), Frank van Aken (Drum Major), Sir Willard White (Doctor)
Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, Chorus of Dutch National Opera, New Amsterdam Children's Choir, Marc Albrecht (conductor) & Krzysztof Warlikowski (director)
Available format: Blu-ray
Boston Early Music Festival Vocal & Chamber Ensembles, Paul O'Dette and Stephen Stubbs
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 44.1 kHz, 16 bit)
John Brancy (Mr Fox), Krista River (Mrs Fox), Andrew Craig Brown (Farmer Boggs), Edwin Vega (Farmer Bunce), Gabriel Preisser (Farmer Bean), Elizabeth Futral (Miss Hedgehog), Tynan Davis (Rita the Rat), Theo Lebow (Mr Porcupine), Andrey Nemzer (Agnes the Digger), Gail Novak Mosites (Mavis the Tractor), John Dooley (Badger the Miner), Jonathan Blalock (Burrowing Mole)
Boston Children's Choir, Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Gil Rose
Available formats: 2 CDs, Download & Streaming (up to 44.1 kHz, 16 bit)
Best Choral Performance
The Crossing, Donald Nally
Available format: Download & Streaming (up to 44.1 kHz, 16 bit)
Ken Cowan (organ), Cecilia Duarte (mezzo-soprano), Norman Fischer (cello)
Houston Chamber Choir, Robert Simpson
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Conspirare, Craig Hella Johnson
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 176.4 kHz, 24 bit)
PaTRAM Institute Singers, Peter Jermihov
Available formats: 2 CDs, Download & Streaming (up to 192 kHz, 24 bit)
The Crossing, Donald Nally
Available format: Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance
Hermitage Piano Trio
Available formats: SACD, Download & Streaming (up to 176.4 kHz, 24 bit)
Attacca Quartet
Available format: Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Best Classical Instrumental Solo
Yuja Wang (piano)
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Yolanda Kondonassis (harp), Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Ward Stare
Available format: Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Nicola Benedetti (violin), Philadelphia Orchestra, Cristian Măcelaru
Available format: Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Jan Kraybill (organ)
Available formats: SACD, Download & Streaming (up to 176.4 kHz, 24 bit)
Tessa Lark (violin), Albany Symphony, David Alan Miller
Available format: Download & Streaming (up to 44.1 kHz, 16 bit)
Best Classical Solo Vocal Album
Susan Narucki (soprano), Donald Berman (piano), Curtis Macomber (violin), Nicholas Tolle (cimbalom), Kathryn Schulmeister (double bass)
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Christina Pluhar (theorbo & direction), L'Arpeggiata
Available format: Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Matthias Goerne (bass-baritone), Leif Ove Andsnes (piano)
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Joyce DiDonato (mezzo), Steve Barnett (percussion), Jimmy Madison (drums), Craig Terry (piano/harpsichord), Chuck Israels (double bass), Charlie Porter (trumpet/flugelhorn), Lautaro Greco (bandonéon)
Available format: Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Stephen Costello (tenor), Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra, Constantine Orbelian
Available format: Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Best Classical Compendium
John Morris Russell (narrator), Robyn Watson (tap shoe), Robert Sullivan (trumpet)
Available format: Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Jason Vieaux (guitar), The Violins of Hope, Nashville Symphony Orchestra, Giancarlo Guerrero
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Paul Appleby (tenor), Natalia Katyukova (piano), Miranda Cuckson (violin), Blair McMillen (piano), Avalon String Quartet
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Nadia Shpachenko (piano)
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Gerald Finley (bass-baritone), Xavier de Maistre (harp), Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Hannu Lintu
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 48 kHz, 24 bit)
Best Contemporary Classical Composition
Juilliard Jazz Orchestra, Albany Symphony Orchestra, David Alan Miller
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 44.1 kHz, 24 bit)
Yolanda Kondonassis (harp), Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Ward Stare
Available format: Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Nicola Benedetti (violin), Philadelphia Orchestra, Cristian Măcelaru
Available format: Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Los Angeles Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel
Available format: Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Attacca Quartet
Available format: Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Best Historical Album
Best Engineered Album (Classical)
Anna Þorvaldsdóttir: Aequa
(Daniel Shores, engineer/mastering engineer)
Cory Smythe (piano), International Contemporary Ensemble, Steven Schick
Available formats: Blu-ray Audio + CD, Download & Streaming (up to 192 kHz, 24 bit)
Bruckner: Symphony No. 9
(Mark Donahue, engineer/mastering engineer)
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Manfred Honeck
Available formats: SACD, Download & Streaming (up to 192 kHz, 24 bit)
Rachmaninoff: Trios élégiaques
(Keith O. Johnson & Sean Royce Martin, engineers; Keith O. Johnson, mastering engineer)
Hermitage Piano Trio
Available formats: SACD, Download & Streaming (up to 176.4 kHz, 24 bit)
Terry Riley: Sun Rings
(Leslie Ann Jones, engineer; Robert C. Ludwig, mastering engineer)
Kronos Quartet
Available format: Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
