Awards,
Grammy Winners 2020
Since 1959, the Grammy Awards (presented by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences) have been one of the major events in the global record-industry year; held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, the 62nd annual ceremony last night was a typically star-studded affair, with live performances from artists including Ariana Grande, Alicia Keys, Demi Lovato, Lizzo, and Billie Eilish (who won five awards, including Best New Artist and Album of the Year).
Winners in the nine classical categories include Joyce DiDonato for her jazz/baroque fusion album Songplay on Erato, Pulitzer Prize-winning American composer Jennifer Higdon for her 2018 Harp Concerto, and Nicola Benedetti for her recording of Wynton Marsalis’s Violin Concerto and Fiddle Dance Suite on Decca (you can read our in-depth interview with her about her collaboration with Marsalis here).
Best Orchestral Performance
Los Angeles Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Best Opera Recording
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, MP3, FLAC
Best Choral Performance
Ken Cowan (organ), Cecilia Duarte (mezzo-soprano), Norman Fischer (cello), Houston Chamber Choir, Robert Simpson
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance
Attacca Quartet
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Best Classical Instrumental Solo
Nicola Benedetti (violin), Philadelphia Orchestra, Cristian Măcelaru
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Best Classical Solo Vocal Album
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 Formats: MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Best Classical Compendium
Nadia Shpachenko (piano), Joanne Pearce Martin (piano), Nick Terry (percussion), Cory Hills (percussion), Jack Van Zandt (electronics), Nina C. Young (electronics)
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Best Contemporary Classical Composition
Yolanda Kondonassis (harp), Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. Ward Stare
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Best Engineered Album (Classical)
Kronos Quartet
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Best Historical Album
Pete Seeger
Available Format: 6 CDs