50th Annual Grammy Awards Nominations (classical)

[bhodges]

Here is the complete list of awards.  The classical nominees begin with Category 96.

Right off the bat, I'm pleased that Joan Tower's Made in America was cited, both for "Best Classical Album" and "Best Orchestral Performance."  I'm also glad that new music group eighth blackbird was nominated for "Best Chamber Music Performance for strange imaginary animals, and Jennifer Higdon's Zaka for "Best Classical Contemporary Composition (even if "classical contemporary" still sounds a bit weird).  Eighth blackbird's producer, Judith Sherman, was also nominated for "Producer of the Year, Classical."

But many other good nominees as well, including Lorraine Hunt Lieberson in Peter Lieberson's Neruda Songs.

--Bruce

[marvinbrown]

Here is the complete list of awards.  The classical nominees begin with Category 96.

Right off the bat, I'm pleased that Joan Tower's Made in America was cited, both for "Best Classical Album" and "Best Orchestral Performance."  I'm also glad that new music group eighth blackbird was nominated for "Best Chamber Music Performance for strange imaginary animals, and Jennifer Higdon's Zaka for "Best Classical Contemporary Composition (even if "classical contemporary" still sounds a bit weird).  Eighth blackbird's producer, Judith Sherman, was also nominated for "Producer of the Year, Classical."

But many other good nominees as well, including Lorraine Hunt Lieberson in Peter Lieberson's Neruda Songs.

--Bruce

  Thanks for the link Bruce.  The only recording I could recognize on the classical music list is the Brahm's Requiem (Simon Rattle) BPO.  Somebody the other day at HMV was telling me how GREAT it was.  This nomination confirms it- I think I just might go out and buy it after all. 

  Finally and sadly it is disheartening that there are no nominations for any of Wagner's music dramas  .  I guess I can't win always can I? 

  marvin

[bhodges]

  Finally and sadly it is disheartening that there are no nominations for any of Wagner's music dramas  .  I guess I can't win always can I? 

Well, if you get that Brahms CD, and if it's as good as they say (I haven't heard it yet) then it would seem to me that you have won! 

--Bruce

[marvinbrown]

Well, if you get that Brahms CD, and if it's as good as they say (I haven't heard it yet) then it would seem to me that you have won! 

--Bruce

  I admire your optimism  .

  marvin
 

[Brian]

Interesting to see this nominee:

Bach: Brandenburg Concertos
      Swiss Baroque Soloists
      [Naxos]

Would never have expected it! I reviewed it on the old forum; too bad it's no longer accessible.  I was quite positive, though; these are vigorous, FAST performances with lots of excitementt, and the second movement of the Third Concerto is given over to an extended and well-done harpsichord cadenza.

[bhodges]

I don't know this Swiss group--are they considered HIP?

--Bruce

[Brian]

I don't know this Swiss group--are they considered HIP?

--Bruce

No clue whether they are considered anything at all; I believe they were formed specifically for the recording ...

[MN Dave]

Go Minnesota!!

[uffeviking]

Interesting list, thank you, Bruce!

This is a good one and deserves nomination:

• Schubert: Piano Sonata D958, Lieder, Fragments (Leif Ove Andsnes & Ian
Bostridge)

How about Osmo Vänskä's Beethoven 9th? Nobody thought he could do it, but Vänskä really is an overlooked conducting talent.

I am happy for Atlanta's Spano to get nominated for his Tallis. Spano was 'discovered' a few years ago by the Seattle Opera's artistic director Speight Jenkins and hired to conduct the then brand new 'Green Ring'. Spano is good, believe me. I have heard him conducting many varied works and he is, like Vänskä, considered as an 'also-ran', or almost unmentionable, at least by so many GMGers here who believe the only conductors worth mentioning are Solti, Abbado and Levine. I'll check with you in a few years! 

Hey, did you see Stockhausen's name is on the list too! 

[MishaK]

I am happy for Atlanta's Spano to get nominated for his Tallis. Spano was 'discovered' a few years ago by the Seattle Opera's artistic director Speight Jenkins and hired to conduct the then brand new 'Green Ring'. Spano is good, believe me. I have heard him conducting many varied works and he is, like Vänskä, considered as an 'also-ran', or almost unmentionable, at least by so many GMGers here who believe the only conductors worth mentioning are Solti, Abbado and Levine. I'll check with you in a few years! 

I heard Spano do an absolutely fantastic Mahler 3 with the Brooklyn Phil a few years ago, and this was only weeks after I heard Boulez with the VPO and I preferred the Spano performance. Incredible sense of timing and forward motion. He is a very fine conductor indeed.

[bhodges]

Go Minnesota!!

I really need to hear this recording...just received an e-mail from a friend in Minneapolis: "So, isn't it about time you got it already?"  

And yes, Lis, I can't recall ever seeing Stockhausen's name on the list of nominees, even (as in this case) for his producer.  (Need to get that Stimmung recording, too.)

--Bruce

[Don]

I don't know this Swiss group--are they considered HIP?

--Bruce

You bet.

[Don]

Can't say I would think of buying a recording because it makes the Grammy list.  I'd rather pay attention to a review in Gramophone, although I don't do much of that either.

[Greta]

Just a note....you can watch the afternoon awards right now as a webcast through the Grammy.com site. No idea where they are in the lineup, on gospel right now, so perhaps they haven't done Classical yet.

Been some nice jazz performances on. Got to see good ole' Koko Taylor, and the backup band is great. (I'm a jazz nut. )

Edit: I just saw where Barack Obama won Best Spoken Word album.  I don't know, I just thought that was amusing!

[Bonehelm]

Lang Lang's LvB PC 1,4 recording with Eschenbach is also nominated.

[PSmith08]

If Quasthoff's jazz record doesn't win, it will be highway robbery of the first order.

[Mark]

... Brahm's Requiem (Simon Rattle) BPO.  Somebody the other day at HMV was telling me how GREAT it was.  This nomination confirms it- I think I just might go out and buy it after all. 

You won't be disappointed, Marvin. It's one of the best recordings I've heard. Not in any way 'tricksy', just a solid performance that's well played and well sung. In my top five, for sure.

[Greta]

The Rattle German Requiem won Best Choral Performance.

And the Joan Tower/Made in America disc with Slatkin and Nashville swept all categories it was nominated it looks like....Best Classical Album, Best Orchestral Performance, and Best Classical Contemporary Composition.

More:

Best Instrumental Performance w/ Orchestra
Barber/Korngold/Walton: Violin Concertos
Bramwell Tovey, conductor; James Ehnes (Vancouver Symphony Orchestra)
[CBC Records]

Best Soloist Performance w/o Orchestra
Beethoven Sonatas, Vol. 3
Garrick Ohlsson
[Bridge Records, Inc.]

Best Chamber Music Performance
Strange Imaginary Animals
Eighth Blackbird

Best Small Ensemble Performance
Stravinsky: Apollo, Concerto In D; Prokofiev: 20 Visions Fugitives
Yuri Bashmet, conductor; Moscow Soloists

Best Vocal Performance
Lorraine Hunt Lieberson Sings Peter Lieberson: Neruda Songs
Lorraine Hunt Lieberson (James Levine; Boston Symphony Orchestra)

Best Opera Recording
Humperdinck: Hansel & Gretel
Sir Charles Mackerras, conductor; Rebecca Evans, Jane Henschel & Jennifer Larmore; Brian Couzens, producer (Sarah Coppen, Diana Montague & Sarah Tynan; New London Children's Choir; Philharmonia Orchestra)
[Chandos Opera In English]


Best Engineered Classical Recording
Grechaninov: Passion Week
John Newton, engineer (Charles Bruffy, Phoenix Bach Choir & Kansas City Chorale)
[Chandos]

Best Classical Producer
Judith Sherman
(who produced the Eighth Blackbird album)

[Bonehelm]

WOW my local orchestra won a grammy!!!!!!!

[PSmith08]

Quasthoff's jazz record didn't win.

Highway robbery. Typical, though, of the process.