The American classical music and opera world celebrated its own at the 2023 Grammy Awards last night in Los Angeles.

The 2023 classical Grammy winners were:

• Producer of the Year, Classical: Judith Sherman
• Best Orchestral Performance: “Works by Florence Price, Jessie Montgomery, Valerie Coleman,” Michael Repper, conductor (New York Youth Symphony)
• Best Opera Recording: “Blanchard: Fire Shut Up in My Bones,” Yannick Nézet-Séguin, conductor; Angel Blue, Will Liverman, Latonia Moore and Walter Russell III; David Frost, producer (The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; The Metropolitan Opera Chorus)
• Best Choral Performance: “Born,” Donald Nally, conductor (Dominic German, Maren Montalbano, Rebecca Myers and James Reese; The Crossing)
• Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance: “Shaw: Evergreen,” Attacca Quartet
• Best Classical Instrumental Solo: “Letters for the Future,” Time for Three; Xian Zhang, conductor (The Philadelphia Orchestra)
• Best Classical Solo Vocal Album: “Voice of Nature: The Anthropocene,” Renée Fleming, soloist; Yannick Nézet-Séguin, pianist
• Best Classical Compendium: “An Adoption Story,” Starr Parodi and Kitt Wakeley; Jeff Fair, Starr Parodi and Kitt Wakeley, producers
• Best Contemporary Classical Composition: “Puts: Contact,” Kevin Puts, composer (Xian Zhang, Time for Three and the Philadelphia Orchestra)
• Best Engineered Album, Classical: “Bates: Philharmonia Fantastique — The Making of the Orchestra,” Shawn Murphy, Charlie Post and Gary Rydstrom, engineers; Michael Romanowski, mastering engineer (Edwin Outwater and Chicago Symphony Orchestra)

Key takeaways

Raising some eyebrows, a youth orchestra (New York Youth Symphony) beat out some of America’s finest professional orchestras — taking home what is regarded as the highest honour for an orchestral recording.

Last night Beyoncé took home her 32nd Grammy Award, surpassing conductor Georg Solti for the record number of awards won.

Montreal’s Yannick Nézet-Séguin landed two Grammys last night: best opera recording (Blanchard: Fire Shut Up In My Bones) and best classical solo vocal album, where he was a pianist (Voice Of Nature – The Anthropocene). Last year he took home his first grammy for best orchestral performance.

All in all, it was a great night for classical music. Congrats to all the winners and nominees!

For the complete list of winners, see here.

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Michael Vincent

Michael Vincent is the Editor-in-chief Ludwig Van and CEO of Museland Media. He publishes regularly and writes occasionally. A specialist in digital media for over 15 years, he has worked as a senior editor and is a former freelance classical music critic for the Toronto Star. Michael holds a Doctorate in Music from the University of Toronto.

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