The 2018 JUNO Award Nominations have been announced today, flooding social media with hopefuls expressing their appreciation for the recognition.
But the fight for the prestigious title in the four classical categories will be fierce this year.
In the Classical Album of the Year (Solo or Chamber) category are David Jalbert, James Ehnes with Andrew Armstrong, Janina Fialkowska, Louis Lortie, and the ARC Ensemble.
Classical Album of the Year (Large Ensemble category) sees nods to James Ehnes (his second nomination of the year) with Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Jan Lisiecki with NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester, Johannes Moser and Co., and the Arion Orchestre Baroque, Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra & Nunavut Sivuniksavut Performers for Vincent Ho’s The Shaman & Arctic Symphony. The favourite will likely be Lisiecki, but we’ll have to see what the judges decide.
Vocal or Choral Classical Classical Album of the Year nominees are Isabel Bayrakdarian with Coro Vox Aeterna, Philippe Sly & John Charles Britton, Barbara Hannigan with Ludwig Orchestra, Daniel Taylor with The Trinity Choir, and Gerald Finley with Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. This is perhaps the most difficult choice with overwhelmingly strong albums from each, particularly Philippe Sly and Barbara Hannigan.
In the always coveted category of Classical Composition of the Year, are Andrew Staniland, James Rolfe, Jocelyn Morlock, Vincent Ho and Alice Ping Yee Ho. Also a tight race, which we will have to wait for the wisdom of the judges to decide.
For a list of the complete nominations, visit here.
Classical Album of the Year: Solo or Chamber
- Stravinsky & Prokofiev: Transcriptions pour piano, David Jalbert
- Beethoven: Violin Sonatas Nos. 6 & 9 ‘Kreutzer’, James Ehnes with Andrew Armstrong
- Chopin Recital 3, Janina Fialkowska
- Louis Lortie Plays Chopin, Vol. 5, Louis Lortie
- Chamber Works by Szymon Laks, ARC Ensemble
Classical Album of the Year: Large Ensemble
- Beethoven & Schubert: Violin Concerto, James Ehnes with Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
- Chopin: Works for Piano & Orchestra, Jan Lisiecki with NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester
- Elgar & Tchaikovsky, Johannes Moser with Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
- The Shaman & Arctic Symphony, Dame Evelyn Glennie with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra & Nunavut Sivuniksavut Performers.
- Rebelles Baroques, Arion Orchestre Baroque
Classical Album of the Year: Vocal or Choral
- Mother of Light: Armenian hymns & chants in praise of Mary, Isabel Bayrakdarian with Coro Vox Aeterna
- Schubert Sessions: Lieder with Guitar, Philippe Sly & John Charles Britton
- Crazy Girl Crazy, Barbara Hannigan with Ludwig Orchestra
- The Tree of Life, Daniel Taylor with The Trinity Choir
- In the Stream of Life: Songs by Sibelius, Gerald Finley with Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra
Classical Composition of the Year
- Phi, Caelestis, Andrew Staniland
- Breathe, James Rolfe
- My Name is Amanda Todd, Jocelyn Morlock
- The Shaman, Vincent Ho
- Cœur à Cœur, Alice Ping Yee Ho
The 48th Annual JUNO Awards will be broadcast live on CBC from Budweiser Gardens, on Sunday, March 17, 2019.
[Editor’s note: A previous headline stated James Ehnes lead the classical music nominees, but in fact, Vincent Ho also has two nominations.]
LUDWIG VAN TORONTO
Want more updates on Toronto-centric classical music news and reviews before anyone else finds out? Follow us on Facebook or Twitter for all the latest.
