The Toronto Symphony Orchestra has taken home JUNO hardware for their album Turangalîla-Symphonie. Recorded live in Roy Thomson Hall, the album features Messiaen’s Turangalîla-Symphonie performed by the TSO conducted by Gustavo Gimeno, with soloists Marc-André Hamelin and French ondes Martenot player Nathalie Forget.
The release was the first in the TSO’s multi-year arrangement with Harmonia Mundi records, and also the orchestra’s first recording with Gimeno as Music Director.
The win was announced at the 54th Annual JUNO Awards Gala held in Vancouver, BC, on Saturday, March 29, 2025.
Classical JUNOs
There are four JUNO categories that pertain specifically to Western classical music.
The other albums and artists nominated for Classical album of the year (large ensemble) Include:
- Ispiciwin, Luminous Voices
- Alikeness, Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra Sinfonia, conducted by Mark Fewer featuring Aiyun
Huang, Deantha Edmunds and Mark Fewer - Sibelius 2 & 5, Orchestre Métropolitain, conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin
- Schoenberg: Pelleas und Melisande & Verklärte Nacht, Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, conducted by Rafael Payare
Mezzo-soprano Emily D’Angelo’s album Freezing wins in the category Classical album of the year (solo artist). The release blurs the lines between genres that include classical and folk music, including works by Glass, Russell, Purcell, Newman, C. Livingston, R. Clarke, and others.
Other nominees for Classical album of the year (solo artist):
- Signature, Philip Glass, Angèle Dubeau
- Messiaen, Barbara Hannigan
- Butterfly Lightning Shakes the Earth, India Gailey
- Williams Violin Concerto No. 1; Bernstein Serenade, James Ehnes
Montreal string ensemble collectif9 takes home the statue Classical album of the year (small ensemble) for their album Rituæls. With music that spans the centuries from the Middle Ages to the 21st century, the ensemble describes the release as “an artistic and spiritual experience”.
Other nominess for Classical album of the year (small ensemble)”
- Known To Dreamers: Black Voices in Canadian Art Song, Canadian Art Song Project
- East is East, Infusion Baroque
- Marie Hubert: Fille du Roy, Karina Gauvin
- Kevin Lau: Under a Veil of Stars, St. John–Mercer–Park Trio
Inuk soprano/composer Deantha Edmunds made history as the first Indigenous woman to win the JUNO Award for Classical composition of the year for her piece Angmalukisaa. The composition, whose title means “round” in Inuktut, is a song cycle that she recorded with Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra Sinfonia, conducted by Mark Fewer.
Other nominees for Classical composition of the year:
- The fog in our poise, Gabriel Dharmoo
- L’écoute du perdu : III. « Voix jetées », Keiko Devaux
- Dark Flower, Linda Catlin Smith
- String Quartet No. 4 “Insects and Machines,” Vivian Fung
The JUNO Awards
The JUNO Awards were hosted by singer Michael Bublé, and took place over the weekend in Vancouver, with the broadcast on March 30 from Rogers Arena.
The biggest winner was pop star and Calgary native Tate McRae, who received four awards, including Artist of the Year , Single of the Year for her song “Exes”, and both Album and Pop Album of the Year for her album Think Later.
Congratulations to the TSO, and all the other winners and nominees.
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