Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording

Updated on Dec 18, 2023

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Country United States Last awarded 2015 Presented by The Recording Academy Category of Grammy Awards		First awarded 1961 Official website grammy.com Instituted 1961
Awarded for quality classical opera productions and recordings People also search for Grammy Award for Best Choral Performance Winners & Nominees John Corigliano: The Ghosts of Versailles (Live)Patricia Racette - James Conlon - Christopher Maltman -, John Corigliano: The Ghosts of Versailles (Live), Winner, Szymanowski: Król RogerAntonio Pappano, Szymanowski: Król Roger, Nominee, Le Nozze di FigaroYannick Nézet-Séguin, Le Nozze di Figaro, Nominee, Handel: Giulio CesareGiovanni Antonini, Handel: Giulio Cesare, Nominee, Higdon: Cold MountainMiguel Harth-Bedoya, Higdon: Cold Mountain, Nominee, Ravel: L'enfant et les sortileges - SheherazadeSeiji Ozawa - Isabel Leonard - Dominic Fyfe, Ravel: L'enfant et les sortileges - Sheherazade, Winner, Claudio Monteverdi: Il Ritorno d'Ulisse in PatriaJennifer Rivera - Martin Pearlman - Fernando Guimarães -, Claudio Monteverdi: Il Ritorno d'Ulisse in Patria, Nominee, Steffani: Niobe - regina di TebePhilippe Jaroussky - Karina Gauvin - Paul O'Dette -, Steffani: Niobe - regina di Tebe, Nominee, Janáček: JenůfaJennifer Lar - Donald Runnicles - Michaela Kaune -, Janáček: Jenůfa, Nominee, Mozart: Die Entführung aus dem Serail (Live)Rolando Villazón - Diana Damrau - Yannick Nézet-Séguin -, Mozart: Die Entführung aus dem Serail (Live), Nominee, Charpentier: La descente d'Orphée aux enfersPaul O'Dette - Stephen Stubbs - Aaron Sheehan -, Charpentier: La descente d'Orphée aux enfers, Winner, Strauss: ElektraChristian Thielemann - René Pape - Waltraud Meier -, Strauss: Elektra, Nominee, Schönberg: Moses Und AronFranz Grundheber - Sylvain Cambreling - Andreas Conrad -, Schönberg: Moses Und Aron, Nominee, Rameau: Hippolyte et AricieWilliam Christie - Sarah Connolly - Christiane Karg -, Rameau: Hippolyte et Aricie, Nominee, Milhaud: L'Orestie D'eschyleKenneth Kiesler - Dan Kempson - Jennifer Lane -, Milhaud: L'Orestie D'eschyle, Nominee, Adès: The TempestSimon Keenlyside - Thomas Adès - Isabel Leonard -, Adès: The Tempest, Winner, Kleiberg: David & BathshebaMaster Fatman - Tõnu Kaljuste - Johannes Weisser -, Kleiberg: David & Bathsheba, Nominee, Vinci: ArtasersePhilippe Jaroussky - Franco Fagioli - Valer Barna-Sabadus -, Vinci: Artaserse, Nominee, Britten: The Rape Of LucretiaIan Bostridge - Angelika Kirchschlager - Oliver Knussen -, Britten: The Rape Of Lucretia, Nominee, Wagner: Der Ring Des NibelungenChristian Thielemann - Stephen Gould - Albert Dohmen -, Wagner: Der Ring Des Nibelungen, Nominee, Wagner: Der Ring Des NibelungenBryn Terfel - James Levine - Fabio Luisi -, Wagner: Der Ring Des Nibelungen, Winner, Teuzzone (Le Concert des Nations - Jordi Savall)Jordi Savall - Delphine Galou - Raffaella Milanesi -, Teuzzone (Le Concert des Nations - Jordi Savall), Nominee, Stravinsky: The Rake's ProgressVladimir Jurowski - Matthew Rose - Topi Lehtipuu -, Stravinsky: The Rake's Progress, Nominee, Berg: LuluPatricia Petibon - Paul Groves - Michael Boder -, Berg: Lulu, Nominee, Handel: AgrippinaSunhae Im - René Jacobs - Bejun Mehta -, Handel: Agrippina, Nominee

The Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording has been awarded since 1961. The award was originally titled Best Classical Opera Production. The current title has been used since 1962.

Prior to 1961 the awards for operatic and choral performances were combined in a single award for Best Classical Performance, Operatic or Choral.

The award goes to the conductor, the album producer(s) and the principal soloists.

Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were presented, for works released in the previous year.

2010s

2017

James Conlon (conductor); Joshua Guerrero, Christophe Maltman, Lucas Meachem, Patricia Racette, Lucy Schaufer, Guanqun Yu & Patti LuPone (soloists); Blanton Alspaugh (producer) for Corigliano: The Ghosts of Versailles

Nominees

Giovanni Antonini (conductor); Cecilia Bartoli, Philippe Jaroussky, Andreas Scholl & Anne Sofie von Otter (soloists); Samuel Theis (producer) for Handel: Giulio Cesare

Miguel Harth-Bedoya (conductor); Emily Fons, Nathan Gunn, Isabel Leonard & Jay Hunter Morris (solists); Elizabeth Ostrow (producer) for Higdon: Cold Mountain

Yannick Nézet-Séguin (conductor); Thomas Hampson, Christiane Karg, Luca Pisaroni & Sonya Yoncheva (soloists); Daniel Zalay (producer) for Mozart: Le Nozze di Figaro

Antonio Pappano (conductor); Georgia Jarman, Mariusz Kwiecień & Saimir Pirgu (soloists); Jonathan Allen (producer) for Szymanowksi: Król Roger

2016

Seiji Ozawa (conductor), Isabel Leonard (soloist), Dominic Fyfe (producer) for Ravel: L'enfant et les sortilèges; Shéhérazade

Nominees

Donald Runnicles (conductor), Will Hartmann, Michaela Kaune & Jennifer Larmore (soloists), Magdalena Herbst (producer) for Janácek: Jenufa

Martin Pearlman (conductor), Fernando Guimarães & Jennifer Riviera (soloists), Thomas C. Moore (producer) for Monteverdi: Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria

Yannick Nézet-Séguin (conductor), Diana Damrau, Paul Schweinester & Rolando Villazón (soloists), Sid McLauchlan (producer) for Mozart: Die Entführung aus dem Serail

Paul O'Dette & Stephen Stubbs (conductors), Karina Gauvin & Philippe Jaroussky (soloists), Renate Wolter-Seevers (producer) for Steffani: Niobe, regina di Tebe

Grammy Awards of 2015

Paul O'Dette and Stephen Stubbs (conductors); Aaron Sheehan (soloist); Renate Wolter-Seevers (producer) for Charpentier: La descente d'Orphée aux enfers

Nominees

Kenneth Kiesler (conductor); Dan Kempson, Jennifer Lane, Tamara Mumford, Julianna Di Giacomo, and Brenda Rae (soloists); Tim Handley (producer) for Milhaud: L'Orestie d'Eschyle

William Christie (conductor); Sarah Connolly, Stéphane Degout, Christiane Karg, Ed Lyon and Katherine Watson (soloists); Sébastien Chonion (producer) for Rameau: Hippolyte et Aricie

Sylvain Cambreling (conductor]]; Andreas Conrad and Franz Grundheber (soloists); Reinhard Oechsler (producer) for Schoenberg: Moses und Aron

Christian Thielemann (conductor); Evelyn Herlitzius, Waltraud Meier, René Pape and Anne Schwanewilms (soloists); Magdalene Herbst (producer) for Strauss: Elektra

Grammy Awards of 2014

Thomas Adès (conductor); Simon Keenlyside, Isabel Leonard, Audrey Luna, Alan Oke (soloists); Jay David Saks (producer) for Adès: The Tempest

Nominees

Oliver Knussen (conductor); Ian Bostridge, Peter Coleman-Wright, Susan Gritton, Angelika Kirchschlager (soloists); John Fraser (producer) for Britten: The Rape of Lucretia

Tönu Kaljuste (conductor); Anna Eimarsson and Johannes Weisser (soloists); Morten Lindberg (producer) for Kleiberg: David and Bathsheba

Diego Fasolis (conductor); Valer Barna-Sabadus, Daniel Behle, Max Emanuel Cenčić, Franco Fagioli, Philippe Jaroussky (soloists); Ulrich Russcher (producer) for Vinci: Artaserse

Christian Thielemann (conductor); Katarina Dalayman, Albert Dohmen, Stephen Gould, Eric Halfvarson, Linda Watson (soloists); Ohmar Eichinger (producer) for Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen

Grammy Awards of 2013

James Levine and Fabio Luisi (conductors), Hans Peter König, Jay Hunter Morris, Bryn Terfel, Deborah Voigt (soloists), Jay David Saks (producer) for Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen

Nominees

Michael Boder (conductor), Paul Groves, Ashley Holland, Julia Juon, Patricia Petibon (soloists), Johannes Müller (producer) for Berg: Lulu

René Jacobs (conductor), Marcos Fink, Sunhae In, Bejun Mehta, Alexandrina Pendatchanska, Jennifer Rivera (soloists) (no producer[s] listed) for Händel: Agrippina

Vladimir Jurowski (conductor), Topi Lehtipuu, Miah Persson, Matthew Rose (soloists), Jean Chatauret (producer) for Stravinsky: The Rake's Progress

Jordi Savall (conductor), Delphine Galou, Paolo Lopez, Roberta Mameli, Raffaela Milanesi, Furio Zanasi, (no producer[s] listed) for Vivaldi: Teuzzone

Grammy Awards of 2012

Alan Gilbert (conductor), Jay David Saks (producer), various solo performers for Doctor Atomic

Grammy Awards of 2011

Kent Nagano (conductor); Daniel Belcher, Ekaterina Lekhina, Marie-Ange Todorovitch; Martin Sauer, producer (Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin; Rundfunkchor Berlin) Harmonia Mundi for Kaija Saariaho: L'amour de loin

Grammy Awards of 2010

Daniel Harding (conductor); Ian Bostridge, Neal Davies, Nathan Gunn, Jonathan Lemalu, Matthew Rose, Gidon Saks, Andrew Kennedy, Daniel Teadt, Andrew Tortise, Rodrick Williams, John Fraser (producer); London Symphony Orchestra; Gentlemen of The London Symphony Chorus) for Britten: Billy Budd

2000s

Grammy Awards of 2009

James Conlon (conductor); Anthony Dean Griffey, Patti LuPone, Audra McDonald; Fred Vogler (producer); Donnie Ray Albert, John Easterlin, Steven Humes, Mel Ulrich, Robert Wörle; Los Angeles Opera Orchestra; Los Angeles Opera Chorus for Kurt Weill: Rise And Fall Of The City Of Mahagonny

Grammy Awards of 2008

Sir Charles Mackerras (conductor); Brian Couzens (producer); Jane Henschel, Jennifer Larmore, Rebecca Evans (soloists); Ralph Couzens, engineer, for Engelbert Humperdinck: Hansel and Gretel

Grammy Awards of 2007

Robert Spano (conductor); Kelley O'Connor, Jessica Rivera, Dawn Upshaw; Valérie Gross and Sid McLauchlan (producers) (Women Of The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus; Atlanta Symphony Orchestra) for Golijov: Ainadamar: Fountain Of Tears

Grammy Awards of 2006

Sir Colin Davis (conductor); Carlos Alvarez, Bülent Bezdüz, Marina Domashenko, Jane Henschel, Ana Ibarra, Maria Josè Moreno, Michele Pertusi; James Mallinson (producer) (London Symphony Chorus; London Symphony Orchestra) for Verdi: Falstaff

Grammy Awards of 2005

Martin Sauer (producer), René Jacobs (conductor), Patrizia Ciofi, Véronique Gens, Simon Keenlyside, Angelika Kirchschlager, Lorenzo Regazzo for Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro

Grammy Awards of 2004

Wolfram Graul (producer), Bernard Haitink (conductor), Jerry Hadley, Karita Mattila, Eva Randová, Anja Silja, Jorma Silvasti for Janáček: Jenůfa performed by the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House and Chorus, various artists

Grammy Awards of 2003

Christoph Classen (producer), Eberhard Sengpiel, Tobias Lehmann (engineers), Daniel Barenboim (conductor), Jane Eaglen, Thomas Hampson, Waltraud Meier, René Pape, Peter Seiffert, the Chor der Deutschen Staatsoper Berlin and the Staatskapelle Berlin for Wagner: Tannhäuser

Grammy Awards of 2002

James Mallinson (producer), Simon Rhodes (engineer), Colin Davis (conductor), Michelle DeYoung, Ben Heppner, Petra Lang, Peter Mattei, Stephen Milling, Sara Mingardo, Kenneth Tarver and the London Symphony Orchestra for Berlioz: Les Troyens

Grammy Awards of 2001

Martin Sauer (producer), Jean Chatauret (engineer), Kent Nagano (conductor), Kim Begley, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Dietrich Henschel, Markus Hollop, Eva Jenis, Torsten Kerl and the Orchestre de l'Opera Nationale de Lyon for Busoni: Doktor Faust

Grammy Awards of 2000

Nicholas Parker (producer), John Eliot Gardiner (conductor), Ian Bostridge, Anne Sofie von Otter, Bryn Terfel, Deborah York, the Monteverdi Choir and the London Symphony Orchestra for Stravinsky: The Rake's Progress

1990s

Grammy Awards of 1999

Pierre Boulez (conductor), Jessye Norman, László Polgár and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for Bartók: Bluebeard's Castle

Grammy Awards of 1998

Michael Woolcock (producer), Georg Solti (conductor), José van Dam, Ben Heppner, Herbert Lippert, Karita Mattila, Alan Opie, René Pape, Iris Vermillion and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for Wagner: Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg

Grammy Awards of 1997

Brian Couzens (producer), Richard Hickox (conductor), Philip Langridge, Alan Opie, Janice Watson, the London Symphony Chorus and the City of London Sinfonia for Britten: Peter Grimes

Grammy Awards of 1996

Raymond Minshull (producer), Charles Dutoit (conductor), Gary Lakes, Françoise Pollet, Gino Quilico, Deborah Voigt, L'Orchestra Symphonie Montreal and Chorus for Berlioz: Les Troyens

Grammy Awards of 1995

Martin Sauer (producer), Kent Nagano (conductor), Kenn Chester, Jerry Hadley, Samuel Ramey, Cheryl Studer, the Orchestre of Opéra de Lyon and Chorus for Floyd: Susannah

Grammy Awards of 1994

Steven Paul (producer), John Nelson (conductor), John Aler, Kathleen Battle, Michael Chance, Mark S. Doss, Marilyn Horne, Neil Mackie, Sylvia McNair, Samuel Ramey, the Ambrosian Opera Chorus and the English Chamber Orchestra for Handel: Semele

Grammy Awards of 1993

Christopher Raeburn, Stephen Trainor, Morten Winding (producers), Georg Solti (conductor), Hildegard Behrens, José van Dam, Plácido Domingo, Sumi Jo, Reinhild Runkel, Julia Varady, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra for R. Strauss: Die Frau ohne Schatten

Grammy Awards of 1992

Cord Garben (producer), James Levine (conductor), Hildegard Behrens, Reiner Goldberg, Matti Salminen, Hanna Schwarz, Cheryl Studer, Bernd Weikl, Ekkehard Wlaschiha, the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra for Wagner: Götterdämmerung

Grammy Awards of 1991

Cord Garben (producer), James Levine (conductor), Siegfried Jerusalem, Christa Ludwig, Kurt Moll, James Morris, Jan Hendrik Rootering, Ekkehard Wlaschiha, Heinz Zednik, the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra for Wagner: Das Rheingold

Grammy Awards of 1990

Cord Garben (producer), James Levine (conductor), Hildegard Behrens, Gary Lakes, Christa Ludwig, Kurt Moll, James Morris, Jessye Norman, Marilyn Mims the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra for Wagner: Die Walküre

1980s

Grammy Awards of 1989

Christopher Raeburn (producer), Georg Solti (conductor), Plácido Domingo, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Siegmund Nimsgern, Jessye Norman, Eva Randova, Hans Sotin, the Vienna State Opera Orchestra for Wagner: Lohengrin

Grammy Awards of 1988

Cord Garben (producer), James Levine (conductor), Agnes Baltsa, Kathleen Battle, Gary Lakes, Hermann Prey, Anna Tomowa-Sintow, the Vienna Philharmonic for R. Strauss: Ariadne auf Naxos

Grammy Awards of 1987

Elizabeth Ostrow (producer), John Mauceri (conductor), James Billings, Joyce Castle, Maris Clement, David Eisler, Jack Harrold, John Lankston, Erie Mills, Scott Reeve, the New York City Opera Orchestra for Bernstein: Candide

Grammy Awards of 1986

James Mallinson (producer), Georg Solti (conductor), Philip Langridge, Franz Mazura, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus for Schoenberg: Moses und Aron

Grammy Awards of 1985

Michel Glotz (producer), Lorin Maazel (conductor), Julia Migenes-Johnson, Plácido Domingo, Ruggero Raimondi, Faith Esham, the Choeurs et Maitrise de Radio France and the Orchestre National de France for Bizet: Carmen (Original Soundtrack)

Grammy Awards of 1984

Christopher Raeburn (producer), Georg Solti (conductor), Thomas Allen, Kiri Te Kanawa, Kurt Moll, Lucia Popp, Samuel Ramey, Frederica von Stade, the London Philharmonic Orchestra for Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro

Jay David Saks, Max Wilcox (producers), James Levine (conductor), Plácido Domingo, Cornell MacNeil, Teresa Stratas, the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra for Verdi: La traviata

Grammy Awards of 1983

Andrew Kazdin (producer), Pierre Boulez (conductor), Jeannine Altmeyer, Hermann Becht, Peter Hofmann, Siegfried Jerusalem, Gwyneth Jones, Manfred Jung, Donald McIntyre, Matti Salminen, Ortrun Wenkel, Heinz Zednik, the Bayreuth Festival Orchestra for Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen

Grammy Awards of 1982

James Mallinson (producer), Charles Mackerras (conductor), Jiri Zahradnicek, Ivo Žídek, Václav Zítek, the Vienna Philharmonic for Janáček: From the House of the Dead

Grammy Awards of 1981

Gunther Breest, Michael Horwath (producers), Pierre Boulez (conductor), Toni Blankenheim, Franz Mazura, Hanna Schwarz, Yvonne Minton, Teresa Stratas, the Orchestre de l'Opéra de Paris for Berg: Lulu

Grammy Awards of 1980

Vittorio Negri (producer), Colin Davis (conductor), Heather Harper, Jonathan Summers, Jon Vickers, the Royal Opera House Orchestra for Britten: Peter Grimes

1970s

Grammy Awards of 1979

George Sponhaltz, John Coveney (producers), Julius Rudel (conductor), Beverly Sills, Alan Titus, the New York City Opera Orchestra for Lehár: The Merry Widow

Grammy Awards of 1978

Thomas Z. Shepard (producer), John De Main (conductor), Donnie Ray Albert, Carol Brice, Clamma Dale, the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra for Gershwin: Porgy and Bess

Grammy Awards of 1977

Michael Woolcock (producer), Lorin Maazel (conductor), Leona Mitchell, Willard White, the Cleveland Orchestra for Gershwin: Porgy and Bess

Grammy Awards of 1976

Erik Smith (producer), Colin Davis (conductor), Richard van Allan, Janet Baker, Montserrat Caballé, Ileana Cotrubaş, Wladimiro Ganzarolli, Nicolai Gedda, the Royal Opera House Orchestra for Mozart: Così fan tutte

Grammy Awards of 1975

Richard Mohr (producer), Georg Solti (conductor), Judith Blegen, Montserrat Caballé, Plácido Domingo, Sherrill Milnes, Ruggero Raimondi, the London Philharmonic Orchestra for Puccini: La bohème

Grammy Awards of 1974

Tom Mowrey (producer), Leonard Bernstein (conductor), Marilyn Horne, Tom Krause, Adriana Maliponte, James McCracken, the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus for Bizet: Carmen

Grammy Awards of 1973

Erik Smith (producer), Colin Davis (conductor) the BBC Symphony Orchestra and various artists for Berlioz: Benvenuto Cellini

Grammy Awards of 1972

Richard Mohr (producer), Erich Leinsdorf (conductor), Grace Bumbry, Plácido Domingo, Sherrill Milnes, Leontyne Price, Ruggero Raimondi, the John Aldis Choir and the London Symphony Orchestra for Verdi: Aida

Grammy Awards of 1971

Erik Smith (producer), Colin Davis (conductor), the Royal Opera House Orchestra and Chorus and various artists for Berlioz: Les Troyens

Grammy Awards of 1970

Otto Gerdes (producer), Herbert von Karajan (conductor), Helga Dernesch, Gerhard Stolze, Jess Thomas, the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra for Wagner: Siegfried

1960s

Grammy Awards of 1969

Richard Mohr (producer), Erich Leinsdorf (conductor), Ezio Flagello, Sherrill Milnes, Leontyne Price, Judith Raskin, George Shirley, Tatiana Troyanos, the New Philharmonia Orchestra for Mozart: Così fan tutte

Grammy Awards of 1968

Thomas Z. Shepard (producer), Pierre Boulez (conductor), Walter Berry, Ingeborg Lasser, Isabel Strauss, Fritz Uhl, the Paris National Opera Orchestra and Chorus for Berg: Wozzeck

Grammy Awards of 1967

Georg Solti (conductor), Régine Crespin, Hans Hotter, James King, Christa Ludwig, Birgit Nilsson, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra for Wagner: Die Walküre

George Bragg (conductor), Gregg Smith (choir director), the Gregg Smith Singers, the Ithaca College Concert Choir, the Texas Boys Choir and the Columbia Chamber Orchestra for Ives: Music for Chorus

Grammy Awards of 1966

Karl Böhm (conductor), Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Evelyn Lear Fritz Wunderlich, the German Opera Orchestra and Chorus for Berg: Wozzeck

Grammy Awards of 1965

Herbert von Karajan (conductor) Franco Corelli, Mirella Freni, Robert Merrill, Leontyne Price, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra for Bizet: Carmen

Grammy Awards of 1964

Erich Leinsdorf (conductor), Rosalind Elias, Leontyne Price, Richard Tucker, the RCA Italiana Opera Orchestra for Puccini: Madama Butterfly

Grammy Awards of 1963

Georg Solti (conductor), Robert Merrill, Leontyne Price, Giorgio Tozzi, Jon Vickers, the Rome Opera House Orchestra for Verdi: Aida

Grammy Awards of 1962

Gabriele Santini (conductor), Victoria de los Ángeles, Jussi Björling, Miriam Pirazzini, Mario Sereni, the Rome Opera Orchestra for Puccini: Madama Butterfly

Grammy Awards of 1961

Erich Leinsdorf (conductor), Birgit Nilsson, Giorgio Tozzi, Jussi Björling, Renata Tebaldi, the Rome Opera Orchestra for Puccini: Turandot

References

Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording Wikipedia

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Contents

2010s

2000s

1990s

1980s

1970s

1960s

References