2023 Grammy’s
There are 91 award categories in the Grammy’s. The ones they show on TV—Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year...etc., etc., etc.—are the more “eye-catching” categories. And I must admit that Harry Styles’ performance last year of his award-winning song “Watermelon Sugar” took my breath away. What a fantastic performance! Look it up! Check out his boa! Check out Billie Elish (wearing an amazing costume and gloves) watching him with appreciation.
I love music, but I have lost track of most contemporary performers. I just do not listen the way I once did and often do not recognize the songs that young people love these days. Give me the songs of the 40s— favorites of my parents when my sisters and I were growing up—songs from WWII. Or ship me back to the late 60s and 70s—songs for dancing and singing in the car as we drove around town.
Of all the categories for this year’s Grammy’s, the one I care about is the one that my friend, Elaine Martone—is nominated in: Producer of the Year, Classical. You won’t see Elaine on TV with the four other nominees. You won’t see her looking all glamorous and beautiful on the red carpet. BUT...she is there—nominated again (she already has several Grammy’s!...talented woman that she is!)—and I’m excited and happy for her. Here is everything you need to know about “her” category.
Producer of the Year—Nominees:
Jonathan Allen
• Aspire (Seunghee Lee, JP Jofre, Enrico Fagone & London Symphony Orchestra) (A)
• Cooper: Continuum (Jessica Cottis, Adjoah Andoh, Clio Gould & The Oculus Ensemble) (A)
• Muse (Sheku Kanneh-Mason & Isata Kanneh-Mason) (A)
• Origins (Lucie Horsch) (A)
• Saudade (Plinio Fernandes) (A)
• Schubert: Winterreise (Benjamin Appl) (A)
• Secret Love Letters (Lisa Batiashvili, Yannik Nézet-Séguin & Philadelphia Orchestra) (A) • Song (Sheku Kanneh-Mason) (A)
Christoph Franke
• Brahms & Berg: Violin Concertos (Christian Tetzlaff, Robin Ticciati & Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin) (A)
• John Williams - The Berlin Concert (John Williams & Berliner Philharmoniker) (A)
• Mendelssohn: Piano Concertos (Lars Vogt & Orchestre De Chambre De Paris) (A)
• Mozart: Complete Piano Sonatas (Elisabeth Leonskaja) (A)
• Mozart Y Mambo: Cuban Dances (Sarah Willis, José Antonio Méndez Padrón & Havana Lyceum Orchestra) (A)
James Ginsburg
• As We Are (Julian Velasco) (A)
• Avant L'Orage - French String Trios (Black Oak Ensemble) (A)
• Gems From Armenia (Aznavoorian Duo) (A)
• Stephenson: Symphony No. 3, 'Visions' (Vladimir Kulenovic & Lake Forest Symphony) (A) • Trios From Contemporary Chicago (Lincoln Trio) (A)
• When There Are No Words - Revolutionary Works For Oboe And Piano (Alex Klein & Phillip Bush) (A)
Elaine Martone
• Beethoven: The Last Sonatas (Gerardo Teissonnière) (A)
• Big Things (Icarus Quartet) (A)
• Perspectives (Third Coast Percussion) (A)
• Schnittke: Concerto For Piano And Strings; Prokofiev: Symphony No. 2 (Yefim Bronfman, Franz Welser-Möst & The Cleveland Orchestra) (A)
• Strauss: Three Tone Poems (Franz Welser-Möst & The Cleveland Orchestra) (A)
• Upon Further Reflection (John Wilson) (A) • Judith Sherman
• Akiho: Oculus (Various Artists) (A)
• Bach, C.P.E.: Sonatas & Rondos (Marc-André Hamelin) (A)
• Bolcom: The Complete Rags (Marc-André Hamelin) (A)
• Felix & Fanny Mendelssohn: String Quartets (Takács Quartet) (A)
• Huang Ro's A Dust In Time (Del Sol Quartet) (A)
• It Feels Like (Eunbi Kim) (A)
• León: Teclas De Mi Piano (Adam Kent) (A)
• Violin Odyssey (Itamar Zorman & Ieva Jokubaviciute) (A)
• Works By Florence Price, Jessie Montgomery, Valerie Coleman (Michael Repper & New York Youth Symphony) (A)
Judith Sherman
• Akiho: Oculus (Various Artists) (A)
• Bach, C.P.E.: Sonatas & Rondos (Marc-André Hamelin) (A)
• Bolcom: The Complete Rags (Marc-André Hamelin) (A)
• Felix & Fanny Mendelssohn: String Quartets (Takács Quartet) (A)
• Huang Ro's A Dust In Time (Del Sol Quartet) (A)
• It Feels Like (Eunbi Kim) (A)
• León: Teclas De Mi Piano (Adam Kent) (A)
• Violin Odyssey (Itamar Zorman & Ieva Jokubaviciute) (A)
• Works By Florence Price, Jessie Montgomery, Valerie Coleman (Michael Repper & New
York Youth Symphony) (A)
Although Elaine did not win (Judith Sherman took home the Grammy), she is and always will be the winner in my book—and in my household. Congratulations, Elaine! We (Al and I) love you and Bob!
