The 53rd Grammy Awards were held in Los Angeles on Sunday, and it was the Naxos label that dominated the classical category.

In a coup for the Hong Kong-based label, five of the 13 Classical category prizes (including Classical Production) went to Naxos discs – more than to any other label. Naxos’ success is indicative of its growing popularity in the US market and the quality of local artists it has added to its roster.

Michael Daugherty’s Metropolis Symphony and Deus ex Machina performed by the Nashville Symphony Orchestra/Giancarlo Guerrero (Naxos 8.559635) received awards for Best Orchestral Performance, Best Engineered Classical Album and Best Classical Contemporary Composition (for Deus ex Machina).

Organist Paul Jacobs received Best Instrumental Soloist Performance for his recording of Messiaen’s Livre Du Saint-Sacrement (Naxos 8.572436-37) and the Parker Quartet won Best Chamber Music Performance with their recording of Ligeti’s String Quartets (Naxos 8.570781).

The recognition of these recordings also indicates a growing appreciation for the work of more contemporary composers, likewise the fact that Best Opera Recording went to the Berlin production of Kaija Saariaho’s L’Amour de Loin (HMC801937/38).

Cecilia Bartoli was awarded Best Classical Vocal Performance for her album Sacrificium, which readers may remember from our Kooky...