Grammy Award for Best Orchestral Performance
The Grammy Award for Best Orchestral Performance has been awarded since 1959. There have been several minor changes to the name of the award over this time:
- From 1959 to 1964 it was awarded as Best Classical Performance - Orchestra
- In 1965 it was Best Performance - Orchestra
- From 1966 to 1975 it returned to Best Classical Performance - Orchestra
- From 1977 to 1978 it was awarded as Best Classical Orchestral Performance
- From 1980 to 1981 it was awarded as Best Classical Orchestral Recording
- In 1983 it was awarded as Best Orchestral Performance
- In 1984 it was awarded as Best Orchestral Recording
- From 1985 to 1987 it returned to being called Best Classical Orchestral Recording
- From 1988 to 1989 it was once again called Best Orchestral Recording
- From 1990 to the present it has returned to being called Best Orchestral Performance'
Until 1989, the Grammy Award went to the conductor only, but since then, the Orchestra has also been given an award.
2020s
2020- Gustavo Dudamel ; Los Angeles Philharmonic - Norman: Sustain
- Manfred Honeck ; Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra - Bruckner: Symphony No. 9
- Leonard Slatkin ; Detroit Symphony Orchestra - Copland: Billy the Kid; Grohg
- Louis Langrée ; Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra - Transatlantic
- Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla ; City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra & Kremerata Baltica - Weinberg: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 21
2010s
- Andris Nelsons ; Boston Symphony Orchestra for Shostakovich: Symphonies No. 4 & 11
- Nominees:
- *Manfred Honeck ; Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra for Beethoven: Symphony No. 3/Strauss: Horn Concerto No. 1
- *Thomas Dausgaard ; Seattle Symphony for Nielsen: Symphony No. 3 & Symphony No. 4
- *David Alan Miller ; National Orchestral Institute Philharmonic for Ruggles, Stucky & Harbison: Orchestral Works
- *Michael Tilson Thomas ; San Francisco Symphony for Schumann: Symphonies Nos. 1-4
- Manfred Honeck ; Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra for Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5; Barber: Adagio
- Nominees
- *Louis Langrée ; Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra for Concertos for Orchestra
- *Leonard Slatkin ; Detroit Symphony Orchestra for Copland: Symphony No. 3; Three Latin American Sketches
- *Michael Tilson Thomas ; San Francisco Symphony for Debussy: Images; Jeux & La Plus Que Lente
- *Osmo Vänskä ; Minnesota Orchestra for Mahler: Symphony No. 5
- Andris Nelsons and the Boston Symphony Orchestra for Shostakovich: Under Stalin's Shadow - Symphony Nos. 5, 8 & 9
- Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra for Bates: Works for Orchestra
- Neeme Järvi and the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande for Ibert: Orchestral Works
- Mariss Jansons and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra for Prokofiev: Symphony No. 5 in B-Flat Major, Op. 100
- Alan Gilbert and the New York Philharmonic for Rouse: Odna Zhizn; Symphonies 3 & 4; Prospero's Rooms
- Andris Nelsons and the Boston Symphony Orchestra for Shostakovich: Under Stalin's Shadow - Symphony No. 10
- Manfred Honeck for Bruckner: Symphony No. 4
- Ludovic Morlot for Dutilleux: Métaboles; L'Arbre Des Songes; Symphony No. 2, 'Le Double'
- Carlos Kalmar for Spirit of the American Range
- Darrell Ang for Zhou Long & Chen Yi: Symphony Humen 1839
- David Robertson, St. Louis Symphony for John Adams: City Noir
- Ludovic Morlot, Seattle Symphony for Dutilleux: Symphony No. 1; Tout un Monde Lointain; The Shadows of Time
- Manfred Honeck, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra for Dvorak: Symphony No. 8 / Janácek: Symphonic Suite From Jenufa
- Simon Rattle, Berliner Philharmoniker for Schumann: Symphonien 1-4
- Robert Spano, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra for Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 6 & 7; Tapiola
- Osmo Vänskä, Minnesota Orchestra for Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 4
- Neeme Järvi, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra for Atterberg: Orchestral Works Vol. 1
- Esa-Pekka Salonen, Los Angeles Philharmonic for Lutoslawski: Symphony No. 1
- Claudio Abbado, Orchestra Mozart for Schumann: Symphony No. 2; Overtures Manfred & Genoveva
- Simon Rattle, Berliner Philharmoniker for Stravinsky: Le Sacre du Printemps
- Michael Tilson Thomas, San Francisco Symphony for Adams: Harmonielehre & Short Ride in a Fast Machine
- Ivan Fischer, Budapest Festival Orchestra for Mahler: Symphony No. 1
- Carlos Kalmar, Oregon Symphony for Music for a Time of War
- Valery Gergiev, London Symphony Orchestra for Rachmaninov: Symphonic Dances
- Osmo Vänskä, Minnesota Orchestra for Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 5
- Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic for Brahms: Symphony no. 4
- Andrew Davis and the BBC Philharmonic for Bowen: Symphonies 1 & 2
- Nicholas McGegan and the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra for Haydn: Symphonies 104, 88 & 101
- Marek Janowski and the Rundfunk Sinfonieorchester Berlin for Henze: Symphonies nos. 3-5
- Jirí Belohlávek and the BBC Symphony Orchestra for Martinu: The Six Symphonies
- Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor, for Daugherty: Metropolis Symphony; Deus Ex Machina
- James Levine and the Boston Symphony Orchestra for Ravel: Daphnis et Chloe
2000s
- Grammy Awards of 2009
- *Bernard Haitink and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for Shostakovich: Symphony No. 4
- Grammy Awards of 2008
- *Leonard Slatkin and the Nashville Symphony Orchestra for Tower: Made in America
- Grammy Awards of 2007
- *Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony for Mahler: Symphony No. 7
- Grammy Awards of 2006
- *Mariss Jansons, Sergey Aleksashkin; Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks; Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks for Shostakovich: Sym. No. 13
- Grammy Awards of 2005
- *Lorin Maazel, the Brooklyn Youth Chorus, New York Choral & the New York Philharmonic for Adams: On the Transmigration of Souls
- Grammy Awards of 2004
- *Pierre Boulez & the Vienna Philharmonic for Mahler: Symphony No. 3 performed by Anne Sofie von Otter, Johannes Prinz, Gerald Wirth, the Vienna Boys' Choir & the Women's Chorus of the Vienna Singverein
- Grammy Awards of 2003
- *Andreas Neubronner, Peter Laenger, Michael Tilson Thomas & the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra for Mahler: Symphony No. 6
- Grammy Awards of 2002
- *Helmut Burk & Karl-August Naegler, Jobst Eberhardt, Stephan Flock, Pierre Boulez & the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for Boulez Conducts Edgard Varèse
- Grammy Awards of 2001
- *Stephen Johns, Mike Clements, Sir Simon Rattle & the Berliner Philharmonic for Mahler: Symphony No. 10
- Grammy Awards of 2000
- *Michael Tilson Thomas, the Peninsula Boys Choir, the San Francisco Girl's Chorus & the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra & Chorus for Stravinsky: Firebird; The Rite of Spring; Perséphone
1990s
- Grammy Awards of 1999
- *Pierre Boulez & the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for Mahler: Symphony No. 9
- Grammy Awards of 1998
- *Pierre Boulez & the Cleveland Orchestra for Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique; Tristia
- Grammy Awards of 1997
- *Michael Tilson Thomas & the San Francisco Symphony for Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet
- Grammy Awards of 1996
- *Pierre Boulez & the Cleveland Orchestra for Debussy: La Mer
- Grammy Awards of 1995
- *Pierre Boulez & the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra; Four Orchestral Pieces, Op. 12
- Grammy Awards of 1994
- *Pierre Boulez & the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for Bartók: The Wooden Prince
- Grammy Awards of 1993
- *Leonard Bernstein & the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra for Mahler: Symphony No. 9
- Grammy Awards of 1992
- *Daniel Barenboim & the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for Corigliano: Symphony No. 1
- Grammy Awards of 1991
- *Leonard Bernstein & the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 7
- Grammy Awards of 1990
- *Leonard Bernstein & the New York Philharmonic for Mahler: Symphony No. 3 in D Minor
1980s
- Grammy Awards of 1989
- *Robert Woods, Louis Lane, Robert Shaw & the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra for Rorem: String Symphony; Sunday Morning; Eagles
- Grammy Awards of 1988
- *Michael Haas, Georg Solti & the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D Minor
- Grammy Awards of 1987
- *Michael Haas, Georg Solti & the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for Liszt: A Faust Symphony
- Grammy Awards of 1986
- *Robert Woods, Robert Shaw & the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra for Fauré: Pelléas et Mélisande
- Grammy Awards of 1985
- *Jay David Saks, Leonard Slatkin & the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra for Prokofiev: Symphony No. 5 in B Flat
- Grammy Awards of 1984
- *James Mallinson, Georg Solti & the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for Mahler: Symphony No. 9 in D
- Grammy Awards of 1983
- *Jay David Saks, Thomas Z. Shepard, James Levine & the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for Mahler: Symphony No. 7 in E Min.
- Grammy Awards of 1982
- *James Mallinson, Georg Solti & the Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus for Mahler: Symphony No. 2 in C Minor
- Grammy Awards of 1981
- *Raymond Minshull, Georg Solti & the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for Bruckner: Symphony No. 6 in A
- Grammy Awards of 1980
- *James Mallinson, Georg Solti & the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for Brahms: Symphonies
1970s
- Grammy Awards of 1979
- *Michel Glotz, Herbert von Karajan & the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra for Beethoven: Symphonies
- Grammy Awards of 1978
- *Gunther Breest, Carlo Maria Giulini & the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for Mahler: Symphony No. 9 in D
- Grammy Awards of 1977
- *Raymond Minshull, Georg Solti & the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for Strauss: Also Sprach Zarathustra
- Grammy Awards of 1976
- *Pierre Boulez, the Camarata Singers & the New York Philharmonic for Ravel: Daphnis et Chloé
- Grammy Awards of 1975
- *Georg Solti & the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique
- Grammy Awards of 1974
- *Pierre Boulez & the New York Philharmonic for Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra
- Grammy Awards of 1973
- *Georg Solti & the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for Mahler: Symphony No. 7 in E Minor
- Grammy Awards of 1972
- *Carlo Maria Giulini & the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for Mahler: Symphony No. 1 in D
- Grammy Awards of 1971
- *Pierre Boulez & the Cleveland Orchestra for Stravinsky: Le Sacre du Printemps
- Grammy Awards of 1970
- *Pierre Boulez & the Cleveland Orchestra for Boulez Conducts Debussy, Vol. 2 "Images Pour Orchestre"
1960s
- Grammy Awards of 1969
- *Pierre Boulez & the New Philharmonia Orchestra for Boulez Conducts Debussy
- Grammy Awards of 1968
- *Igor Stravinsky & the Columbia Symphony Orchestra for Stravinsky: Firebird and Petrouchka Suites
- Grammy Awards of 1967
- *Erich Leinsdorf & the Boston Symphony Orchestra for Mahler: Symphony No. 6 in A Minor
- Grammy Awards of 1966
- *Leopold Stokowski & the American Symphony Orchestra for Ives: Symphony No. 4
- Grammy Awards of 1965
- *Erich Leinsdorf & the Boston Symphony Orchestra for Mahler: Symphony No. 5/Berg: Wozzeck Excerpts
- Grammy Awards of 1964
- *Erich Leinsdorf & the Boston Symphony Orchestra for Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra
- Grammy Awards of 1963
- *Igor Stravinsky & the Columbia Symphony Orchestra for Stravinsky: The Firebird Ballet
- Grammy Awards of 1962
- *Charles Münch & the Boston Symphony Orchestra for Ravel: Daphnis et Chloé
- Grammy Awards of 1961
- *Fritz Reiner & the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for Bartók: Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta
- Grammy Awards of 1960
- *Charles Münch & the Boston Symphony Orchestra for Debussy: Images for Orchestra
1950s
- Grammy Awards of 1959
- *Felix Slatkin & the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra for Gaîté Parisienne