The Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) is certainly no stranger to accolades, and it reinforced that reputation by snagging two Grammy Awards yesterday. The celebrated orchestra, under the baton of Music Director Andris Nelsons, scored the wins for Best Orchestral Performance and Best Classical Instrumental Solo, according to details shared with WCVB. These newest trophies help bulk up the BSO's already impressive Grammy count to a total of 13.
Recording Olivier Messiaen's "Turangalîla-Symphonie" at Symphony Hall in April 2024, the BSO commemorated the 75th anniversary of the work's world premiere, which historically was conducted by Leonard Bernstein. "All of us at the Boston Symphony Orchestra are incredibly honored to win the 2026 Grammy for Best Orchestral Performance for our Messiaen Turangalîla-symphonie album," Nelsons stated as obtained by WCVB. The second win came thanks to their collaboration with virtuoso cellist Yo-Yo Ma on “Shostakovich: The Cello Concertos,” which was recorded back in October 2023.
Yo-Yo Ma's win for Best Classical Instrument Solo marked his 20th Grammy and was just another feather in the cap for a musician whose career has been nothing short of storied. Both of the BSO's award-winning recordings were released on the Deutsche Grammophon label, a detail noted by NBC Boston. Ma's polished performance alongside the BSO's premiere team placed him in the Grammy spotlight once again, underscoring his enduring legacy in the classical music scene.
Also noted by BSO President and CEO Chad Smith in a statement through NBC Boston, was the praise for "the extraordinary musicians of the BSO, our dear friends Yo-Yo Ma, Yuja Wang, Cécile Lartigau, and the technical teams who so expertly capture that singular BSO sound." These recent Grammy victories serve to uphold the BSO's standing as one of the most recorded orchestras, with a tradition of excellence that started with their first recording in 1917, historically being recognized by the Recording Academy.
While the BSO and its associates celebrate these latest Grammy wins, they also maintain a legacy built upon a lush history of world-class recordings and performances. From their pioneering efforts in 1917 to their now 13-strong Grammy collection, the Boston Symphony Orchestra continues to score big in music's most prestigious echelons, as detailed by the triumphs recorded in their recent Grammy acceptance speeches.
