Houston Symphony wins Grammy for live recording of Alban Berg's 'Wozzeck'

HOUSTON – The Houston Symphony has won its first-ever Grammy Award at the 60th annual ceremony Sunday for the live recording of Alban Berg's "Wozzeck" in the Best Opera Recording category.

This was the first nomination and win in the orchestra's history.

The two-disc album was also awarded the distinguished ECHO Klassik Award for best opera recording.

The album featured Hans Graf (conductor/producer); recording engineer Brad Sayles (producer), Anne Schwanewilms & Roman Trekel (principal soloists); the Houston Symphony; and Chorus Of Students And Alumni, Shepherd School Of Music, Rice University & Houston Grand Opera Children's Chorus.

“Büchner’s timeless, daring message of empathy and understanding along with Berg’s incredible music, emotional and precise, yielded perhaps the greatest opera of the 20th century,” Graf said. “The Houston Symphony’s performances show how it can be done in concert, staged lightly with great care and love -- and with great impact.”

For more information about Wozzeck and Hans Graf, click here.