Sir Georg Solti: Grammy champ

Georg Solti — who would serve as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s eighth music director from 1969 until 1991 — received his first Grammy at the Recording Academy’s fifth awards ceremony in May 1963for the RCA recording of Verdi’s Aida with Leontyne Price in the title role. Over the next two decadeshe steadily increased his countand at the 26th ceremony in February 1984Solti received four awardsbringing his total to 23 and surpassing Henry Mancini’s record of 20. UltimatelySir Georg would receive 31 awards — 24 with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus — and he reigned as the all-time Grammy champ for nearly 40 years.

At the the 65th Grammy Awards on February 52023Beyoncé received four statuettesbringing her total to 32 and crowning her as the new champ. Quincy Jones follows Solti with 28 awardsAlison Krauss and Chick Corea each has 27and Pierre Boulez — former CSO conductor emeritus and principal guest conductor — is in fifth placewith 26 Grammy awardsincluding eight with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus.

In additionSolti and producer John Culshaw received the Academy’s first Trustees’ Award in 1967 for their “effortsingenuity and artistic contributions” in connection with the first complete studio recording of Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen with the Vienna Philharmonic. Sir Georg also received the Academy’s 1995 Lifetime Achievement Award.

Following is a complete list of Sir Georg Solti’s 31 Grammy awards and 74 nominations.*

5th Annual Grammy Awards (1962)
Best Opera Recording (nom 1win 1)
VERDI Aida
Georg Solticonductor
Leontyne PriceRita GorrJon VickersRobert MerrillGiorgio Tozzi
Rome Opera House Orchestra
Rome Opera House Chorus
Giuseppe Concadirector
RCA

STRAUSS Salome
Best Opera Recording (nom 2)
Georg Solticonductor
Birgit NilssonGerhard StolzeGrace HoffmanEberhard WächterWaldemar Kmentt
Vienna Philharmonic
London

6th Annual Grammy Awards (1963)
Best Opera Recording (nom 3)
WAGNER Siegfried
Georg Solticonductor
Birgit NilssonWolfgang WindgassenHans HotterGerhard StolzeGustav NeidlingerJoan Sutherland
Vienna Philharmonic
London

7th Annual Grammy Awards (1964)
Album of the Year–Classical (nom 4)
Best Opera Recording (nom 5)
VERDI Falstaff
Georg Solticonductor
Geraint EvansGiulieta SimionatoIlva LigabueRobert MerrillMirella FreniAlfredo KrausRosalind Elias
RCA Italiana Opera Orchestra
RCA Italiana Opera Chorus
Nino Antonellinidirector
RCA

8th Annual Grammy Awards (1965)
Best Opera Recording (nom 6)
WAGNER Götterdämmerung
Georg Solticonductor
Birgit NilssonWolfgang WindgassenGottlob FrickDietrich Fischer-DieskauChrista LudwigClaire WatsonGustav Neidlinger
Vienna Philharmonic
Men of the Vienna State Opera Chorus
Wilhelm Pitzdirector
London

9th Annual Grammy Awards (1966)
Album of the Year–Classical (nom 7)
Best Opera Recording (nom 8win 2)
WAGNER Die Walküre
Georg Solticonductor
Birgit NilssonRégine CrespinChrista LudwigJames KingHans HotterGottlob Frick
Vienna Philharmonic
London

10th Annual Grammy Awards (1967)
Best Classical Performance–Orchestra (nom 9)
MAHLER Symphony No. 2 in C Minor (Resurrection)
Georg Solticonductor
Heather HarperHelen Watts
London Symphony Orchestra
London Symphony Orchestra Chorus
John Alldisdirector
London

11th Annual Grammy Awards (1968)
Best Opera Recording (nom 10)
STRAUSS Elektra
Georg Solticonductor
Birgit NilssonMarie CollierRegina ResnikGerhard StolzeTom Krause
Vienna Philharmonic
Vienna State Opera Chorus
London

13th Annual Grammy Awards (1970)
Best Classical Performance–Orchestra (nom 11)
MAHLER Symphony No. 6 in A Minor
Georg Solticonductor
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
London

Best Opera Recording (nom 12)
STRAUSS Der Rosenkavalier
Georg Solticonductor
Régine CrespinYvonne MintonHelen DonathLuciano PavarottiManfred Jungwirth
Vienna Philharmonic
Vienna State Opera Chorus
Norbert Balatschdirector
London

14th Annual Grammy Awards
Best Opera Recording (nom 13)
MOZART The Magic Flute, K. 620
Georg Solticonductor
Pilar LorengarChristina DeutekomStuart BurrowsDietrich Fischer-DieskauHermann PreyMartti Talvela
Vienna Philharmonic
Vienna State Opera Chorus
Norbert Balatschdirector
London

15th Annual Grammy Awards (1972)
Album of the Year–Classical (nom 14win 3)
Best Choral Performance–Classical (other than opera) (nom 15win 4)
MAHLER Symphony No. 8 in E-flat Major
Georg Solticonductor
Heather HarperLucia PoppArleen AugérYvonne MintonHelen WattsRené KolloJohn Shirley-QuirkMartti Talvela
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Vienna State Opera Chorus
Singverein Chorus
Norbert Balatschdirector
Vienna Boys’ Choir
Helmut Froschauerdirector
London

Best Classical Performance–Orchestra (nom 16win 5)
MAHLER Symphony No. 7 in E Minor
Georg Solticonductor
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
London

Album of the Year–Classical (nom 17)
Best Opera Recording (nom 18)
WAGNER Tannhäuser
Georg Solticonductor
René KolloChrista LudwigHans SotinHelga Dernesch
Vienna Philharmonic
Vienna State Opera Chorus
Norbert Balatschdirector
Vienna Boys’ Choir
Wilhelm Pitzdirector
London

16th Annual Grammy Awards (1973)
Album of the Year–Classical (nom 19)
BEETHOVEN Piano Concertos
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 1 in C MajorOp. 15
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat MajorOp. 19
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 3 in C MinorOp. 37
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 4 in G MajorOp. 58
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat MajorOp. 73 (Emperor)
Sir Georg Solticonductor
Vladimir Ashkenazypiano
London

Best Classical Performance–Orchestra (nom 20)
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 9 in D MinorOp. 125
Sir Georg Solticonductor
Pilar LorengarYvonne MintonStuart BurrowsMartti Talvela
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Chicago Symphony Chorus
Margaret Hillisdirector
London

Best Opera Recording (nom 21)
WAGNER Parsifal
Sir Georg Solticonductor
René KolloDietrich Fischer-DieskauHans HotterGottlob FrickZoltán KélémenChrista Ludwig
Vienna Philharmonic
Vienna State Opera Chorus
Norbert Balatschdirector
Vienna Boys’ Choir
Anton Neyderdirector
London

17th Annual Grammy Awards (1974)
Album of the Year–Classical (nom 22win 6)
Best Classical Performance–Orchestra (nom 23win 7)
BERLIOZ Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14
Sir Georg Solticonductor
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
London

Best Opera Recording (nom 24win 8)
PUCCINI La bohème
Sir Georg Solticonductor
Montserrat CaballéJudith BlegenPlácido DomingoSherrill MilnesVicente SardineroRuggero Raimondi
London Philharmonic Orchestra
John Alldis Choir
John Alldisdirector
Wandsworth School Boys’ Choir
Russell Burgessdirector
RCA

Best Opera Recording (nom 25)
MOZART Così fan tutte, K. 588
Sir Georg Solticonductor
Ryland DaviesTom KrauseGabriel BacquierPilar LorengarTeresa BerganzaJane Berbié
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Royal Opera House Chorus
Douglas Robinsondirector
London

18th Annual Grammy Awards (1975)
Album of the Year–Classical (nom26win 9)
Best Classical Performance–Orchestra (nom 27)
Beethoven’s Symphonies
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 1 in C MajorOp. 21
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 2 in D MajorOp. 36
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 3 in E flat MajorOp. 55 (Eroica)
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 4 in B flat MajorOp. 60
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 5 in C MinorOp. 67
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 6 in F MajorOp. 68 (Pastoral)
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 7 in A MajorOp. 92
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 8 in F MajorOp. 93
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 9 in D MinorOp. 125
BEETHOVEN Overture to Egmont, Op. 84
BEETHOVEN Overture to Coriolan, Op. 62
BEETHOVEN Leonore Overture No. 3Op. 72b
Sir Georg Solticonductor
Pilar LorengarYvonne MintonStuart BurrowsMartti Talvela
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Chicago Symphony Chorus
Margaret Hillisdirector
London

19th Annual Grammy Awards (1976)
Best Classical Orchestral Performance (nom 28win 10)
STRAUSS Also sprach ZarathustraOp. 30
Sir Georg Solticonductor
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
London

Album of the Year–Classical (nom 29)
Best Opera Recording (nom 30)
BIZET Carmen
Sir Georg Solticonductor
Tatiana TroyanosKiri Te KanawaPlácido DomingoJosé van Dam
London Philharmonic Orchestra
John Alldis Choir
John Alldisdirector
Boys’ Chorus from Haberdashers’ Aske’s SchoolElstree
Alan Taylor and Jean Poveydirectors
London

Best Classical Orchestral Performance (nom 31)
ELGAR Symphony No. 2 in E-flat Major
Sir Georg Solticonductor
London Philharmonic Orchestra
London

20th Annual Grammy Awards (1977)
Best Choral Performance (other than opera) (nom 32win 11)
VERDI Messa da Requiem
Sir Georg Solticonductor
Leontyne PriceJanet BakerVeriano LuchettiJosé van Dam
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Chicago Symphony Chorus
Margaret Hillisdirector
RCA

Album of the Year–Classical (nom 33)
DEBUSSY Prelude to The Afternoon of a Faun and La mer
RAVEL Boléro
Sir Georg Solticonductor
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
London

Best Classical Orchestral Performance (nom 34)
RAVEL Boléro
Sir Georg Solticonductor
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
London

Best Opera Recording (nom 35)
WAGNER The Flying Dutchman
Sir Georg Solticonductor
Norman BaileyMartti TalvelaJanis MartinRené Kollo
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Men of the Chicago Symphony Chorus
Margaret Hillisdirector
London

21st Annual Grammy Awards (1978)
Best Choral PerformanceClassical (other than opera) (nom 36win 12)
BEETHOVEN Missa solemnis in D MajorOp. 123
Sir Georg Solticonductor
Lucia PoppYvonne MintonMallory WalkerGwynne Howell
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Chicago Symphony Chorus
Margaret Hillisdirector
London

Best Choral PerformanceClassical (other than opera) (nom 37)
WALTON Belshazzar’s Feast
Sir Georg Solticonductor
Benjamin Luxonbaritone
London Philharmonic Orchestra
London Philharmonic Choir
John Alldisdirector
London

22nd Annual Grammy Awards (1979)
Best Classical Album (nom 38win 13)
Best Classical Orchestral Recording (nom 39win 14)
Brahms’s Symphonies
BRAHMS Symphony No. 1 in C MinorOp. 68
BRAHMS Symphony No. 2 in D MajorOp. 73
BRAHMS Symphony No. 3 in F MajorOp. 90
BRAHMS Symphony No. 4 in E MinorOp. 98
BRAHMS Academic Festival OvertureOp. 80
BRAHMS Tragic OvertureOp. 81
Sir Georg Solticonductor
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
London

Best Choral PerformanceClassical (other than opera) (nom 40win 15)
BRAHMS A German Requiem, Op. 45
Sir Georg Solticonductor
Kiri Te KanawaBernd Weikl
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Chicago Symphony Chorus
Margaret Hillisdirector
London

Best Classical Orchestral Recording (nom 41)
HOLST The Planets
Sir Georg Solticonductor
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Women of the London Philharmonic Choir
John Alldisdirector
London

23rd Annual Grammy Awards (1980)
Best Classical Album (nom 42)
Best Classical Orchestral Recording (nom 43win 16)
BRUCKNER Symphony No. 6 in A Major
Sir Georg Solticonductor
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
London

Best Opera Recording (nom 44)
BARTÓK Bluebeard’s Castle
Sir Georg Solticonductor
Kolos KovátsSylvia SassIstván Sztankay
London Philharmonic Orchestra
London

24th Annual Grammy Awards (1981)
Best Classical Album (nom 45win 17)
Best Classical Orchestral Recording (nom 46win 18)
MAHLER Symphony No. 2 in C Minor (Resurrection)
Sir Georg Solticonductor
Isobel BuchananMira Zakai
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Chicago Symphony Chorus
Margaret Hillisdirector
London

25th Annual Grammy Awards (1982)
Best Classical Album (nom 47)
Best Choral Performance (other than opera) (nom 48win 19)
BERLIOZ The Damnation of Faust, Op. 24
Sir Georg Solticonductor
Frederica von StadeKenneth RiegelJosé van DamMalcolm King
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Chicago Symphony Chorus
Margaret Hillisdirector
Glen Ellyn Children’s Chorus
Doreen Raodirector
London

26th Annual Grammy Awards (1983)
Best Classical Album (nom 49win 20)
Best Classical Orchestral Recording (nom 50win 21)
MAHLER Symphony No. 9 in D Major
Sir Georg Solticonductor
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
London

Best Opera Recording (nom 51win 22)
MOZART The Marriage of Figaro, K. 492
Sir Georg Solticonductor
Kiri Te KanawaLucia PoppFrederica von StadeSamuel RameyThomas AllenKurt Moll
London Philharmonic Orchestra
London Opera Chorus
London
This recording tied with the soundtrack for Verdi’s La traviata with James Levine conducting the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Teresa StratasPlácido Domingoand Cornell MacNeil.

Best Choral Performance (other than opera) (nom 52win 23)
HAYDN The Creation
Sir Georg Solticonductor
Norma BurrowesSylvia GreenbergRüdiger WohlersJames MorrisSiegmund Nimsgern
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Chicago Symphony Chorus
Margaret Hillisdirector
London

27th Annual Grammy Awards (1984)
Best Classical Orchestral Recording (nom 53)
MAHLER Symphony No. 4 in G Minor
Sir Georg Solticonductor
Kiri Te Kanawasoprano
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
London

28th Annual Grammy Awards (1985)
Best Opera Recording (nom 54win 24)
SCHOENBERG Moses und Aron
Sir Georg Solticonductor
Franz MazuraPhilip Langridge
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Chicago Symphony Chorus
Margaret Hillisdirector
London

29th Annual Grammy Awards (1986)
Best Classical Orchestral Recording (nom 55win 25)
LISZT A Faust Symphony
Sir Georg Solticonductor
Siegfried Jerusalemtenor
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Men of the Chicago Symphony Chorus
Margaret Hillisdirector
London

Best Classical Album (nom 56)
MENDELSSOHN Symphony No. 3 in A MinorOp. 56 (Scottish)
MENDELSSOHN Symphony No. 4 in A MajorOp. 90 (Italian)
Sir Georg Solticonductor
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
London

Best Opera Recording (nom 57)
VERDI Un ballo in maschera
Margaret PriceKathleen BattleChrista LudwigLuciano PavarottiRenato Bruson
National Philharmonic Orchestra
London Opera Chorus
Terry Edwardsdirector
Royal College of Music Junior Department Chorus
Vaughan Meakinsdirector
London

30th Annual Grammy Awards (1987)
Best Classical Album (nom 58)
Best Orchestral Recording (nom 59win 26)
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 9 in D MinorOp. 125
Sir Georg Solticonductor
Jessye NormanReinhild RunkelRobert SchunkHans Sotin
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Chicago Symphony Chorus
Margaret Hillisdirector
London

Best Opera Recording (nom 60)
MOZART The Abduction from the Seraglio, K. 384
Sir Georg Solticonductor
Edita GruberováKathleen BattleGösta WinberghHeinz ZednikMartti Talvela
Vienna Philharmonic
Vienna State Opera Concert Choir
Martha Heigldirector
London

31st Annual Grammy Awards (1988)
Best Classical Album (nom 61)
Best Opera Recording (nom 62win 27)
WAGNER Lohengrin
Sir Georg Solticonductor
Jessye NormanEva RandováPlácido DomingoSiegmund NimsgernHans SotinDietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Vienna Philharmonic
Vienna State Opera Concert Choir
London

Best Chamber Music Performance (nom 63win 28)
BARTÓK Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion
Sir Georg Solti and Murray Perahiapianos
Evelyn Glennie and David Corkhillpercussion
CBS

Best Orchestral Recording (nom 64)
BRUCKNER Symphony No. 7 in E Major
Sir Georg Solticonductor
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
London

Best Choral Performance (other than opera) (nom 65)
BACH Saint Matthew PassionBWV 244
Sir Georg Solticonductor
Kiri Te KanawaAnne Sofie von OtterAnthony Rolfe JohnsonHans Peter BlochwitzOlaf BärTom Krause
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Chicago Symphony Chorus
Margaret Hillisdirector
London

33rd Annual Grammy Awards
Best Orchestral Performance (nom 66)
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 7 in A MajorOp. 92
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 8 in F MajorOp. 93
Sir Georg Solticonductor
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
London

34th Annual Grammy Awards (1991)
Best Performance of a Choral Work (nom 67win 29)
BACH Mass in B MinorBWV 232
Sir Georg Solticonductor
Felicity LottAnne Sofie von OtterHans Peter BlochwitzWilliam ShimellGwynne Howell
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Chicago Symphony Chorus
Margaret Hillisdirector
London

35th Annual Grammy Awards (1992)
Best Classical Album (nom 68)
Best Opera Recording (nom 69win 30)
STRAUSS Die Frau ohne Schatten
Sir Georg Solticonductor
Hildegard BehrensJúlia VáradySumi JoReinhild RunkelPlácido DomingoJosé van Dam
Vienna Philharmonic
Vienna State Opera Chorus
Vienna Boys’ Choir
Helmuth Froschauerdirector
London

40th Annual Grammy Awards (1997)
Best Classical Album (nom 70)
Best Opera Recording (nom 71win 31)
WAGNER Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
Sir Georg Solticonductor
Karita MattilaIris VermillionBen HeppnerHerbert LippertJosé van DamAlan OpieRené Pape
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Chicago Symphony Chorus
Duain Wolfedirector
London

Best Opera Recording (nom 72)
MOZART Don Giovanni, K. 527
Sir Georg Solticonductor
Bryn TerfelRenée FlemingAnn MurrayMichele PertusiHerbert LippertMonica GroopRobert ScaltritiMario Luperi
London Philharmonic Orchestra
London Voices
Terry Edwardsdirector
London

41st Annual Grammy Awards (1998)
Best Classical Album (nom 73)
Best Choral Performance (nom 74)
BARTÓK Cantata profana
WEINER Serenade for Small OrchestraOp. 3
KODÁLY Psalmus Hungaricus, Op. 13
Sir Georg Solticonductor
Tamás DarócziAlexandru Agache
Budapest Festival Orchestra
Choir of the Hungarian Radio and Television
Kálmán Strauszdirector
Children’s Choir of Hungarian Radio and Television
Gabriella Thészdirector
Schola Cantorum Budapestiensis
Tamás Bubnódirector
London

*A database of former Grammy Award winners can be found using the search function here; category titles have changed over the years. For opera recordingsonly principal soloists are listed.

This article also appears here.