Wise Music Group is proud to share the news that Kaija Saariaho's opera Adriana Mater was celebrated at the 2025 GRAMMY awards last night. Adriana Mater is the second opera by the Finnish composer, with a libretto in French by her frequent collaborator, Amin Maalouf.
The recording of Adriana Mater by the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra and Chorus with conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen took home the award for Best Opera Recording. The performance, recorded live in June 2023, starred the inspired soloist quartet of Fleur Barron, Axelle Fanyo, Nicholas Phan and Christopher Purves. Released by Deutcshe Gramophone, the album is available to purchase or stream here.
Fleur Barron was at the ceremony and accepted the award. You can listen to her acceptance speech here.
Its the second year in a row which has seen recordings of Saariaho's work winning at the Grammys, following last years award for Best Choral Performance which went to The Helsinki Chamber Choir, Uusinta Ensemble and conductor Nils Schweckendiek for their album 'Reconnaissance' which featured many of Saariaho's best known choral works.