Minn. Orchestra Wins GRAMMY For Sibelius Symphonies

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The Minnesota Orchestra and former music director Osmo Vänskä received a GRAMMY award Sunday for their recording of Jean Sibelius' First and Fourth Symphonies.

The award is the Orchestra's first-ever GRAMMY in the Best Orchestral Performance category.

"I want to congratulate the Orchestra and Osmo on this outstanding honor and to offer my thanks to the many generous donors who have made possible the Orchestra's recording projects," said Michael Henson, the Orchestra's President and CEO. "This institution has an illustrious recording history that dates to the 1920s, and today's award is a brilliant achievement in that long legacy."

Vänskä and the Orchestra recorded the two symphonies at Minneapolis' Orchestra Hall in sessions during May and June 2012, partnering with the BIS recording team led by producer Robert Suff.

To celebrate the award, the Orchestra will perform concerts at Orchestra Hall on March 29 through March 29 – featuring the same repertoire.

The Minnesota Orchestra Board and the musicians recently ended a 15-month lockout.