Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were presented, for works released in the previous year.
| Year | Recipient(s) | Work | Performing artist(s) | Nominees | Ref. |
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| 1961 | Erich Leinsdorf (conductor), Birgit Nilsson, Giorgio Tozzi, Jussi Björling, Renata Tebaldi | Puccini Turandot
| Rome Opera Orchestra | | [2] |
|---|
| 1962 | Gabriele Santini (conductor), Victoria de los Ángeles, Jussi Björling, Miriam Pirazzini, Mario Sereni | Puccini Madama Butterfly
| | | [3] |
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| 1963 | Georg Solti (conductor), Robert Merrill, Leontyne Price, Giorgio Tozzi, Jon Vickers | Verdi Aida
| | | [4] |
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| 1964 | Erich Leinsdorf (conductor), Rosalind Elias, Leontyne Price, Richard Tucker | Puccini Madama Butterfly
| | | [5] |
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| 1965 | Herbert von Karajan (conductor) Franco Corelli, Mirella Freni, Robert Merrill, Leontyne Price | Bizet Carmen
| | | [6] |
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| 1966 | Karl Böhm (conductor), Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Evelyn Lear, Fritz Wunderlich | Berg Wozzeck
| German Opera Orchestra and Chorus | | [7] |
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| 1967 | Georg Solti (conductor), Régine Crespin, Hans Hotter, James King, Christa Ludwig, Birgit Nilsson | Wagner Die Walküre
| Vienna Philharmonic | | [8] |
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| 1968 | Thomas Z. Shepard (producer), Pierre Boulez (conductor), Walter Berry, Ingeborg Lasser, Isabel Strauss, Fritz Uhl | Berg Wozzeck
| Paris National Opera Orchestra and Chorus | | [9] |
|---|
| 1969 | Richard Mohr (producer), Erich Leinsdorf (conductor), Ezio Flagello, Sherrill Milnes, Leontyne Price, Judith Raskin, George Shirley, Tatiana Troyanos | Mozart Così fan tutte
| | | [10] |
|---|
| 1970 | Otto Gerdes (producer); Herbert von Karajan (conductor); Helga Dernesch, Gerhard Stolze, Jess Thomas | Wagner Siegfried
| | | [11] |
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| 1971 | Erik Smith (producer); Colin Davis (conductor) | Berlioz Les Troyens
| | | [12] |
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| 1972 | Richard Mohr (producer); Erich Leinsdorf (conductor); Grace Bumbry, Plácido Domingo, Sherrill Milnes, Leontyne Price, Ruggero Raimondi | Verdi Aida
| | | [13] |
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| 1973 | Erik Smith (producer); Colin Davis (conductor) | Berlioz Benvenuto Cellini
| | | [14] |
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| 1974 | Tom Mowrey (producer); Leonard Bernstein (conductor), Marilyn Horne, Tom Krause, Adriana Maliponte, James McCracken | Bizet Carmen
| Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus | | [15] |
|---|
| 1975 | Richard Mohr (producer); Georg Solti (conductor), Judith Blegen, Montserrat Caballé, Plácido Domingo, Sherrill Milnes, Ruggero Raimondi | Puccini La bohème
| London Philharmonic Orchestra | | [16] |
|---|
| 1976 | Erik Smith (producer); Colin Davis (conductor), Richard Van Allan, Janet Baker, Montserrat Caballé, Ileana Cotrubaș, Wladimiro Ganzarolli, Nicolai Gedda | Mozart Così fan tutte
| | | [17] |
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| 1977 | Michael Woolcock (producer); Lorin Maazel (conductor), Leona Mitchell, Willard White | Gershwin Porgy and Bess
| | | [18] |
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| 1978 | Thomas Z. Shepard (producer); John DeMain (conductor), Donnie Ray Albert, Carol Brice, Clamma Dale | Gershwin Porgy and Bess
| | | [19] |
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| 1979 | George Sponhaltz, John Coveney (producers); Julius Rudel (conductor), Beverly Sills, Alan Titus | Lehár The Merry Widow
| | | [20] |
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| 1980 | Vittorio Negri (producer); Colin Davis (conductor), Heather Harper, Jonathan Summers, Jon Vickers | Britten Peter Grimes
| | | [21] |
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| 1981 | Gunther Breest, Michael Horwath (producers), Pierre Boulez (conductor), Toni Blankenheim, Franz Mazura, Hanna Schwarz, Yvonne Minton, Teresa Stratas | Berg Lulu
| | | [22] |
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| 1982 | James Mallinson (producer), Charles Mackerras (conductor), Jiri Zahradnicek, Ivo Žídek, Václav Zítek (soloists) | Janáček From the House of the Dead
| | | [23] |
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| 1983 | Andrew Kazdin (producer), Pierre Boulez (conductor), Jeannine Altmeyer, Hermann Becht, Peter Hofmann, Siegfried Jerusalem, Gwyneth Jones, Manfred Jung, Donald McIntyre, Matti Salminen, Ortrun Wenkel, Heinz Zednik (soloists) | Wagner Der Ring des Nibelungen
| Bayreuth Festival Orchestra | | [24] |
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| 1984 |
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|
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| ----
| | [25] [26] |
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| 1985 | Michel Glotz (producer), Lorin Maazel (conductor), Julia Migenes-Johnson, Plácido Domingo, Ruggero Raimondi, Faith Esham | Bizet Carmen
| Choeurs Et Maitrise De Radio France; Orchestre National de France | | [27] |
|---|
| 1986 | James Mallinson (producer), Georg Solti (conductor), Philip Langridge, Franz Mazura | Schoenberg Moses und Aron
| | | [28] |
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| 1987 | Elizabeth Ostrow (producer), John Mauceri (conductor), James Billings, Joyce Castle, Maris Clement, David Eisler, Jack Harrold, John Lankston, Erie Mills, Scott Reeve | Bernstein Candide
| | | [29] |
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| 1988 | Cord Garben (producer), James Levine (conductor), Agnes Baltsa, Kathleen Battle, Gary Lakes, Hermann Prey, Anna Tomowa-Sintow | R. Strauss Ariadne auf Naxos
| | | [30] |
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| 1989 | Christopher Raeburn (producer), Georg Solti (conductor), Plácido Domingo, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Siegmund Nimsgern, Jessye Norman, Eva Randova, Hans Sotin | Wagner Lohengrin
| | | [31] |
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| 1990 | | Wagner Die Walküre
| | | [32] |
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| 1991 | Cord Garben (producer), James Levine (conductor), Siegfried Jerusalem, Christa Ludwig, Kurt Moll, James Morris, Jan Hendrik Rootering, Ekkehard Wlaschiha, Heinz Zednik | Wagner Das Rheingold
| | | [33] |
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| 1992 | Cord Garben (producer), James Levine (conductor), Hildegard Behrens, Reiner Goldberg, Matti Salminen, Hanna Schwarz, Cheryl Studer, Bernd Weikl, Ekkehard Wlaschiha | Wagner Götterdämmerung
| | | [34] |
|---|
| 1993 | Christopher Raeburn, Stephen Trainor, Morten Winding (producers), Georg Solti (conductor), Hildegard Behrens, José van Dam, Plácido Domingo, Sumi Jo, Reinhild Runkel, Júlia Várady | R. Strauss Die Frau ohne Schatten
| | | [35] |
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| 1994 | Steven Paul (producer), John Nelson (conductor), John Aler, Kathleen Battle, Michael Chance, Mark S. Doss, Marilyn Horne, Neil Mackie, Sylvia McNair, Samuel Ramey | Handel Semele
| | | [36] |
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| 1995 | Martin Sauer (producer), Kent Nagano (conductor), Kenn Chester, Jerry Hadley, Samuel Ramey, Cheryl Studer | Floyd Susannah
| | | [37] |
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| 1996 | Raymond Minshull (producer), Charles Dutoit (conductor), Gary Lakes, Françoise Pollet, Gino Quilico, Deborah Voigt | Berlioz Les Troyens
| | | [38] |
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| 1997 | Brian Couzens (producer), Richard Hickox (conductor), Philip Langridge, Alan Opie, Janice Watson | Britten Peter Grimes
| | | [39] |
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| 1998 | | Wagner Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
| | | [40] |
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| 1999 | | Bartók Bluebeard's Castle
| | | [41] |
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| 2000 | Nicholas Parker (producer), John Eliot Gardiner (conductor), Ian Bostridge, Anne Sofie von Otter, Bryn Terfel, Deborah York | Stravinsky The Rake's Progress
| | | [42] |
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| 2001 | Martin Sauer (producer), Jean Chatauret (engineer), Kent Nagano (conductor), Kim Begley, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Dietrich Henschel, Markus Hollop, Eva Jenis, Torsten Kerl | Busoni Doktor Faust
| | | [43] |
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| 2002 | | Berlioz Les Troyens
| | | [44] |
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| 2003 | Christoph Classen (producer), Eberhard Sengpiel, Tobias Lehmann (engineers), Daniel Barenboim (conductor), Jane Eaglen, Thomas Hampson, Waltraud Meier, René Pape, Peter Seiffert | Wagner Tannhäuser
| | | [45] |
|---|
| 2004 | Wolfram Graul (producer), Bernard Haitink (conductor), Jerry Hadley, Karita Mattila, Eva Randová, Anja Silja, Jorma Silvasti | Janáček Jenůfa
| Orchestra of the Royal Opera House and Chorus | | [46] |
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| 2005 | | Mozart Le nozze di Figaro
| Concerto Köln | | [47] |
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| 2006 | Sir Colin Davis (conductor); Carlos Alvarez, Bülent Bezdüz, Marina Domashenko, Jane Henschel, Ana Ibarra, Maria Josè Moreno, Michele Pertusi; James Mallinson (producer) | Verdi Falstaff
| London Symphony Chorus | | [48] |
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| 2007 | Robert Spano (conductor); Kelley O'Connor, Jessica Rivera, Dawn Upshaw; Valérie Gross and Sid McLauchlan (producers) | Golijov Ainadamar: Fountain Of Tears
| | | [49] |
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| 2008 | Sir Charles Mackerras (conductor); Brian Couzens (producer); Jane Henschel, Jennifer Larmore, Rebecca Evans (soloists); Ralph Couzens, engineer, | Engelbert Humperdinck Hansel and Gretel
| New London Children's Choir; Philharmonia Orchestra | | [50] |
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| 2009 | James Conlon (conductor); Anthony Dean Griffey, Patti LuPone, Audra McDonald; Fred Vogler (producer); Donnie Ray Albert, John Easterlin, Steven Humes, Mel Ulrich, Robert Wörle | Weill Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny
| Los Angeles Opera Orchestra; Los Angeles Opera Chorus | | [51] |
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| 2010 | Daniel Harding (conductor); Ian Bostridge, Neal Davies, Nathan Gunn, Jonathan Lemalu, Matthew Rose, Gidon Saks, Andrew Kennedy, Daniel Teadt, Andrew Tortise, Rodrick Williams, John Fraser (producer) | Britten Billy Budd
| (London Symphony Orchestra; Gentlemen of The London Symphony Chorus | | [52] |
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| 2011 | Kent Nagano (conductor); Daniel Belcher, Ekaterina Lekhina, Marie-Ange Todorovitch; Martin Sauer, producer | Kaija Saariaho L'Amour de loin
| Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin | | [53] |
|---|
| 2012 | Alan Gilbert, conductor; Jay David Saks, producer; Meredith Arwady, Sasha Cooke, Richard Paul Fink, Gerald Finley, Thomas Glenn & Eric Owens, soloists | Adams Doctor Atomic
| Metropolitan Opera Chorus; Metropolitan Opera Orchestra | | [54] |
|---|
| 2013 | James Levine and Fabio Luisi (conductors), Hans-Peter König, Jay Hunter Morris, Bryn Terfel, Deborah Voigt (soloists), Jay David Saks (producer) | Wagner Der Ring des Nibelungen
| The Metropolitan Opera Chorus; The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra | | [55] |
|---|
| 2014 | Thomas Adès (conductor); Simon Keenlyside, Isabel Leonard, Audrey Luna, William Burden, Alan Oke (soloists); Jay David Saks (producer) | Adès: The Tempest | The Metropolitan Opera Chorus; The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra | | [56] |
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| 2015 | Paul O'Dette and Stephen Stubbs (conductors); Aaron Sheehan (soloist); Siegbert Ernst, (engineer/mixer) | Charpentier La descente d'Orphée aux enfers
| Boston Early Music Festival Vocal Ensemble and Chamber Ensemble | | [57] |
|---|
| 2016 | Seiji Ozawa (conductor); Isabel Leonard (soloist); Dominic Fyfe (producer); Jonathan Stokes (engineer) | Ravel L'enfant et les sortilèges; Shéhérazade
| SKF Matsumoto Children's Chorus & SKF Matsumoto Chorus; Saito Kinen Orchestra | | [58] |
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| 2017 | James Conlon (conductor); Joshua Guerrero, Christopher Maltman, Lucas Meachem, Patricia Racette, Lucy Schaufer, & Guanqun Yu (soloists); Blanton Alspaugh (producer); Mark Donahue, Fred Vogler & David L Williams (engineers) | Corigliano The Ghosts of Versailles
| Los Angeles Opera Orchestra and Chorus | | [59] |
|---|
| 2018 | Hans Graf (conductor); Anne Schwanewilms & Roman Trekel (soloists); Hans Graf & Brad Sayles (producers); Brad Sayles (engineer) | Berg Wozzeck
| Houston Symphony
- Chorus Of Students And Alumni, Shepherd School of Music, Rice University & Houston Grand Opera Children's Chorus
| | [60] |
|---|
| 2019 | Michael Christie (conductor); Sasha Cooke, Jessica E. Jones, Edward Parks, Garrett Sorenson & Wei Wu (soloists); Elizabeth Ostrow (producer); Mark Donahue & Dirk Sobotka (engineers); Mark Donahue (mixer) | Bates The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs
| Santa Fe Opera Orchestra | | [61] |
|---|
| 2020 | Gil Rose (conductor and producer); John Brancy, Andrew Craig Brown, Gabriel Preisser, Krista River & Edwin Vega (soloists); Joel Gordon & Antonio Oliart (engineers/mixers) | Picker Fantastic Mr. Fox
| Boston Modern Orchestra Project
- Boston Children's Chorus
| | [62] |
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| 2021 | David Robertson (conductor); Angel Blue & Eric Owens (soloists); David Frost (producer); John Kerswell (engineer/mixer) | Gershwin Porgy and Bess
| The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; The Metropolitan Opera Chorus | | [63] |
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| 2022 | Karen Kamensek (conductor); J’Nai Bridges, Anthony Roth Costanzo, Zachary James & Dísella Lárusdóttir (soloists); David Frost (producer) | Glass Akhnaten
| The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, The Metropolitan Opera Chorus | | [64] |
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| 2023 | Yannick Nézet-Séguin (conductor); Angel Blue, Will Liverman, Latonia Moore and Walter Russell III (soloists); David Frost (producer) | Blanchard Fire Shut Up In My Bones
| The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, The Metropolitan Opera Chorus | |
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