Montreal conductor wins best opera recording, best classical solo vocal album at Grammys

Montreal conductor and pianist Yannick Nzet-Sguinadded two Grammys to his collection Sunday night for his classical works.

Nzet-Sguin took homebest opera recordingforBlanchard: Fire Shut Up In My Bonesand best classical solo vocal album forVoice Of Nature The Anthropocene at the65th annual Grammy Awards. He was nominated for a total of five awards.

While hecouldn't make it to Los Angeles due to a scheduled performance with thePhiladelphia Orchestra, Nzet-Sguinsaid he finished just in time to tune in to the awards.

"I was shaking, Iwas really shaking," saidNzet-Sguin of his reaction after learning he'd won.

"It's just when you receive this as a conductor, it's a Grammy that's in the name of so many people it's like hundreds of people that deserve [it] and I'm really accepting it on behalf of all these people."

Fire Shut Up In My Boneswasthe first opera by a Black composer (TerenceBlanchard) to be performed at the Metropolitan Opera in New York whileVoice Of Nature The Anthropoceneaims to raise awareness about climate change through song and poetry.

Nzet-Sguin says it's an honour to be recognized for works that have such significance.

Montreal Mayor Valrie Plante congratulated the conductor onTwitter, saying he "fillsMontrealers with pride." These wins bringNzet-Sguin's Grammy total to three.

Starting his musical journey with piano lessons as a child,Nzet-Sguinsayshis passion for music really sparked when he began singing in a choir "making music together"at the age of 10.

"I fell in love with music by sharing it with others and this is what Ido now as a conductor," he said.

He said it's important for schools to offer music classes so other kids can find their passion too.

Nzet-Sguin is the music director for the Orchestre Mtropolitain in Montrealand holds the same positionwith the Metropolitan Opera and the Philadelphia Orchestra.

On Sunday, his contract with the Philadelphia Orchestra was extended until 2030.

"Making music is all about connections, especially in an orchestra," he said."I love these long-term relationships when we canreally achieve things together."