TORONTO — Canadian Yannick Nézet-Séguin emerged an early double winner at the Grammys for his classical works.
The Montreal conductor and pianist picked up best opera recording for "Blanchard: Fire Shut Up In My Bones," and best classical solo vocal album for "Voice Of Nature - The Anthropocene" at a ceremony before the televised Grammys show.
Nézet-Séguin was among the Canadians absent from the ceremony, in his case due to planned performances in Philadelphia, according to his representative.
Toronto rapper Drake picked up best melodic rap performance for his appearance on Future's "Wait for U."
And Vancouver crooner Michael Bublé won best traditional pop vocal album for "Higher."
Those awards were among the trophies handed out at a pre-broadcast ceremony that streams on the Grammys website.
Bublé was absent from the Grammys as he was on tour overseas with a scheduled stop in Vienna on Tuesday.
“I honestly feel this is the best album I’ve ever made, making the recognition from the Academy members that much more meaningful,” he tweeted shortly after the win.
Vancouver-born jazz pianist and composer Kris Davis was part of the team that won a Grammy for best jazz instrumental album with "New Standards Vol. 1," along with Toronto-born guitarist and co-producer Matthew Stevens.
The 65th Grammy Awards air tonight at 8 p.m. ET on Citytv and CBS.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 5, 2023.
David Friend, The Canadian Press
