Annual awards shows have become an industry of their own, it seems, and the categories so far-ranging that one wonders why they bother. But, as Neil Postman pointed out almost a generation ago, we do find ways to amuse ourselves in the absence of significance. It would then be churlish to sneer at the Grammy award given to the best Hawaiian or polka album while trumpeting the honours awarded to a recording with Estonian connections. Blowing one's horn is what it is all about.

There were two such 2007 Grammies with Estonian flavour awarded on Sunday February 11 in the classical music categories.

The best engineered album (classical) went to Michael Bishop, who was the engineer of "Elgar: Enigma Variations; Britten: The Young Person's Guide To The Orchestra, Four Sea Interludes," That disc was cut with Paavo Järvi and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

The other recognition was much more of a clear Estonian triumph: in the category of Best Choral Performance the Grammy was awarded to the recording of Arvo Pärt's "Da Pacem" by the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Paul Hillier, conductor.

Märkmed: