Battle of the two Thirds

The temptation is to find trends. But when it comes to the classical nominations for the Grammys, it’s a good temptation to resist. Who votes? Why? We don’t know. Brand names and big labels show up but no longer predominate. CD reviews are less plentiful than they once were, and discs that appear in prominent media seem to have a better chance of being noticed.

The most interesting battle this year, for best classical album, pits against each other two interpretations of Mahler’s Third Symphony -- a luminous, beautifully played and exquisitely clearheaded performance by Pierre Boulez and the Vienna Philharmonic and a riveting, impassioned one by Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony. The Vienna Philharmonic version also is a candidate for best orchestral performance.

This is Ned Rorem’s 80th year, and the first recording of his three symphonies, attractive works from several decades ago, is contending not only for best classical album but also for its performance by Jose Serebrier and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. The disc is part of the ongoing, budget-priced Naxos series of American music, which made big inroads into this year’s nominees with Amy Beach’s Piano Concerto, Edward Thomas’ folk opera “Desire Under the Elms” and symphonies by George Rochberg and Serebrier.

It is not a strong year for the West Coast. Apart from Tilson Thomas and the San Franciscans, the Kronos Quartet shows up with three nominations, including one for its superb, groundbreaking recording of Berg’s String Quartet with soprano Dawn Upshaw. Locally, however, there is a welcome surprise in the best small ensemble performance field: Mexican composer Carlos Chavez’s Suite for Double Quartet performed by Southwest Chamber Music.