German Winners

The orchestra was awarded the accolade on Sunday, Feb. 8, for its choral work "Symphony of Psalms," which was conducted by Rattle and also led by Chorus Master Simon Halsey.

The Berlin Philharmonic beat off strong contenders in the London Symphony Orchestra and the Warsaw Philharmonic to claim the award.

Also to collect an award at the Grammy ceremony was German film composer Hans Zimmer, who along with US composer James Newton Howard, won the Best Score for a Motion Picture Soundtrack for his work on Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight."

But it was former Led Zeppelin front man Robert Plant and bluegrass-country singer Alison Krauss who dominated the music industry awards, claiming five prizes for their rock-country collaboration "Raising Sand."

The duet claimed the Album of the Year and Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals awards, and the single "Please Read the Letter" won Record of the Year.

Plant pleased with award

"I'd like to say I'm bewildered," Plant told the audience at the Staples Center after receiving the coveted album of the year and record of the year awards with Krauss. "In the old days we would have called this selling out, but it's a good way to spend a Sunday."

Krauss, who will add the Grammy to her cabinet that already holds 25 others, called the event "a wonderful time."

Song of the Year went to British pop-rockers Coldplay for "Viva La Vida" from their album "Viva La Vida or Death and all His Friends."

The awards ceremony saw a spark of drama when pop singer Rihanna withdrew from performing on the night.