Quarterly Critic’s Choice
The best and most interesting new releases of the previous three months are awarded a place on the Quarterly Critic’s Choice. Evaluation criteria are artistic quality, repertoire value, presentation, and sound quality. From 2014 onward, the Long Lists are stored directly with each Quarterly Critic’s Choice.
NEW: Long List 4/2024, published on 5th October 2024
Quarterly Critic’s Choices before 2010
1/2001
Published: 22. 02. 2001
Orchestral Music and Concertos
- Anton Bruckner: Symphonie No. 7. Berliner Philharmoniker, Günter Wand. RCA 74321 68716-2 (BMG)
- Alfred Schnittke: Violin Concertos Nos. 1-4. Gidon Kremer (Violin), Chamber Orchestra of Europe, NDR-Sinfonieorchester, Philharmonia Orchestra, Christoph Eschenbach. Teldec 3984.26886-2 (Warner)
- Ernst Toch: Symphonies Nos. 2 and 3. Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Alun Francis. cpo 999 705-2 (jpc)
Chamber Music
- Robert Schumann: String Quartets No. 1 and 3. St. Lawrence String Quartet. EMI 556 797-2
Keyboard Music
- Johann Jacob Froberger: 14 Suites (Straßburg manuscript). Ludger Rémy (Harpsichord). cpo 999 750-2 (jpc)
- Giovanni Picchi e la scuola Veneziana. Fabio Bonizzoni (Harpsichord). Glossa 921502 (Note 1)
- Igor Strawinsky: Le Sacre du Printemps (Version for Piano for four hands). Fazil Say (Piano, with Playback-Procedure). Teldec 8573-81041-2 (Warner)
Opera
- Gaetano Donizetti: La Favorite. Vesselina Kasarova, Ramon Vargas, Anthony Michaels-Moore et al., Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Münchner Rundfunkorchester, Marcello Viotti. RCA 74321 66229-2 (BMG)
- Joseph Haydn: Armida. Cecilia Bartoli, Patricia Petibon, Christoph Prégardien, Oliver Widmer, Scot Weir, Markus Schäfer, Concentus Musicus Wien, Nikolaus Harnoncourt. Teldec 8573-81108-2 (Warner)
Operetta and Musical
- Stephen Sondheim: Saturday Night. Original 2000 New York Cast, Steven Freeman. Nonesuch 7559-79609-2 (Warner)
- Johann Strauß, Sohn: Simplicius. Michael Volle, Martin Zysset, Rolf Haunstein, Elizabeth Magnuson, Oliver Widmer et al., Chor and Orchester der Oper Zürich, Franz Welser-Möst. EMI 557009 2.
Early Music
- Louis-Nicolas Clérambault: Motets pour Saint-Sulpice. Gérard Lesne, Mark Padmore, Josep-Miquel Ramon i Monzó, Il Seminario Musicale. Virgin Veritas 545415 2 (EMI)
Choral Works, Lieder and Vocal Recital
- Johann Sebastian Bach: Cantatas BWV 55 and 82a. Selected Arias. Ian Bostridge, Europa Galante, Fabio Biondi. Virgin Classics 545420 2 (EMI)
- Paul Hindemith: Lieder, Chöre, Kanons. Rundfunkchor Berlin, Robin Gritton. Wergo WER 6642 2 (Schott)
- Jan Dismas Zelenka: Missa Dei Patris. Mechthild Bach, Daniel Taylor, Markus Brutscher, Gotthold Schwarz, Kammerchor und Barockorchester Stuttgart, Frieder Bernius. Carus 83.209 (Note 1)
Contemporary Classical Music
- Heinz Holliger: Schneewittchen. Juliane Banse, Cornelia Kallisch, Steve Davislim, Oliver Widmer, Werner Gröschel, Orchester der Oper Zürich, Heinz Holliger. ecm new series 1715/16 (Universal 465287-2)
- György Ligeti: String Quartets Nos. 1 and 2. Artemis Quartett. Ars Musici AM 1276-2 (FMF)
Historical Recordings
- Ludwig van Beethoven: Violin Sonata No. 9 A major op. 47. César Franck: Violin Sonata A major. Gerhard Taschner (Violin), Walter Gieseking (Piano). Recordings 1945-47. Bayer Records BR 200 053 (Note1)
- Carl Maria von Weber: Der Freischütz. Elisabeth Grümmer, Rita Streich, Hans Hopf, Max Proebstl, Alfred Poell et al., Kölner Rundfunkchor, Kölner RSO, Erich Kleiber. Recording 1955. Koch Schwann 3-1642-2
Film Music
- Bernard Herrmann: Marnie. Royal Scottish NO, Joel McNeely. Varèse Sarabande VSD-6094 (Colosseum)
Spoken Word
- Thomas Mann: Der Zauberberg (Radio play editing by Valerie Stiegele). With Udo Samel, Konstantin Graudus, Felix von Manteuffel, Karina Krawczyk, Friedhelm Ptok et al. Der Hörverlag ISBN 3-89584-182-X
Recordings for Children and Youth
- Jackie Niebisch: Zwei Ameisen reisen nach Australien. DGG 463 903-2 (Universal)
- Oliver Steller: Gedichte für Kinder, Vol. 2. Naxos NHB 17022
Singer/Songwriter and German Songs
- Ballhaus nuevo: Schade, schade. Kip Records 6016
- Stoppok & Worthy: Grundvergnügen. Grundsound GS 002 (CC 11091)
Traditional Ethnic Music
- Music! 100 Recordings – 100 Years of the Berlin Phonogramm-Archiv. Wergo SM 1701/2 1703/2 (Schott)
- Russian Gypsy Soul. Network 36.989 (Zweitausendeins)
World Music, Folk and Folklore
- Gerardo Nuñez, Chano Dominguez et al.: Jazzpaña II. Act 9284-2
- Triakel: Vintervisor. Westpark 87079
Jazz and Blues
- Jim Hall, Joe Lovano et al.: Grand Slam – Live at the Regattabar. Telarc CD 83485 (in-akustik)
- Jimmy Smith: Dot Com Blues. Blue Thumb 3145439782 (Universal)
- Andy Summers: Peggy’s Blue Skylight. RCA 09026 63698 2 (BMG)
Pop and Rock
- Johnny Cash, American III: Solitary Man. Columbia 500 986 (Sony)
- Mirvais: Production. Epic 498213 2 (Sony)
- U2: All That You Can’t Leave Behind. Island Mercury 548285 (Universal)