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 2/2024, published on 5th April 2024

Quarterly Critic’s Choice

Quarterly Critic’s Choices before 2010

3/2002

3/2002

Published: 20.8.2002

Orchestral Music and Concertos

  • Gustav Mahler: Symphonie No. 3. Berliner Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado. DGG 471 502-2 (Universal)
  • Gustav Mahler: Symphonie No. 9. Berliner Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado. DGG 471 624-2 (Universal)
  • Sergej Prokofjew: Violin Concerto No. 2. Alexander Glasunow: Violin Concerto op. 82. Nikolaj Znaider (Violin), Sinfonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Mariss Jansons. RCA 7487454 (BMG)

Chamber Music

  • Benjamin Britten: String Quartet No. 2 and 3. Philharmonia Quartett. Thorofon 2455 (Bella Musica)
  • Max Reger: Violin Sonatas opp. 72; 103b. Ulf Wallin (Violin), Roland Pöntinen (Piano). CPO 999 857-2 (jpc)

Keyboard Music

  • Children’s Corner: Works by Françaix, Respighi, Gieseking, Bizet, Dichler and Casella. Klavierduo Yaara Tal & Andreas Groethuysen. Sony CD SMK 89943
  • Olivier Messiaen: Complete Organ Works. Olivier Latry. DGG 471 480-2 (Universal)
  • Pavana. The Virgin Harpsichord. Skip Sempé, Olivier Fortin and Pierre Hantaï (Harpsichord). Astrée E 8841 (Harmonia mundi)

Opera

  • Hector Berlioz: Les Troyens. Heppner, DeYoung, Lang, Mingardo et al. London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Colin Davis. LSO 0010 (Note 1)

Choral Works

  • Benjamin Britten: Sacred and Profane op. 91. Works by Elgar, Vaughan Williams, Delius and Standford. RIAS Kammerchor, Marcus Creed. Harmonia mundi 901 734

Lieder and Vocal Recital

  • French Opera Arias. Vesselina Kasarova. Münchner Rundfunkorchester, Frédéric Chaslin. RCA 74321 67667 2 (BMG).

Early Music

  • Arias for Farinelli. Vivica Genaux, Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, René Jacobs. Harmonia mundi 901 778
  • Jean-Baptiste Lully: Persée. Les Talens Lyriques, Christophe Rousset. Astrée Naive E 8874 (Harmonia mundi)

Historical Recordings

  • Wolfgang Fortner / Ludwig van Beethoven: Violin Concertos. Gerhard Taschner (Violin), Berliner Philharmoniker, Wilhelm Furtwängler, Georg Solti. MDG 642 1113-2 (Naxos)

Contemporary Classical Music

  • Helmut Lachenmann: Das Mädchen mit den Schwefelhölzern. Leonard, Kammer, Miyata, Sugawara, Staatsopernorchester Stuttgart, Lothar Zagrosek. KAIROS 12282
  • Wolfgang Rihm: Jagden und Formen. Ensemble Modern, Dominique My. DGG 471 558-2 (Universal)

Film Music

  • Adolph Deutsch: The Maltese Falcon. Moscow Symphony Orchestra, William Stromberg. Marco Polo 8.225169 (Naxos)

Spoken Word

  • Hermann Hesse: Unterm Rad. Read by Samuel Weiss. HörVerlag ISBN 3-89584-965-0

Pop and Rock

  • Doves: The Last Broadcast. Heavenly 8 12232 2 (EMI)
  • The Electric Soft Parade: Holes In The Wall. BMG 74321 91017 2 (Ariola)
  • Wilco: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. WEA 7559 796692 (Warner Music)

Singer/Songwriter and German Songs

  • Reinhard Mey: Rüm Hart. EMI 7243 5 39846 2 5

World Music, Folk and Folklore

  • Berrogüetto: Hepta. BOA Do FOL 29 (endirecto)
  • Lila Downs: Border La Linea. Peregrina 05950312 (in-akustik)

Traditional Ethnic Music

  • Island Blues – Entre Mer et Ciel. Network 21.292 (LC 6759)
  • Uganda: Music of the Baganda People. OCORA C 560161 (Harmonia mundi)

Jazz and Blues

  • Tom Harrell: Live At The Village Vanguard. Bluebird (BMG)
  • Joachim Kühn: Universal Time. Emarcy 016 871-2 (Universal)
  • Gianluigi Trovesi: Dedalo. Enja ENJ 9419-2

Recordings for Children and Youth

  • Kenneth Grahame: Der Wind in den Weiden. Kein & Aber.
  • Walter Moers: Die 13 Leben des Käpt’n Blaubär. Lido (Eichborn)
  • Angela Nanetti: Mein Großvater war ein Kirschbaum. Patmos 3-491-24066-2
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