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.

Quarterly Critic’s Choice

Quarterly Critic’s Choices before 2010

4/2002

4/2002

Published: 20.11.2002

Orchestral Music and Concertos

  • Gustav Mahler: Symphonie No. 5. Berliner Philharmoniker, Musical Direction: Sir Simon Rattle. EMI 5 57385 2
  • Bernd Alois Zimmermann: Märchensuite; Canto di speranza; Impromptu; Alagoana – Caprichos brasileiros. Lucas Fels (Violoncello), Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Musical Direction: Peter Hirsch. Wergo WER 6656 2 (Schott)

Chamber Music

  • Francis Poulenc / Claude Debussy / Camille Saint-Saëns: Sonatas for Violin and Piano. Midori (Violin), Robert McDonald (Piano). Sony SK 89699

Keyboard Music

  • Stephen Hough’s English Piano Album. Works by Rawthorne, Reynolds, Hough, Elgar, Bantock, Bowen and Leighton. Stephen Hough (Piano). Hyperion CDA 67267
  • L’Orgue Cavaillé-Coll. Anniversary Edition. Various Artists. Motet 6 CD 10761
  • Historical Organs in Austria, Vol. 4: Tirol. Albert Bolliger (Organ). Sinus Sin 8004

Opera

  • Benjamin Britten: The Turn of the Screw. Ian Bostridge (Quint), Joan Rodgers (Governess), Julian Leang (Miles), Caroline Wise (Flora), Jane Henschel (Mrs. Grose), Vivian Tierney (Miss Jessel), Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Musical Direction: Daniel Harding. Virgin 5 45521 2 (EMI)

Lieder and Vocal Recital

  • Benjamin Britten: The Canticles. Ian Bostridge (Tenor), David Daniels (Countertenor), Christopher Maltman (Baritone) et al., Julius Drake (Piano). Virgin 7243 5 45525 2 (EMI)
  • Jacques Offenbach: Arias and Scenes. Anne Sofie von Otter (Mezzo Soprano), Choeurs des Musiciens du Louvre, Les Musiciens du Louvre – Grenoble, Musical Direction: Marc Minkowski. DGG 471 501-2 (Universal)

Choral Works

  • Leonardo Leo: Misereris omnium, Domine; Salve Regina; Lamentationes Jeremiae et al. Les Talens Lyriques, Musical Direction: Christophe Rousset. Decca 460 020-2 (Universal)
  • Domenico Scarlatti: Stabat mater a dieci voci; Missa quatuor vocum. Concerto Italiano, Musical Direction: Rinaldo Alessandrini. Opus 111 OP 30248 (Harmonia mundi)

Early Music

  • Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber: Unam Ceylum – Violin Sonatas. John Holloway (Violin) et al. ECM 472 084-2 (Universal)
  • Gautier de Coincy: Songs of Angels – Songs of Ecstasy. New London Consort, Musical Direction: Philipp Pickett. Decca 460 794-2 (Universal)

Historical Recordings

  • Richard Wagner: Siegfried. Kirsten Flagstad, Lauritz Melchior, Eduard Habich, Karl Lewkovitch, Friedrich Schorr, Kerstin Thorborg, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Musical Direction: Artur Bodanzky. 1937 Recording. Naxos 8.110211-13

Contemporary Classical Music

  • Heiner Goebbels: Eislermaterial. Josef Bierbichler (Voice), Ensemble Modern. ECM 461 648-2 (Universal)

Film Music

  • Alberto Iglesias: Hable con ella. Original Soundtrack. Milan 74321 92849-2 (BMG)
  • Erich Wolfgang Korngold: The Sea Hawk. London Symphony Orchestra, Musical Direction: André Previn. DGG 471 347-2 (Universal)

Spoken Word

  • Karl Kraus: Die letzten Tage der Menschheit. Read by Ursula Langrock, Wolfgang Büttner, Stephan Hermlin et al. Der Hörverlag ISBN 3-89584-991-x

Pop and Rock

  • Laurie Anderson: Live At Town Hall New York, September 2001. Nonesuch 7559 79681-2 (Warner)
  • Coldplay: A Rush Of Blood To The Head. EMI 5 40504 2
  • Peter Gabriel: Up. Virgin 8 13062 2 (EMI)

Singer/Songwriter and German Songs

  • Franz Josef Degenhardt: Quantensprung. Universal 340 050-2

World Music, Folk and Folklore

  • Groupa: Fjalar. Laika 3510159
  • Goran Bregovic: Tales And Songs From Weddings And Funerals. Universal 063 079-2

Traditional Ethnic Music

  • Chemirani. Iris Music France 3001854 (Harmonia mundi)

Jazz and Blues

  • Branford Marsalis Quartet: Footsteps Of Our Fathers. Marsalis Music 3301 (in-akustik)
  • Luther Allison and Friends: Pay It Forward. RUF 1060 (in-akustik)

Recordings for Children and Youth

  • Der Kölner Dom und die Wahrheit über Meister Gerhard. Ars Audiendi. ISBN-No. 3-8218-5173-2 (CD), 3-8218-5174-0 (MC) (Vertrieb Eichborn AG Frankfurt)
  • Paul Stewart / Volker Niederfahrenhorst: Twig im Dunkelwald. Patmos 3-419-24073-5
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