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

3/2004

3/2004

Published: 20. August 2004

DVD and Video Productions

  • Richard Wagner: Götterdämmerung. Staatsoper Stuttgart, Lothar Zagrosek, Stage Direction: Peter Konwitschny. TDK / Euroarts DV-OPRDNG (2 DVDs; Naxos)
  • Verbotene Klänge – Komponisten im Exil. A film by Norbert Bunge and Christine Fischer-Defoy. Capriccio 93 506 (Delta Music) 46664 – The Event. Warner Music Vision 2564 61475-2

Orchestral Music and Concertos

  • Jean Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 3 and 7. London Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis. LSO 0051 (Note 1)
  • Sergej Rachmaninow: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 and 2. Krystian Zimerman, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Seiji Ozawa. Deutsche Grammophon 459 643-2 (Universal)
  • Nikos Skalkottas: Piano Concerto No. 3, Ta Pagana (Die Gnomen). Geoffrey Douglas Madge, Caput Ensemble, Nikos Christodoulou. BIS 1364 (Klassik Center Kassel)

Chamber Music, Lieder and Vocal Recital

  • Johannes Brahms: Die Piano Trios. Renaud Capuçon (Violin), Gautier Capuçon (Violoncello), Nicholas Angelich (Piano). Virgin 5 45 653 2 (2 CDs; EMI)
  • Charles Ives: Piano Sonata No. 2, »Concord«; Songs. Pierre-Laurent Aimard (Piano), Susan Graham (Soprano), Tabea Zimmermann (Viola), Emmanuel Pahud (Flute). Warner 2564 60297-2

Keyboard Music

  • Gottlieb Muffat: 72 Versetl sammt 12 Toccaten. Wolfgang Baumgratz (Organ). Ambiente ACD 2009 (TS Tonträger, Algermissen)
  • Bernardo Pasquini: Sonata per gravicembalo. Roberto Loreggian. Chandos 0704 (Codaex)

Opera and Operetta

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro. Véronique Gens, Patrizia Ciofi, Angelika Kirchschlager, Simon Keenlyside et al., Collegium Vocale Gent, Concerto Köln, René Jacobs. harmonia mundi France 801 818/20 (3 CDs; Helikon harmonia mundi)
  • Franz Lehár: Der Sterngucker. Lothar Odinius, Claudia Rohrbach, Hanna Dorá Sturludóttir, Robert Wörle, Markus Köhler, Deutsche Kammerakademie Neuss, Johannes Goritzki. cpo 999 872-2 (2 CDs; jpc)

Choral Works

  • Frank Martin: Mess, Songs of Ariel; Olivier Messiaen: Cinq Rechants, O sacrum convivium. RIAS-Kammerchor, Daniel Reuss. harmonia mundi France HMC 901 834 (Helikon harmonia mundi)

Early Music

  • Marin Marais: Pour la Violle et le Théorbe. Hille Perl, Lee Santana. deutsche harmonia mundi 82876 58791 2 (BMG)

Historical Recordings

  • Carlo Maria Giulini – The Chicago Recordings (Works by Beethoven, Berlioz, Brahms, Bruckner, Mahler and Strawinsky). EMI Classics 5 85 974 2 (4 CDs)

Contemporary Classical Music

  • Heinz Holliger: Violin Concerto, Eugène Ysaÿe: Sonata op. 27 No. 3. Thomas Zehetmair (Violin), SWR Sinfonieorchester, Heinz Holliger. ECM New Series 1890 bzw. 476 1941 (Universal)

Film Music

  • Sergej Prokofjew: Alexander Newski. Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Frank Strobel. Capriccio SACD 71 014 (Delta Music)
  • Dimitri Schostakowitsch: Hamlet. Music for the 1964 Film, op. 116. Russian Philharmonic Orchestra, Dmitry Yablonsky. Naxos 8.557 446

Pop and Rock

  • Cowboy Junkies: One Soul Now. Latent Recordings COOKCD 296 (Indigo)
  • Wilco: A ghost is born. Nonesuch 7559 79809-2 (Warner)

Singer/Songwriter and German Songs

  • Barbara Thalheim / Jean Pacalet: Insel Sein. duo-phon records 06 13 3 (Pool Music)

Traditional Ethnic Music

  • Arvind Parikh: Sitar Guru. An Interactive Introduction to Sitar. Navras Record Limited NRSW 014, (CD-ROM plus Audio-CD; Bellaphon)

Folk and Folklore, World Music

  • Lila Downs: Una Sangre – One Blood. Peregrina Music PM50382 (In-Akustik)
  • Triakel: Sånger från 63° N. Triakel Records / Westpark Music WP 87 104 (Indigo)

Jazz and Blues

  • Carla Bley: The Lost Chords. WATT 32 bzw. 981 7953 (Universal)
  • James Carter: Live at Baker’s Keyboard Lounge. Warner 9362 48449-2
  • Duke Robillard: Blue Mood. DixieFrog DFGCD 8580-1/2 (2 CDs; Fenn Music Service)

Crossover Productions

  • Larry Ochs / Joan Jeanrenaud / Miya Masaoka: Fly Fly Fly Fly. Intakt Records CD 092 (Records Verlagsges. mbH)

Recordings for Children and Youth

  • Dietlof Reiche: Freddy. Ein wildes Hamsterleben. HörCompany ISBN 3-935036-56-6
  • Peter Hacks: Anton ist fürs Neue Jahr. Igel-Records ISBN 3-89353-862-3

(The name of the German distributor appears in brackets if it differs from the label name.)

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