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

4/2004

4/2004

Published: 13. November 2004

DVD and Video Productions

  • Georg Friedrich Händel: Theodora. Stage Direction: Peter Sellars, Conductor: William Christie. NVC Arts 0630-15481-2 (Warner)
  • Piotr Anderszewski plays the Diabelli Variations. A film by Bruno Monsaingeon. Virgin Classical 5 99 463-9 (EMI)
  • »Abbado in Lucerne«. Claude Debussy: La Mer, Le Martyre de Saint Sébastien. Lucerne Festival Orchestra, Claudio Abbado. EuroArts 2053469 (Naxos)
  • The Blues. A journey to the roots of the blues. By Martin Scorsese, Wim Wenders et al. MC-One 62 3 3099 bzw. 62 3 3057 (Limited Edition)

Orchestral Music and Concertos

  • Franz Ignaz Beck: Symphonies op. 3 Nos. 1, 2 & 6, Ouverture »La mort d’Orphée«. La Stagione Frankfurt, Michael Schneider. cpo 777 034-2 (jpc)
  • Peter Tschaikowsky: Violin Concerto D major op. 35, Max Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1 G minor op. 26. Frank Peter Zimmermann, Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, Manfred Honeck, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Paavo Berglund. Sony Classical SK 93 129
  • Edward Elgar: Violin Concerto op. 61, Ralph Vaughan Williams: The Lark Ascending. Hilary Hahn, London Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis. Deutsche Grammophon 474 504-2 (Universal)
  • Erich Kleiber – Decca Recordings 1949-1955. Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Schubert and Carl Maria by Weber. Soloists, Wiener Philharmoniker, Concertgebouw Orkest et al. Decca 475 608-0 (6 CD; Universal)

Chamber Music, Keyboard Music

  • Ludwig van Beethoven: Complete Works for Piano and Violoncello. András Schiff (Piano), Miklós Perényi (Violoncello). ECM New Series 1819/20 or 472 401-2 (2 CD; Universal)
  • Sergej Prokofjew: Cinderella Suite (Arrangement for two pianos by Mikhail Pletnev), Maurice Ravel: Ma Mère l’Oye. Martha Argerich, Mikhail Pletnev. Deutsche Grammophon 474 817-2 (Universal)
  • »Maurice Quentin de la Tour: Portraits en musique«. Harpsichord Works to Portraits of Maurice Quentin de La Tour by Jean-Philippe Rameau, Antoine Forqueray, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, François Couperin et al. Olivier Baumont. Virgin 5 45 667 2 (EMI)

Operetta

  • Franz Lehár: Der Rastelbinder. Fritz Muliar, Helga Papouschek, Elfie Hobarth, Heinz Zednik, Adolf Dallapozza, ORF-Chor, Wiener Mozart-Sängerknaben, ORF-Symphonieorchester, Hans Graf. cpo 777 038-2 (2 CD; jpc)

Choral Works

  • Luigi Nono: Quando stanno morendo, Ha venido, ¿Dónde estás, hermano?, Djamila Boupachá, Sarà dolce tacere. Neue Vocalsolisten Stuttgart, Manfred Schreier. Col legno SACD 20603 (Helikon Harmonia Mundi)

Early Music

  • Jean-Baptiste Lully: Roland. Nicolas Testé, Anna-Maria Panzarella, Olivier Dumait, Monique Zanetti, Robert Getchell, Salomé Haller, Chœur de l’Opéra de Lausanne, Les Talens Lyriques, Christophe Rousset. Ambroisie AMB 9949 (Note 1)

Lieder and Vocal Recital

  • »Great Tenor Arias«. Opera Arias by Giuseppe Verdi, Christoph Willibald Gluck, Fromental Halévy, Gioacchino Rossini, Gaetano Donizetti, Giacomo Puccini and Domenico Cimarosa. Juan Diego Flórez, Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi, Carlo Rizzi. Decca 475 550-2 (Universal)

Contemporary Classical Music

  • Vinko Globokar: Toucher, Kvadrat, Dialog über Erde, Corporel, Pensée écartelée, Ombre, Tribadabum extensif sur rythme fantôme. Matthias Kaul (Percussion, Voice, Hurdy gurdy). Wergo 6662-2 (Note 1)

Film Music

  • James Newton Howard: The Village. Hilary Hahn, The Hollywood Studio Symphony, Pete Anthony. Hollywood 5050 467-4883-2-8 (Warner)

Pop and Rock

  • Jim White: Drill a Hole in that Substrate and Tell Me What You See. Luaka Bop VVR 1026938 (Rough Trade)
  • Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds: Abattoir Blues / The Lyre Of Orpheus. Mute Records STUMM233 (2 CD; EMI)

Singer/Songwriter and German Songs

  • Lüül: Damenbesuch. Grundsound 49512 (Indigo)

Traditional Ethnic Music

  • Various Musicians: Fès. The Spirit of Fès. Festival des musiques sacrées du monde. Le Chant du Monde 574 1269/70 (2 CD; Helikon harmonia mundi)

Jazz and Blues

  • Keith Jarrett / Gary Peacock / Jack DeJohnette: The Out-of-Towners. ECM 1900 bzw. 981 9610 (Universal)
  • Jenny Evans: Nuages. Enja 9467-2 (Soulfood)
  • Kölner Saxophon Mafia: Spaceplayer. JazzHausMusik JHM 132
  • Various Musicians: Lost Blues Tapes. More American Folk Blues Festival 1963-65. ACT 6000-2 (2 CD; Edel)

Crossover Productions

  • Ulrike Haage: Sélavy. Content Records 0155212 CTC (Edel)

Spoken Word

  • Isaac B. Singer: Eine Kindheit in Warschau. Reader: Michael Degen. Patmos ISBN 3-491-91157-5

Recordings for Children and Youth

  • Maritgen Matter: Ein Schaf fürs Leben. Reader: Friedhelm Ptok. Igel-Records ISBN 3-89353-910-7
  • Philip Ardagh: Schlechte Nachrichten. Reader: Harry Rowohlt. Random House Audio ISBN 3-89830-771-9 (3 CD)

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

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