Quarterly Critic’s Choice

2/2006

Published: 15. May 2006

DVD and Video Productions

• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: La Clemenza di Tito. Susan Graham, Ekaterina Siurina, Roland Bracht, Christoph Prégardien et al. Orchestre & Chœurs de l’Opéra National de Paris, Sylvain Cambreling. Stage Direction: Karl-Ernst and Ursel Herrmann. Opus Arte 0942 D (2 DVD; Naxos)

• A Trail on the Water. Abbado – Nono – Pollini. Stage Direction: Bettina Erhardt. TDK EuroArts DVWW-DOCNONO (Naxos)

Orchestral Music and Concertos

• Alexander Zemlinsky: Lyrische Symphonie op. 18. Matthias Goerne, Christine Schäfer, Orchestre de Paris, Christoph Eschenbach. Capriccio 71 081 (SACD; Delta Music)

• Johannes Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 1 D minor op. 15. Krystian Zimerman, Berliner Philharmoniker, Sir Simon Rattle. Deutsche Grammophon 477 5413 (Universal)

• Alban Berg, Igor Strawinsky: Violin Concertos. Kolja Blacher, Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Claudio Abbado. Deutsche Grammophon 476 3069 (Universal)

Chamber Music

• Gustav Mahler / Erwin Stein (Bearb.): Symphony No. 4. Christiane Oelze (Soprano), Thomas Christian Ensemble. MDG 603 1320-2 (Codaex)

Keyboard Music

• The Gulda Mozart Tapes – 10 Sonatas and a Fantasy. W.A. Mozart: Sonatas KV 279–283, 311, 330, 332, 333, 545, Fantasie KV 475. Friedrich Gulda (Piano). Deutsche Grammophon 477 613 0 (3 CD; Universal)

• Arp Schnitger Organ Norden. Works by Weckmann, Byrd, Buxtehude, J.S. Bach, Schlick, Correa de Arauxo, Scheidt and Böhm. Agnes Luchterhandt, Thiemo Janssen. MDG 906 1363-6 (SACD; Codaex)

Opera and Operetta

• Antonio Vivaldi: Motezuma. Vito Priante, Marijana Mijanovic, Roberta Invernizzi, Maite Beaumont, Romina Basso, Inga Kalna, Il Complesso Barocco, Alan Curtis. Deutsche Grammophon 477 599 6 (3 CD; Universal)

• Antonio Vivaldi: Tito Manlio. Nicola Ulivieri, Karina Gauvin, Ann Hallenberg, Marijana Mijanovic et al. Accademia Bizantina, Ottavio Dantone. Naïve OP 30-413 (3 CD; Helikon Harmonia Mundi)

• Franz Lehár: Schön ist die Welt. Elena Mosuc, Zoran Todorovich, Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Münchner Rundfunkorchester, Ulf Schirmer. cpo 777 055-2 (jpc)

Choral Works

• North. Works by Sibelius, Rautavaara, Kuula, Stenhammar, Wikander, Alfvén, Nystedt, Jersild, Sandström and Werle. Chœur Accentus, Eric Ericson. Naïve V 5037 (2 CD; Helikon Harmonia Mundi)

Early Music

• Nicolas Gombert: Missa Media Vita In Morte Sumus, Motets. The Hilliard Ensemble. ECM New Series 1884 (Universal)

Lieder and Vocal Recital

• Franz Schubert: Abendbilder. Christian Gerhaher (Baritone), Gerold Huber (Piano). RCA 8287 677716 2 (Sony BMG)

• Rolando Villazón: Opera Recital. Arias by Offenbach, Tschaikowsky, Bizet, Flotow, Verdi et al. Bayerischer Rundfunkchor, Münchner Rundfunkorchester, Michel Plasson. Virgin Classics 344701 2 (EMI)

Historical Recordings

• Jean Martinon: Complete Decca Recordings 1951–1960. Works by Prokofiev, Borodin, Saint-Saëns et al. Various Orchester. Decca 475 7209 1 (9 CD; Universal)

Contemporary Classical Music

• György Kurtág: Kafka Fragments op. 24. Juliane Banse (Soprano), András Keller (Violin). ECM New Series 1965 (Universal)

Film Music

• William Alwyn: The Film Music of William Alwyn Vol. 3. BBC Philharmonic, Rumon Gamba. Chandos 10349 (Codaex)

Spoken Word

• Elias Canetti: Das Hörwerk 1953–1991. Elias Canetti. Zweitausendeins ISBN 3-86150-656-4 (2 MP3-CD)

Pop and Rock

• Kevin Coyne: Underground. Turpentine Records 1004 (www.kevincoyne.de)

• Placebo: Meds. Virgin 3 56063 2 (EMI)

Singer/Songwriter and German Songs

• Die Grenzgänger & Frank Baier: Lieder der Märzrevolution 1920. Müller-Lüdenscheidt-Verlag EAN 4015698654325 (Conträr/Indigo)

Traditional Ethnic Music

• Romica Puceanu & The Gore Brothers: Sounds from a Bygone Age Vol. 2. Asphalt Tango Records CD-ATR 1006 (Indigo)

World Music

• Ojos de Brujo: Techarí. Diquela Records CD05 (CD + CDrom; PIAS)

• The Mahotella Queens: Kazet. Marabi Productions 46813.2 (Helikon Harmonia Mundi)

Jazz and Blues

• Cécile Verny Quartet: The Bitter and The Sweet. Minor Music 801125 (In-Akustik)

• Martial Solal & Dave Douglas: Rue De Seine. CamJazz 7780-2 (ZYX)

• Terje Rypdal: Vossabrygg. ECM 1984 (Universal)

• Down Home Percolators: Homebrew. Duomatic Records 05-02 (www.matchbox-bluesband.de)

Recordings for Children and Youth

• Eoin Colfer: Tim und das Geheimnis von Knolle Murphy. Samuel Weiss (Reader). Beltz & Gelberg ISBN 3-407-80974-9

• Avi: Das Gold des Alchemisten. Peter Kaempfe (Reader). Beltz & Gelberg ISBN 3-407-80975-1 (3 CD)

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