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 Choices before 2010
3/2007
Published: 15. August 2007
DVD and Video Productions
- Bernd Alois Zimmermann: Die Soldaten. Soloists, Bochumer Symphoniker, Steven Sloane. David Pountney (Stage Direction), Hannes Rossacher (Image direction). DVD Ruhrtriennale (www.ruhrtriennale.de)
- Nathan Milstein in portrait – Some memories of a quiet magician. Film by Christopher Nupen. Allegro Films A 06CN D (2 DVDs; Naxos)
- Wolfgang Haffner: Shapes – live in concert. Haffner Music HM 007 (www.wolfganghaffner.com)
Orchestral Music and Concertos
- Franz Xaver Richter: Symphonies No. 29 G minor, No. 43 F minor, No. 52 D major, No. 53 D major, No. 56 D minor. London Mozart Players, Matthias Bamert. Chandos CHAN 10 386 (Codaex)
- Johannes Brahms: Symphony No. 1 C minor op. 68; Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 1 C major op. 21. Münchner Philharmoniker, Günter Wand. Profil Hänssler PH 06044 (Naxos)
- Max Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1 G minor op. 26; Hans Pfitzner: Violin Concerto B minor op. 34; Wolfgang Fortner: Concerto for violin and big chamber orchestra. Gerhard Taschner (Violin), SDR-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart, Hans Müller-Kray, RIAS-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Rudolf Kempe, SWR-Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden, Hans Rosbaud. Historical Recordings of 1954, 1955, 1950. MDG Archive 642 1443-2 (Codaex)
- Luciano Berio: Solo; Iannis Xenakis: Troorkh; Mark-Anthony Turnage: Yet Another Set To. Christian Lindberg (Posaune), Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, Peter Rundel. BIS 1638 (SACD; Klassik Center Kassel)
- Johannes Brahms: Violin Concerto D major op. 77, Double Concerto A minor op. 102. Julia Fischer (Violin), Daniel Müller-Schott (Violoncello), Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra Amsterdam, Yakov Kreizberg. PentaTone Classics PTC 5186 066 (SACD; Codaex)
Chamber Music
- Béla Bartók: String Quartets Nos. 5 and 6. Arcanto Quartett. Harmonia Mundi France HMC 901963 (Helikon Harmonia Mundi)
- Béla Bartók: String Quartets Nos. 1, 2 and 3. Quatuor Ébène. Mirare MIR 029 (Helikon Harmonia Mundi)
Keyboard Music
- Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Vol. IV. Sonatas No. 12 A flat major op. 26, No. 13 E flat major and No. 14 c sharp minor (Mondschein) op. 27, No. 15 D major (Pastorale) op. 28. András Schiff. ECM New Series 1944 (Universal)
- Christoph Graupner: Frühling & Winter. Partitas for Harpsichord Vol. 6. Geneviève Soly (Harpsichord). Analekta 2 9119 (Codaex)
- Gatto. Niederösterreichische Barockorgeln. Works by Georg Muffat, Johann Speth, Johann Sebastian Bach et al. Marcus Hufnagl. Extraplatte EX 740-2 (Sunny Moon)
Opera
- Francesco Cavalli: L’Ormindo. Martin Oro; Howard Crook, Dominique Visse et al., Les Paladins, Jérôme Correas. Pan Classics 10196 (2 CDs; Note 1)
Choral Works
- Frank Martin: Le vin herbé. Sandrine Piau, Steve Davislim, Jutta Böhnert, RIAS Kammerchor, Scharoun-Ensemble, Daniel Reuss. Harmonia Mundi France HMC 901935.36 (2 CDs; Helikon Harmonia Mundi)
- Heinrich Schütz: Opus ultimum SWV 482–494. Collegium Vocale Gent, Concerto Palatino, Philippe Herreweghe. Harmonia Mundi France HMC 901895.96 (2 CDs; Helikon Harmonia Mundi)
Lieder and Vocal Recital
- Irmgard Seefried; Lieder by W.A. Mozart, F. Schubert, J. Brahms et al. (With Erik Werba, Piano). Historical Recordings 1953–1960. Deutsche Grammophon 477 6514 (2 CDs; Universal)
- Frank Martin: Die Weise von Liebe und Tod des Cornets Christoph Rilke. Christianne Stotijn (Alto), Orchester Musikkollegium Winterthur, Jac van Steen. MDG 901 1444-6 (SACD; Codaex)
Contemporary Classical Music
- György Kurtág: Botschaften des verstorbenen Fräuleins R.V. Trussowa op. 17; Jörg Widmann: …umdüstert… Claudia Barainsky (Soprano), Österreichisches Ensemble for Zeitgenössische Music, Rüdiger Bohn. NEOS 10708 (Helikon Harmonia Mundi)
Film Music
- Benjamin Britten: Britten on Film. Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, Martyn Brabbins. NMC D 112 (Note1)
Spoken Word
- Da machste was mit… 100 Jahre Kabarett. Texts and Chansons 1901–1933, 1933–1955, 1955–1970, 1970–2001. Various Authors. Bear Family BCD 16 901/04 CP (4 Sets à 3 CDs)
Pop and Rock
- Wilco: Sky Blue Sky. Nonesuch 7559-79987-9 (Warner)
Independent, Nu and Extreme
- The Sea And Cake: Everybody. Thrill Jockey THRILL 186 (Rough Trade)
- Dominik Eulberg: Heimische Gefilde. Traum Schallplatten CD19
- By Südenfed: Tromatic Reflexxions. Domino WIG190 (Rough Trade)
Folk and Folklore
- Maria Farantouri: Way Home. Peregrina Music PM50472 (In-Akustik)
Traditional Ethnic Music
- Out of Babylon – The music of Baghdadi-Jewish migrations into Asia and beyond. Various Artists. Celestial Harmonies 13274-2 (Naxos)
Jazz and Blues
- Joe Lovano, Hank Jones: Kids – Live At Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola. Blue Note 0946 3 702812 4 (EMI)
- 30 Years Vienna Art Orchestra: 3. American Dreams. European Visionaries. Visionaries & Dreams. Emarcy 06025 172 2879 5 (3 CDs; Universal)
- Michael Brecker: Pilgrimage. WA Records / Emarcy 06025 172 6351 2 (Universal)
- Duke Robillard: Duke Robillard’s World Full of Blues. Dixiefrog DFG 8627 (2 CDs; Fenn Music)
Black Music
- Sa-Ra Creative Partners: The Hollywood Recordings. Babygrande Records BBG CD 313 (Groove Attack)
- J Dilla: Ruff Draft. Stones Throw STH2153 (2 CDs; Rough Trade)
Recordings for Children and Youth
- Uri Orlev: Der Mann von der anderen Seite. Ulrich Pleitgen (Reader). Beltz & Gelberg, ISBN 978-3-407-81013-7 (2 CDs)
- Katharina Neuschaefer: Von allen Saiten. A Story for Orchestra and Narrator. Udo Wachtveitl (Reader), Münchner Rundfunkorchester. Igel-Genius CD 171 (2 CDs; Naxos)
(The name of the German distributor appears in brackets if it differs from the label name.)