Quarterly Critic’s Choice

1/2009

Published: 15. February 2009

DVD and Video Productions

• Jean-Baptiste Lully: Cadmus & Hermione. André Morsch, Claire Lefilliatre, Arnaud Marzorati, Jean-François Lombard, Isabelle Druet, Orchestre du Poème Harmonique, Musical Direction: Vincent Dumestre, Stage Direction: Benjamin Lazar, Choreography: Gudrun Skamletz. Alpha DVD 701 (Note 1)

• John Adams – American Classic. Stage Direction: David Jeffcock. DVD EMI 2165829

• »The Hidden Heart« – A Life of Benjamin Britten & Peter Pears. A Documentary by Teresa Griffiths. DVD EMI 2165719

• Sufi Soul: Riverboat. World Music Network DVD WMN TUG 001 (Helikon Harmonia Mundi)

Orchestral Music and Concertos

• Richard Strauss: Don Juan, Eine Alpensinfonie. Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Mariss Jansons. RCO Live 08006 (Codaex)

• Les Ballets Russes Vol. 3 (Works by Claude Debussy, Florent Schmitt and Igor Strawinsky). SWR Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden und Freiburg, Sylvain Cambreling. Hänssler Classic 93.223 (Naxos)

• Nikolay Roslavetz: Violin Concertos Nos. 1+2. Alina Ibragimova (Violin), BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Ilan Volkov. Hyperion CDA67637 (Codaex)

• Fritz Busch: Complete Dresden Recordings 1923-32. Edition Staatskapelle Dresden Vol. 30. Profil Edition Günter Hänssler. 3 CD + DVD PH07032 (Naxos)

Chamber Music

• Maurice Ravel, Claude Debussy, Gabriel Fauré: String Quartets. Quatuor Ebène. Virgin 50999 519045 2 (EMI)

Keyboard Music

• Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos. 30-32 (op. 109, 110 and 111). András Schiff. ECM New Series 1949 (Universal)

• Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos. 9, 10, 12 and 15 (op. 14/1-2, op. 26 and op. 28). Murray Perahia. Sony 88697424792

• Joan Cabanilles: Tientos, Pasacalles y Gallardas. Léon Berben (Organ). Aeolus AE-10671 (Note 1)

Opera

• Richard Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier. Claire Watson, Karl Ridderbusch, Brigitte Fassbaender, Lucia Popp et al., Chor der Bayerischen Staatsoper, Bayerisches Staatsorchester, Musical Direction: Carlos Kleiber (1973). Orfeo 3 SACD C 581 083 D

Choral Works

• Bernd Alois Zimmermann: Requiem für einen jungen Dichter. Claudia Barainsky, David Pittman-Jennings, Michael Rotschopf, Lutz Lansemann, Tschechischer Philharmonischer Chor Brno, Slowakischer Philharmonischer Chor, EuropaChorAkademie, Eric Vloeimans Quintett, Jan Hage (Organ), João Rafael (Sound direction), Holland Symfonia, Musical Direction: Bernhard Kontarsky. Cybele SACD 860.501 (Codaex)

• György Ligeti: Lux aeterna, Three Fantasias after Friedrich Hölderlin, Sonata for Viola; Robert Heppener: Im Gestein. Cappella Amsterdam, musikFabrik, Susanne van Els (Viola), Musical Direction: Daniel Reuss. Harmonia Mundi France HMC 901985 (Helikon Harmonia Mundi)

Early Music

• Jean-Marie Leclair: Sonatas for Violin and Basso continuo op. 5/1,3,4,7,8. John Holloway (Violin), Jaap ter Linden (Cello), Lars Ulrik Mortensen (Harpsichord). ECM New Series 2009 (Universal)

Lieder and Vocal Recital

• »Donna« – Opera and Concert Arias by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Diana Damrau (Soprano), Le Cercle de l’Harmonie, Jérémie Rhorer. Virgin 50999 212023 2 (EMI)

• »Furore« – Opera Arias by Georg Friedrich Händel. Joyce DiDonato (Mezzo Soprano), Les Talens Lyriques, Christophe Rousset. Virgin Classics 50999 519038 2 4 (EMI)

Contemporary Classical Music

• Rolf Riehm: aprikosenbäume gibt es, aprikosenbäume gibt es. Theo Nabicht (Double bass clarinet), Ensemble Ascolta, The Hilliard Ensemble, Ensemble Recherche. Cybele SACD 860.701 (Codaex)

Film Music

• Rolf Wilhelm: Ödipussi, Pappa Ante Portas et al. Studioorchester. Alhambra A 8966 (DA, www.da-music.de)

Spoken Word

• Jean-Marie Gustave le Clezio: Der Afrikaner. Reader: Michael Krüger. Hörverlag, ISBN 978-3-86717-413-8

Pop and Rock

• Marianne Faithfull: Easy Come Easy Go. naive NV 814412 (Indigo)

Independent

• Grace Jones: Hurricane. Wall Of Sound/PIAS WOS050CD (Rough Trade)

Nu and Extreme

• Carl Craig & Moritz by Oswald: Recomposed by… Music by Maurice Ravel & Modest Mussorgsky. Deutsche Grammophon UNI766912 (Universal)

German Songs, Folk and Folklore

• Dziuks Küche: Freche Tattoos auf blutjungen Bankiers. Buschfunk BF 05332

• Lila Downs: Shake Away. Blue Note 0946 3 92437 23 (EMI)

• Various Artists: Obacht! Music aus Bayern. Bayla Records BAY-001 (Galileo Music)

Traditional Ethnic Music

• Mali Peul-Fulbe. Various Artists. benkadi fòli serie I, Traditional Music Vol.2 (Benkadi e.V., )

• Mountain Rebels. Psarantonis & the Ensemble Xylouris. Network 495123

World Music

• Jun Miyake: Stolen from Strangers. Yellowbird yeb-77062

Jazz and Blues

• Dick Hyman: Thinking About Bix. Reference Recordings RR-116

• McCoy Tyner: Guitars. Half Note 616892453727 (Rough Trade)

• Rudresh Mahanthappa: Kinsmen. PI Recordings PI28 (AL!VE)

• Kally Darm: Fishing, more Delta Blues & beyond. Farmbandmusic (www.kally-darm.de)

Black Music

• Amp Fiddler: Rare And Unreleased. Arision Recordings campamp002 (MConnexion)

Recordings for Children and Youth

• Rudyard Kipling: Die Dschungelbücher. Reader: Martin Baltscheit. Hörcompany ISBN 978-3-939375-42-5

• Rusalka Reh: Mini und die Spioninnen. Readers: Ina Gercke, Sabine Falkenberg. Igel Records ISBN 978-3-89353-234-6

Crossover Productions

• Don Li: A Portrait Of Edith Piaf. Tonus-Music-Records TON 027 (Sunny Moon)