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
Orchestral Music & Concertos
Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 9 D major
WDR Sinfonie Orchester Köln, Jukka-Pekka Saraste. CD Hänssler Profil PH100358 (Naxos)
Orchestral Music & Concertos
Peter Tschaikowsky: Symphony No. 6, Romeo and Julia
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Andris Nelsons. CD Orfeo C832 101A
Orchestral Music & Concertos
Sergej Rachmaninow: Piano Concertos Nos. 3 and 4
Leif Ove Andsnes, London Symphony Orchestra, Antonio Pappano. CD EMI 6 40516 2
Chamber Music
Leos Janacek: Complete String Quartets
Mandelring-Quartett, Gunter Teuffel (viola d’amore). SACD Audite 92.545 (Edel)
Chamber Music
Jean Sibelius, Arnold Schönberg: String Quartets D minor
Tetzlaff Quartett. CD CAvi Music 8553202 (Harmonia Mundi)
Keyboard Music
Johann Sebastian Bach: Original works and transcriptions
Evgeni Koroliov & Duo Koroliov. CD TACET192 (Gebhardt Musikvertrieb)
Keyboard Music
Marc-André Hamelin: Études
12 Études in all the minor keys, Little Nocturne, Con intimissimo sentimento, Cathy’s Variations. Marc-André Hamelin. CD Hyperion CDA 67789 (Codaex)
Keyboard Music
Thierry Escaich (Organ): Live Improvisations
CD Aeolus AE-10691 (Note 1)
Keyboard Music
Johann Jacob Froberger: Capriccio
Bob van Asperen (Organ). SACD Aeolus AE-10701 (Note 1)
Opera
Antonio Vivaldi: Ercole sul Termodonte
Rolando Villazón, Vivica Genaux, Joyce DiDonato et al., Europa galante, Fabio Bondi. 2 CD Virgin Classics 50999 6045450 9 (EMI)
Opera
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Die Zauberflöte
Daniel Behle, Marlis Petersen et al., RIAS Kammerchor, Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, René Jacobs. 3 CD HMC 902068.70 (Harmonia Mundi)
Choral Music
Puer natus est
Stile antico. SACD HMU 807517 (Harmonia Mundi)
Lieder and Vocal Recital
Philippe Jaroussky: Caldara in Vienna
forgotten Castrato Arias. Concerto Köln, Emmanuelle Haim. CD Virgin 5 0999 64881027
Lieder and Vocal Recital
Simone Kermes: Colori d’Amore
Le Musiche Nove, Claudio Osele. CD 88697723192 (Sony)
Early Music
Johann Sebastian Bach: Cello Suites BWV 1007-1012
Dmitry Badiarov (violoncello da spalla). 2 CD Ramée RAM1003 (Note 1)
Early Music
Monteverdi & Marazzoli: Combattimenti!
Le Poème Harmonique, Vincent Dumestre. CD Alpha 172 (Note 1)
Contemporary Classical Music
Georg Katzer: String Quartets
Nos.1, 3 and 4. Sonar Quartett. SACD NEOS 11020 (Codaex)
Contemporary Classical Music
Pierluigi Billone
Mani, Percussion solos (Adam Weisman). CD einklang_records EKR 044, www.einklangrecords.com
Historical Recordings
Genius and Rebel
Friedrich Gulda plays Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Debussy, Strauss et al.. Recordings from 1950-59. 10 CD Membran Music 233021
Crossover Productions
Das Kapital plays Hanns Eisler
Ballads & Barricades. CD Wizmar WIZ 9025
Film Music
Alexandre Desplat: Harry Potter
And the Deathly Hallows, Part 1. London Symphony. CD Watertower 88697794712 (Sony)
Film Music
Angelo Badalamenti
Music For Film And Television. Brussels Philharmonic, Dirk Brossé. CD Varèse Sarabande VSD-7052 / Colosseum (Alive)
Music Film
The Beethoven Project
Ludwig van Beethoven: The Symphonies & Music Documentary. Die Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, Paavo Järvi. 4 DVD Sony Classical 88697787579
Music Film
A Surprise in Texas
Directed by Peter Rosen. DVD EuroArts 2058168 (Naxos)
Music Film
Dauner forever!
Wolfgang Dauner, Jazz musician and composer. Wolfgang Dauner, Flo Dauner et al., Jean Christophe Blavier (Direction). DVD Moving Angel Film Production 0013964080506
Music Film
Jerome Robbins’ NY Export
Opus Jazz, A »ballet in sneakers«, Robert Prince (Music). DVD BelAir BAC060 (Harmonia Mundi)
Jazz
Echoes Of Swing: Message From Mars
Bernd Lhotzky, Oliver Mewes, Colin T. Dawson, Chris Hopkins, CD Echoes Of Swing
Jazz
Jazz ‚n’ Spirit: Continuum
Dirk Piezunka, Martin Flindt, Jens Piezunka. CD Audiomax 9121662-6 (Codaex)
Jazz
Apex
Rudresh Mahanthappa and Bunky Green. CD PI35 (JA KLA/ Alive)
Jazz
Jamaaladeen Tacuma
For The Love Of Ornette. CD Jazzwerkstatt JW 090
Traditional Ethnic Music
Mali Timbuktu
Benkadi fòli serie I, vol.5. CD, www.benkadi.org
Traditional Ethnic Music
Nanae Yoshimura
The Art of the Koto – Complete Edition. 4 CD Celestial Harmonies 19918-2 (Naxos)
Folk and Singer/Songwriters
Carlos Nunez: Alborada Do Brasil
CD Sony Music 886975676828
Folk and Singer/Songwriters
Daniel Kahn & The Painted Bird
Lost Causes. CD Oriente RIENCD 77
Pop
Lloyd Cole: Broken Record
CD Tapete Records TR 186
Independent (until 2014)
Giant Sand: Blurry Blue Mountain
CD Fire Records 161 (Cargo Records)
Nu & Extreme (until 2014)
dOP: Greatest Hits
CD Circus Company CCCD08 (Rough Trade)
Blues and Blues-related
Duke Robillard: Passport To The Blues
CD Dixie Frog DFGCD 8694 (Fenn Music)
R&B, Soul and Hip-Hop
John Legend & The Roots: Wake Up!
CD Columbia Records 8697-37082-2 (Sony)
R&B, Soul and Hip-Hop
Cee Lo Green: The Lady Killer
CD Atlantic 7567889289 (Warner)
Recordings for Children and Youth
K.A. Nuzum: Hundewinter
Read by Sascha Icks. 3 CD Silberfisch 978-3-86742-054-9
Recordings for Children and Youth
Mikael Engström: Ihr kriegt mich nicht!
Radio Play for Children from 10 years. Jona Mues, Sascha Icks et al. CD Der Audio Verlag 978-3-86231-004-3
Spoken Word
Marcel Proust: Auf der Suche nach der verlorenen Zeit
Complete Edition. Peter Matić. 17 mp3-CD, Der Hörverlag 9 783867 176828