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
Richard Strauss: Eine Alpensinfonie, Salomes Tanz
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Andris Nelsons. CD Orfeo 4962549
Orchestral Music & Concertos
Peter Tschaikowsky: Shakespeare
The Tempest Hamlet, Romeo and Julia. Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela, Gustavo Dudamel. CD Deutsche Grammophon DG 4779355 (Universal)
Orchestral Music & Concertos
Béla Bartók: Violin Concertos, Rhapsodies
Barnabás Kelemen (Violin), Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra, Zoltán Kocsis. CD Hungaroton Classic HSACD 32509 (Klassik Center Kassel)
Chamber Music
Johannes Brahms: Violin Sonatas
Ilya Grubert (Violin), Alena Cherny (Piano). CD 88697816952 (Sony)
Chamber Music
Graźyna Bacewicz – Krystian Zimerman
Graźyna Bacewicz: Piano Sonata 2, Piano Quintets 1&2. Krystian Zimerman (Klavier) et al. CD Deutsche Grammophon 477 8332 (Universal)
Keyboard Music
Frédéric Chopin – Evgeni Bozhanov
Frédéric Chopin: Barcarolle op. 60, Polonaise op. 71/2, Impromptu op. 51, Valse op. 64/3, Grande Valse Nouvelle op. 42 et al.. Evgeni Bozhanov (Piano). CD Fuga Libera FUG 579 (Note 1)
Keyboard Music
Piotr Anderszewski – Schumann
Robert Schumann: Humoreske op. 20, Studien für den Pedalflügel op.56, Gesänge der Frühe op.133. Piotr Anderszewski (Piano). CD Virgin Classics 50999 64202204 (EMI)
Keyboard Music
Les Grands Moments De L’Harmonium
Works by Sigfrid Karg-Elert, Camille Saint-Saëns, Georges Bizet et al. Joris Verdin (Harmonium). CD Gallo 1326 (Klassik Center Kassel)
Keyboard Music
Gröningen 1596
Works by Hieronymus Praetorius, Hans Leo Hassler, Michael Praetorius. Jean-Charles Ablitzer (Organ). CD Musique et mémoire MMP 2010-02 (Note 1)
Opera
Thomas Arne: Artaxerxes
Classical Opera Company, Ian Page. CD Linn Records CKD 358 (Codaex)
Opera
Aribert Reimann: Medea
Marlis Petersen, Michaela Selinger, Elisabeth Kulman, Michael Roider, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Michael Boder, Direction: Marco Arturo Marelli. DVD Arthaus 101551/Blu-ray Arthaus 101552 (Naxos)
Choral Music
Jan Dismas Zelenka: Officium defunctorum ZWV 47
Requiem in D ZWV 46. Collegium 1704, Collegium Vocale 1704, Václav Luks. CD Accent ACC 24244 (Note 1)
Choral Music
Johann Ludwig Bach: Trauermusik
Anna Prohaska (soprano), Ivonne Fuchs (alto), Maximilian Schmitt (tenor), Andreas Wolf (bass), RIAS Kammerchor, Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, Hans-Christoph Rademann. CD HMC 902080 (Harmonia Mundi)
Lieder and Vocal Recital
Richard Strauss: Lieder
Diana Damrau (soprano), Münchner Philharmoniker, Christian Thielemann. CD Virgin Classics 50999 62866408 (EMI)
Early Music
Claude Le Jeune: Dix Pseaumes de David
Ludus Modalis, Bruno Boterf. CD Ramée RAM 1005 (Note 1)
Contemporary Classical Music
Wolfgang Rihm: Fetzen
Arditti String Quartett, Teodoro Anzellotti (Accordion), Nicolas Hodges (Piano). SACD Winter & Winter 910178-2 (Edel)
Contemporary Classical Music
Insomnio
Works by Jukka Tiensuu, James Wood, Roderik de Man, Luca Francesconi. Ensemble Insomnio, Ulrich Pöhl. CD/ SACD Encora enc-011
Historical Recordings
Ferenc Fricsay conducts Béla Bartók
Piano Concertos 2+3, Violin Concerto, Deux Portraits, Dancing Suite et al., RIAS-Kammerchor, RIAS-Symphonie-Orchester, Louis Kentner (piano), Tibor Varga (violin) et al. 3 CD Audite 21.407 (Edel)
Historical Recordings
Arrau with Szell: Live from Carnegie Hall
Concertos by Ludwig van Beethoven, Carl Maria von Weber, Frédéric Chopin, Franz Liszt, Richard Strauss. 2 CD WHRA6037 (Note 1)
Film Music
Clint Mansell: Black Swan
CD Sony Classical 88697804352
Music Film
Carlos Kleiber: Traces to Nowhere
A film by Eric Schulz. DVD Arthaus Musik 101553 (Naxos)
Music Film
Steve Reich: Phase To Face
A film by Eric Darmon & Franck Mallet. DVD idéale audience 3058128 (Naxos)
Jazz
Monty Alexander: Uplift
CD Jazz Legacy Productions JLP 1001012 (Codaex)
Jazz
FMP In Retrospect
Various Artists. Case with Book and 12CD, Limited Edition: 1.000 ex, FMP 4014704020109 (Fenn Music)
Jazz
Joachim Kühn: Chalaba
Majid Bekkas, Ramon Lopez. CD ACT 9502-2 (Edel)
World Music
Vinicius Cantuária/ Bill Frisell: Lágrimas Mexicanas
CD Naïve NJ621011 (Indigo)
Traditional Ethnic Music
Uganda
Music of the Baganda People. CD Ocora C 561161 (Harmonia Mundi)
German language Singer/Songwriters
Johan Meijer: Europeana
Raum & Zeit. CD Nederossi NOP101111
German language Singer/Songwriters
Uta Köbernick plus Kapelle: Auch nicht schlimmer
CD Kleingeldprinzessin Records LC 09274
Folk and Singer/Songwriters
Amsterdam Klezmer Band: Katla
CD Essay Recordings AY CD 28
Folk and Singer/Songwriters
Karen Mose: Vingefang
CD GO’ Danish Folk Music G00310
Pop
James Blake
CD Polydor ATLAS02 (Universal)
Independent (until 2014)
PJ Harvey: Let England shake
CD Island Records 2763025 (Universal)
Nu & Extreme (until 2014)
Nicolas Jaar: Space Is Only Noise
CD Circus Company CCCD009 (Rough Trade)
Nu & Extreme (until 2014)
Sven Kacirek: The Kenya Sessions
CD Pingipung 20 (Rough Trade)
Blues and Blues-related
Henrik Freischlader: Still Frame Replay
CD Cable Car Records CCR0311-35
Blues and Blues-related
Gregg Allman: Low Country Blues
CD Rounder 0011661859524 (Universal)
R&B, Soul and Hip-Hop
Angola Soundtrack
The Unique Sound Of Luanda (1968-1976), Various Artists. LP Analog Africa AALP 069
R&B, Soul and Hip-Hop
Charles Bradley: No Time For Dreaming
CD Daptone Records Dunham DUN-1001 (Groove Attack)
Recordings for Children and Youth
Henrik Albrecht/ Lewis Carroll: Alice im Wunderland
NDR Radiophilharmonie, Andreas Hempel, Ulrich Noethen, Laura Maire, Stefan Kaminski. CD NDR Info ISBN 9783942175111 (Headroom Verlag Köln)
Recordings for Children and Youth
John Boyne: Der Schiffsjunge
The real story of the rebellion on the bounty. Florian Lukas (speaker), from 12 years on. 6 CD Der Hörverlag ISBN 9783867177078