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
Hans Werner Henze: Symphonies 3-5
Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Marek Janowski. CD Wergo WER 67232 (Note 1)
Orchestral Music & Concertos
Franz Liszt: Traueroden für Orchester
Von der Wiege bis zum Grabe, Zwei Episoden aus Lenaus Faust et al., BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Ilan Volkov. CD Hyperion CDA 67856 (Codaex)
Orchestral Music & Concertos
Martinů, Hindemith, Honegger – Cello Concertos
Bohuslav Martinů, Paul Hindemith, Arthur Honegger: Cellokonzerte. Johannes Moser (cello), Deutsche Radio Philharmonie, Christoph Poppen. CD Hänssler classic 93.276 (Naxos)
Orchestral Music & Concertos
Julia Fischer – Poème
Poème – Works by Ernest Chausson, Ottorino Respighi, Josef Suk, Ralph Vaughan-Williams. Julia Fischer (violin), Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo, Yakov Kreizberg. CD Decca 478 2684 (Universal)
Chamber Music
Peter Tschaikowsky, Victor Kissine: Piano Trios
Gidon Kremer, Giedre Dirvanauskaite, Khatia Buniatishvili. CD ECM New Series 4764171 (Universal)
Chamber Music
Robert Schumann: Complete Works for Piano Trio
Leif Ove Andsnes (piano), Christian Tetzlaff (violin), Tanja Tetzlaff (cello). 2 CD 0 94180 2 (EMI)
Keyboard Music
Franz Liszt: Harmonies du Soir
Ballad B minor, Waldesrauschen, Six Consolations et al., Nelson Freire (piano). CD Decca 4782728 (Universal)
Keyboard Music
The Art of tjhe Organ of Northern Germany Vol. 2 – Danzig
Cajus Schmiedtlein, Petrus de Drusina, Andreas Neunhaber et al: Stellwagen-Organ of St. Marien Stralsund. Martin Rost. CD MDG 320 1697-2 (Codaex)
Keyboard Music
Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck: Organ Works Vol.1
Harald Vogel. SACD MDG 914 1690-6 (Codaex)
Opera
Jean-Baptiste Lully: Bellérophon
Cyril Auvity (tenor), Jean Teitgen (bass), Ingrid Perruche (soprana) et al., Les Talens Lyriques, Christophe Rousset. 2 CD Aparté AP 015 (harmonia mundi)
Choral Music
Georg Friedrich Händel: Theodora
Christine Schäfer, Bejun Mehta, Bernarda Fink, Freiburger Barockorchester, Ivor Bolton, Christof Loy (direction). Bluray Cmajor 705804 (Naxos)
Lieder and Vocal Recital
Shakespeare Inspired
Michelle Breedt (mezzo soprano), Nina Schumann (piano). CD TwoPianists records TP1039077 (Naxos)
Lieder and Vocal Recital
Hugo Wolf: Italian Songbook
Mojca Erdmann, Christian Gerhaher, Gerold Huber. CD RCA Red Seal 886 97727202 (Sony Music)
Early Music
Trio Mediaeval: A Worcester Ladymass
CD ECM New Series 2166 (Universal)
Early Music
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach: Sei Concerti
...per il cembalo concertato. Andreas Staier, Freiburger Barockorchester, Petra Müllejans. 2 CD HMC 902083.84 (harmonia mundi)
Contemporary Classical Music
Music for Solo Clarinet
Works by Luciano Berio, Toshio Hosokawa, Jörg Widmann et al. Eduard Brunner (Klarinette). CD Naxos 8.572470
Historical Recordings
Ida Haendel plays Violin Concertos
by Aram Khachaturian and Bela Bartók. Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart, Hans Müller-Kray (1962/ 1967). CD Hänssler Classic 94.207
Historical Recordings
Gustav Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde
Fritz Wunderlich (tenor), Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (baritone), Wiener Symphoniker, Josef Krips. CD Deutsche Grammophon DG 477 8988 (Universal)
Film Music
Georges Auric: Bonjour Tristesse/ Gervaise/ Christine
CD Disques Cinémusique DCM 119 (Codaex)
Film Music
Hans Zimmer: Pirates Of The Caribbean 4
On Stranger Tides. CD EMI 5099909792524
Music Film
Harry Connick, Jr.: In Concert On Broadway
DVD + CD Columbia 88697849019 (Sony)
Music Film
Pianomania
A film about Love, Perfection and a little bit of Crazyness. Lilian Franck, Robert Cibis (direction). Bluray Edition Filmladen 9120026070915 (Farbfilm Home Entertainment)
Music Film
Carlos Kleiber: I am lost to the world
Georg Wübbolt (direction). DVD Cmajor 705608 (Naxos)
Jazz
The Sesjun Radio Shows
Bill Evans (Piano). 2 CD Out Of The Blue PRCD2011005 (Codaex)
Jazz
Stan Getz Quintets
The Clef & Norgran Studio Albums. 3 CD Verve 252746900 (Universal)
Jazz
Live at Birdland
Lee Konitz, Brad Mehldau, Charlie Haden, Paul Motian. CD ECM 2162 (Universal)
Jazz
Das Kapital Plays Hanns Eisler
Conflicts & Conclusions. CD Das Kapital Records 002 (NRW Jazz)
Traditional Ethnic Music
Balkan Brass Battle
Boban & Marko Markovic Orchestra versus Fanfare Ciocarlia. CD Asphalt Tango Records ATR 2911
German language Singer/Songwriters
Ernst Molden und Band: Es lem
CD Monkey 083 (Rough Trade)
German language Singer/Songwriters
Jan Degenhardt: Schamlos
CD Conträr 62
Folk and Singer/Songwriters
Hotel Palindrone: Jodulator
CD Eigenverlag 120018690121 (Hoanzl)
Pop
Bill Callahan: Apocalypse
CD Drag City 8148404502 (Rough Trade)
Independent (until 2014)
Thurston Moore: Demolished Thoughts
CD Matador 0744861095323
Nu & Extreme (until 2014)
Africa Hitech: 93 Million Miles
CD Warp Records WARP 199
Nu & Extreme (until 2014)
Robag Wruhme: Thora Vukk
CD Pampa 002P
Blues and Blues-related
Philipp Fankhauser: Try My Love
CD Membran 233292
Blues and Blues-related
Willie Nelson & Wynton Marsalis feat. Norah Jones
Here we go again – Celebrating the genius of Ray Charles. CD Blue Note 509990 96 388 22 (EMI)
R&B, Soul and Hip-Hop
Beastie Boys: Hot Sauce Committee Part Two
CD Capitol 509995 05639 20 (EMI)
R&B, Soul and Hip-Hop
Raphael Saadiq: Stone Rollin’
CD Sony 88697865092
Recordings for Children and Youth
Brigitte Jünger: Kunst-Stücke für Kinder
Marc Chagall – Das Brautpaar mit dem Eiffelturm. CD Igel Genius 348
Spoken Word
hans g helms: »fa:m’ ahniesgwow«
Experimental Speach Composition. Speach drills: Sigrid Sachse, Harald Muenz, Georg Sachse. 2 CD Wergo 63142