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: Symphonys 2 & 10
Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Marek Janowski. Wergo WER 672527 (New Arts International)
Orchestral Music & Concertos
Mozart: Klavierkonzerte / Martha Argerich
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Piano Concertos KV 466 & KV 503. Martha Argerich, Orchestra Mozart, Claudio Abbado. Deutsche Grammophon 479 1033 (Universal)
Chamber Music
Beethoven: Cello Sonatas / Steven Isserlis
Ludwig van Beethoven: Complete Cello Sonatas; Variations op. 66; WoO 45; WoO 46; Horn Sonatas op.17 (arr.). Steven Isserlis, Robert Levin. Hyperion CDA 67981/2 (New Arts International)
Keyboard Music
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach: Complete Works for Piano
Ana-Marija Markovina. 26 CD, Hänssler 98.003 (Naxos)
Keyboard Music
Jehan Titelouze: The Complete Organ Works
Hymn and Magnificat Settings. Robert Bates. 3 CD, Loft Recordings LRCD-1120/21/22 (Naxos)
Opera
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Le Nozze di Figaro
MusicAeterna, Teodor Currentzis, Andrei Bondarenko, Simone Kermes, Fanie Antonelou, Christian van Horn. 3 CD, Sony Classical 8888370962 3
Opera
George Benjamin: Written on Skin
A film by Margaret Williams. With Bejun Mehta, Barbara Hannigan, Christopher Purves, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, George Benjamin, Katie Mitchell et al. DVD & Blu-ray Opus Arte OA 1125 & BD 7136 (Naxos)
Choral Music
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach: Magnificat Wq 215
& Heilig ist Gott Wq 217, Symphony D major Wq 183/1. RIAS Kammerchor, Akademie für Alte Musik, Hans-Christoph Rademann. harmonia mundi HMC 902167
Lieder and Vocal Recital
Verdi – Krassimira Stoyanova
Arias from Aida, Il Trovatore, Giovanna d’Arco, Luisa Miller, La Traviata, Don Carlo, La Forza del Destino, Otello. Krassimira Stoyanova, Münchner Rundfunkorchester, Pavel Baleff. Orfeo C 885 141
Early Music
Christoph Graupner: »Himmlische Stunden, Selige Zeiten«
Cantatas. Miriam Feuersinger, Capricornus Consort Basel, Peter Barczi. Christophorus CHR 77381 (Note 1)
Contemporary Classical Music
Georges Aperghis: Wölfli-Kantata
Neue Vocalsolisten Stuttgart, SWR-Vokalensemble Stuttgart, Marcus Creed. Cypres CYP 5625 (Note 1)
Historical Recordings
Beethoven & Brahms: Complete Symphonies
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1-9; Egmont Ouverture; Coriolan Ouverture; Die Geschöpfe des Prometheus. Wilma Lipp, Ursula Boese, Fritz Wunderlich, Franz Crass, Wiener Singverein, Philharmonia Orchestra, Otto Klemperer (1960). Johannes Brahms: Symphonies Nos. 1-4. Münchner Philharmoniker, Rudolf Kempe (1975/76). 10 CD, Membran Documents 600.135 (Membran)
Crossover Productions
Vijay Iyer: Mutations
ECM 2372/3764798 (Universal)
Music Film
Beethoven in Stalingrad. A Concert Journey
A film by Claudia and Günter Wallbrecht. With et al Tabea Zimmermann, Osnabrücker Symphonieorchester, Andreas Hotz, Edward Serov. Dreyer Gaido Musikproduktion 21083 (Note 1)
Jazz
Tony Lakatos: Standard Time
Jim McNeely, Adam Nussbaum, Jay Anderson. Skip Records SKP 9118-2 (Soulfood)
Jazz
Michael Wollny Trio: Weltentraum
ACT 9563-2 (Edel)
Traditional Ethnic Music
Lee Chun-Hee: Korea
Arirang and Minyo Singing. Ocora Radio France C 560258 HM 76 (harmonia mundi)
German language Singer/Songwriters
Molden, Resetarits, Soyka, Wirth: Ho Rugg
CD/LP Monkey MONCD112/MONLP012 (Rough Trade)
Folk and Singer/Songwriters
Adrian Raso & Fanfare Ciocarlia: Devil’s Tale
Asphalt Tango CD/LP 984022/021 (Indigo)
Pop
The Notwist: Close To The Glass
City Slang SLANG 50059 (Universal)
Nu & Extreme (until 2014)
Planningtorock: All Love’s Legal
CD/LP Human Level HL004 (Rough Trade)
Blues and Blues-related
Robben Ford: A Day In Nashville
Provogue PRD 7432 2 (Rough Trade)
R&B, Soul and Hip-Hop
Moodymann
CD/LP KDJ 44 (www.mahoganimusic.com)
Spoken Word
Wolfgang Herrndorf: Arbeit und Struktur
August Diehl. 8 CD, Argon Verlag ISBN 978-3-8398-1325-6
Recordings for Children and Youth
Kirsten Boie: Es gibt Dinge, die kann man nicht erzählen
Jürgen Uter, Katja Danowski, Julia Nachtmann, Aleksandar Radenković. 2 CD, Jumbo Neue Medien 443 212-2, ISBN 978-3-8337-3212-6 (DA Music)