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.
Folk and Singer/Songwriters
Nadia Birkenstock: A Light So Bright
Adriana Records 0788364974808 (direct distribution)
The second Christmas album by singer and harpist Nadia Birkenstock takes listeners back to winter landscapes of the past. It includes lesser-known songs from Ireland, Wales, France and Germany, as well as her own compositions, which blend in seamlessly. The Celtic harp is not only played masterfully by Birkenstock, but also recorded impressively by Ralf Kleemann, capturing all its facets. The expressive singing and the fine arrangements do the rest to create a balanced work that combines a light, dancing quality with contemplative calm. For the jury: Almut Kückelhaus