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.
Quarterly Critic’s Choices before 2010
![1/2009](/media/w535/cover-blanco-bestenliste.jpg)
1/2009
Published: 15. February 2009
DVD and Video Productions
- Jean-Baptiste Lully: Cadmus & Hermione. André Morsch, Claire Lefilliatre, Arnaud Marzorati, Jean-François Lombard, Isabelle Druet, Orchestre du Poème Harmonique, Musical Direction: Vincent Dumestre, Stage Direction: Benjamin Lazar, Choreography: Gudrun Skamletz. Alpha DVD 701 (Note 1)
- John Adams – American Classic. Stage Direction: David Jeffcock. DVD EMI 2165829
- »The Hidden Heart« – A Life of Benjamin Britten & Peter Pears. A Documentary by Teresa Griffiths. DVD EMI 2165719
- Sufi Soul: Riverboat. World Music Network DVD WMN TUG 001 (Helikon Harmonia Mundi)
Orchestral Music and Concertos
- Richard Strauss: Don Juan, Eine Alpensinfonie. Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Mariss Jansons. RCO Live 08006 (Codaex)
- Les Ballets Russes Vol. 3 (Works by Claude Debussy, Florent Schmitt and Igor Strawinsky). SWR Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden und Freiburg, Sylvain Cambreling. Hänssler Classic 93.223 (Naxos)
- Nikolay Roslavetz: Violin Concertos Nos. 1+2. Alina Ibragimova (Violin), BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Ilan Volkov. Hyperion CDA67637 (Codaex)
- Fritz Busch: Complete Dresden Recordings 1923-32. Edition Staatskapelle Dresden Vol. 30. Profil Edition Günter Hänssler. 3 CD + DVD PH07032 (Naxos)
Chamber Music
- Maurice Ravel, Claude Debussy, Gabriel Fauré: String Quartets. Quatuor Ebène. Virgin 50999 519045 2 (EMI)
Keyboard Music
- Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos. 30-32 (op. 109, 110 and 111). András Schiff. ECM New Series 1949 (Universal)
- Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos. 9, 10, 12 and 15 (op. 14/1-2, op. 26 and op. 28). Murray Perahia. Sony 88697424792
- Joan Cabanilles: Tientos, Pasacalles y Gallardas. Léon Berben (Organ). Aeolus AE-10671 (Note 1)
Opera
- Richard Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier. Claire Watson, Karl Ridderbusch, Brigitte Fassbaender, Lucia Popp et al., Chor der Bayerischen Staatsoper, Bayerisches Staatsorchester, Musical Direction: Carlos Kleiber (1973). Orfeo 3 SACD C 581 083 D
Choral Works
- Bernd Alois Zimmermann: Requiem für einen jungen Dichter. Claudia Barainsky, David Pittman-Jennings, Michael Rotschopf, Lutz Lansemann, Tschechischer Philharmonischer Chor Brno, Slowakischer Philharmonischer Chor, EuropaChorAkademie, Eric Vloeimans Quintett, Jan Hage (Organ), João Rafael (Sound direction), Holland Symfonia, Musical Direction: Bernhard Kontarsky. Cybele SACD 860.501 (Codaex)
- György Ligeti: Lux aeterna, Three Fantasias after Friedrich Hölderlin, Sonata for Viola; Robert Heppener: Im Gestein. Cappella Amsterdam, musikFabrik, Susanne van Els (Viola), Musical Direction: Daniel Reuss. Harmonia Mundi France HMC 901985 (Helikon Harmonia Mundi)
Early Music
- Jean-Marie Leclair: Sonatas for Violin and Basso continuo op. 5/1,3,4,7,8. John Holloway (Violin), Jaap ter Linden (Cello), Lars Ulrik Mortensen (Harpsichord). ECM New Series 2009 (Universal)
Lieder and Vocal Recital
- »Donna« – Opera and Concert Arias by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Diana Damrau (Soprano), Le Cercle de l’Harmonie, Jérémie Rhorer. Virgin 50999 212023 2 (EMI)
- »Furore« – Opera Arias by Georg Friedrich Händel. Joyce DiDonato (Mezzo Soprano), Les Talens Lyriques, Christophe Rousset. Virgin Classics 50999 519038 2 4 (EMI)
Contemporary Classical Music
- Rolf Riehm: aprikosenbäume gibt es, aprikosenbäume gibt es. Theo Nabicht (Double bass clarinet), Ensemble Ascolta, The Hilliard Ensemble, Ensemble Recherche. Cybele SACD 860.701 (Codaex)
Film Music
- Rolf Wilhelm: Ödipussi, Pappa Ante Portas et al. Studioorchester. Alhambra A 8966 (DA, www.da-music.de)
Spoken Word
- Jean-Marie Gustave le Clezio: Der Afrikaner. Reader: Michael Krüger. Hörverlag, ISBN 978-3-86717-413-8
Pop and Rock
- Marianne Faithfull: Easy Come Easy Go. naive NV 814412 (Indigo)
Independent
- Grace Jones: Hurricane. Wall Of Sound/PIAS WOS050CD (Rough Trade)
Nu and Extreme
- Carl Craig & Moritz by Oswald: Recomposed by… Music by Maurice Ravel & Modest Mussorgsky. Deutsche Grammophon UNI766912 (Universal)
German Songs, Folk and Folklore
- Dziuks Küche: Freche Tattoos auf blutjungen Bankiers. Buschfunk BF 05332
- Lila Downs: Shake Away. Blue Note 0946 3 92437 23 (EMI)
- Various Artists: Obacht! Music aus Bayern. Bayla Records BAY-001 (Galileo Music)
Traditional Ethnic Music
- Mali Peul-Fulbe. Various Artists. benkadi fòli serie I, Traditional Music Vol.2 (Benkadi e.V., )
- Mountain Rebels. Psarantonis & the Ensemble Xylouris. Network 495123
World Music
- Jun Miyake: Stolen from Strangers. Yellowbird yeb-77062
Jazz and Blues
- Dick Hyman: Thinking About Bix. Reference Recordings RR-116
- McCoy Tyner: Guitars. Half Note 616892453727 (Rough Trade)
- Rudresh Mahanthappa: Kinsmen. PI Recordings PI28 (AL!VE)
- Kally Darm: Fishing, more Delta Blues & beyond. Farmbandmusic (www.kally-darm.de)
Black Music
- Amp Fiddler: Rare And Unreleased. Arision Recordings campamp002 (MConnexion)
Recordings for Children and Youth
- Rudyard Kipling: Die Dschungelbücher. Reader: Martin Baltscheit. Hörcompany ISBN 978-3-939375-42-5
- Rusalka Reh: Mini und die Spioninnen. Readers: Ina Gercke, Sabine Falkenberg. Igel Records ISBN 978-3-89353-234-6
Crossover Productions
- Don Li: A Portrait Of Edith Piaf. Tonus-Music-Records TON 027 (Sunny Moon)
(The name of the German distributor appears in brackets if it differs from the label name.)