JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH
J.S. Bach: St Matthew Passion Benjamin Bruns, Christian Immler, Carolyn Sampson, Damien Guillon, etc / Bach Collegium Japan chorus & orchestra / Masaaki Suzuki [ BIS SACD / 2 Hybrid SACD - released 7/Feb/2020 ] "The musicians convey it with infectious zeal...Generic early music politesse is relegated to the shadows" Gramophone Awards 2020 WINNER - Choral |
IGOR STRAVINSKY / MAURICE RAVEL
Stravinsky: Petrushka & The Firebird / Ravel: Miroirs & La Valse Beatrice Rana (piano) [ Warner Classics / CD - released 25/Oct/2019 ] International Classical Music Awards 2021 Winner - Solo Instrumental |
ROBERT SCHUMANN
Schumann - Myrthen Christian Gerhaher (baritone), Camilla Tilling (soprano), Gerold Huber (piano) [ Sony Classical / CD - released 18/Oct/2019 ] "Certainly a top choice for this wonderful cycle." Gramophone Awards 2020 Short List - Solo Vocal |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN / JEAN SIBELIUS
Beethoven / Sibelius: Violin Concertos Christian Tetzlaff (violin), Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Robin Ticciati [ Ondine / CD - released 27/Sep/2019 ] If Beethoven's Concerto emerges as uncompromisingly provocative, Tetzlaff's Sibelius also errs on the side of danger…In many respects, a real knock-out." Gramophone Awards 2020 Short List - Concerto |
CHARLES GOUNOD
Gounod: Faust (complete original opera production from 1859) Véronique Gens, Andrew Foster-Williams; Benjamin Bernheim; Jean-Sébastien Bou /Flemish Radio Choir, Les Talens Lyriques, Christophe Rousset [ Bru Zane / 3 CD/Book - released 23/Aug/2019 ] "It also happens to be a terrific recording on its own terms...Rousset underpins it all with conducting that is fleet and dramatically engaged." Gramophone Awards 2020 Short list - Opera |
GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL
Handel: Samson Joshua Ellicott, Sophie Bevan, Fflur Wyn, Mary Bevan, Jess Dandy, Hugo Hymas / Dunedin Consort, John Butt [ Linn / 3 CD Box Set - released 1/Nov/2019 ] "This new Samson now becomes the top recommendation: for its uniformly excellent soloists, its excitingly 'present' choral singing and, above all, its more urgent sense of theatre" Gramophone Awards 2020 Short List - Choral |
CROFT / ELGAR / PARRY / WOOD / LUTHER / HOWELLS
An English Coronation, 1902-1953: Edward VII, George V, George VI, Elizabeth II Gabrieli, Paul McCreesh [ Signum / 2 CD - released 9/May/2019 ] "One can imagine the virtuosity required by every contributor, at every turn, to make this a reality, let alone a dazzling triumph." Gramophone Awards 2020 Short List - Choral |
FRANCISCO LANDINI
Landini: L'Occhio del Cor The Heart's Eye / La Reverdie, Christophe Deslignes [ Arcana / CD - released 24/Apr/2019 ] "They do everything with verve and commitment,...there is a quality of musical exchange, of understanding where the pressure-points must come and of clear projection that is a rare pleasure to hear." Gramophone Awards 2020 Short List - Early Music |
GYORGY KURTAG
Kurtag: Zwiegesprache Heinz Holliger (oboe/cor anglais/piano), Marie-Lise Schüpbach (cor anglais/oboe), Ernesto Molinari (bass clarinet/ contrabass clarinet), Sarah Wegener [ ECM New Series / CD - released 19/Jul/2019 ] explores his interpretative gifts as a performer rather than his full range as a composer, its focus on the dialogues between his own music and that of György Kurtág makes for a beautifully rounded double portrait - Gramophone Awards 2020 Short List |
HENRY PURCELL / JOHN BLOW
Purcell/Blow: Elegy - Countertenor duets by Purcell & Blow Iestyn Davies, James Hall (countertenors) The King's Consort, Robert King [ Vivat / CD - released 27/Sep/2019 ] "This is surely one of the best countertenor performances on disc…This whole disc is a trove of bittersweet delights." Shortlisted - Recital Gramophone Awards 2020 |
CHRISTOPH WILLIBALD GLUCK
Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice Iestyn Davies, Sophie Bevan, Rebecca Bottone / La Nuova Musica, Davis Bates [ Pentatone / CD - released 4/Oct/2019 ] "High praise, then, for David Bates and his ensemble." Gramophone Awards 2020 Short List - Opera |
ARNOLD SCHOENBERG
Schoenberg: Violin concerto / Verklärte Nacht [Transfigured Night] Isabelle Faust (violin) / Daniel Harding, Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, A. Tamestit & J-G. Queyras [ Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 28/Feb/2020 ] "Faust brings a fabulous range of colour and expressive nuance to this music, and Daniel Harding matches her understanding in the way he teases out the wiry orchestral textures around her violin lines." The Guardian Five Stars |
CAVALLI / BONONCINI / HANDEL / MATTEIS / SCARLATTI / HASSE / etc
Jakub Józef Orliński - Facce d'Amore Jakub Józef Orliński (countertenor) / Il pomo d'oro, Maxim Emelyanchev [ Erato Classics / CD - released 8/Nov/2019 ] Gramophone Awards 2020 Shortlisted - Recital International Opera Awards 2021 - Winner (Solo recital) |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven Violin Sonatas Op. 12 James Ehnes (violin), Andrew Armstrong (piano) [ Onyx / CD - released 8/Nov/2019 ] Editor's Choice Gramophone December 2019 |
GEORG FRIDERIC HANDEL
Handel: Agrippina (complete opera) Joyce DiDonato, Elsa Benoit, Biagio Pizzuti, Franco Fagioli, Andrea Mastroni, Jakub Józef Orliński / l Pomo d'Oro, Maxim Emelyanychev [ Erato Classics / 3 CD - released 31/Jan/2020 ] "With DiDonato nonpareil in the title-role and a uniformly strong cast, this now becomes a first choice for Handel's Venetian masterpiece." Gramophone Awards 2020 WINNER - Opera |
HAYDN / HANDEL / SCARLATTI
L'Arianna Kate Lindsey (mezzo-soprano) / Arcangelo, Jonathan Cohen [ Alpha Classics / CD - released 24/Jan/2020 ] "what really make the project spark...The playing of Arcangelo under Jonathan Cohen is typically high-quality, and often heartbreakingly attendant to the drama." Gramophone Awards 2020 - Short List - Recital |
CARLO GESUALDO
Gesualdo: Madrigali, books 1 & 2 Les Arts Florissants, Paul Agnew [ Harmonia Mundi / 2 CD - released 7/Feb/2020 ] "The sheer inquisitive delight that these singers bring to Gesualdo's extraordinary world indicates a very exciting series ahead" Gramophone Awards 2020 WINNER - Early Music |
HECTOR BERLIOZ
Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique / Les Francs-juges Overture, Op. 3 Les Siècles, François-Xavier Roth [ Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 7/Feb/2020 ] "Roth seems to have an emotional hotline to Berlioz, alive to every twist and turn of the composer's fevered passions." Gramophone Awards 2020 Short List - Orchestral |
GEORG FRIDERIC HANDEL & OTHERS
Handel's Queens Lucy Crowe, Mary Bevan / London Early Opera, Bridget Cunningham [ Signum / 2 CD - released 19/Jul/2019 ] "This soundly made programme is both pleasing and intriguing." Gramophone Awards 2020 Short List - Recital |
THOMAS ADES
Adès Conducts Adès Mark Stone (baritone), Kirill Gerstein (piano), Christianne Stotijn (mezzo-soprano), Boston Symphony Orchestra, Thomas Adès [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 28/Feb/2020 ] "...for proof that Adès does what he does with mind-boggling brilliance, look no further." Gramophone Awards 2020 WINNER - Contemporary |