Classical & Jazz
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Here is our 16th annual Best of the Year List, continuing the service first offered in 1985 with the public radio version of AUDIOPHILE AUDITION. As usual, I make no definite claims for this list. It is predicated on my personal tastes and that of my contributors and also on what was available to us, but also with an emphasis on both the musical and sonic quality of each CD (excepting some of the reissues.)
– John Sunier
GENERAL CLASSICAL
ALBINONI: 12 Concertos Op. 9 – Andrew Manze, v./Academy of Ancient Music/Christopher Hogwood – Decca 289 458 129-2 (2 CDs)
ANTHEIL: Symphonies 4 & 6 – Nat. Sym. Orch. Of Ukraine/Theodore Kuchar – Naxos 8.559033
BACH: Four Orchestral Suites – Brazilian Guitar Quartet – Delos DE3254
BACH: Goldberg Variations – Murray Perahia, piano – Sony Classical SK89243
BACH: The Seven Toccatas – Robert Troeger, clavichord – Lyrichord LEMS 8041
BACH works played by Mindru Katz, p./Pro Arte Orch./Harry Newstone – Cembal d’amore CD112
BACH-CAINE: The Goldberg Variations – Uri Caine Ensemble & guests – Winter & Winter 910 054-2 (2 CDs)
BARTOK: Complete Edition – Budapest Sym./Antal Dorati et al. – Hungaroton HCD 41002 (29 CDs!)
BEETHOVEN: Symphonies 3 & 5 – Concertgegouw/Erich Kleiber – Decca
BEETHOVEN: 17 of the Piano Sonatas – Solomon, p. – Testament boxed set
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 2; Brahms: Violin Concerto – Francescatti, v./Vienna Philharmonic/Dmitri Mitropoulos – Orfeo
BERLIOZ: Requiem, Five Sacred Pieces – soloists/Montreal Sym. Orch. & Choir/Charles Dutoit – Decca 289 458 921-2
The Music of PAUL BOWLES – Eos Orch./Jonathan Sheffer – Red Seal 09026-63685-2
BIZET: Carmen (complete opera) de Los Angeles/Gedda/Sir Thomas Beecham cond. – EMI 56214 (3 CDs)
BOCCHERINI: Complete 28 Symphonies – German Chamber Academy Neuss/Johannes Goretizki – CPO 999 401-2 (8 CDs)
BRITTEN: War Requiem – soloists/choruses/Washington Chorus and Orchestra/Robert Shafer – TWC (Naxos) 3898
Britten: String Quartets, Vol. 2. Maggini String Quartet. Naxos 8.554360
BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 4 “Romantic” – Berlin Philharmonic/Gunter Wand – Red Seal 09026 68839-2
BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 8 – Vienna Philharmonic/Carl Schuricht – Urania
CHOPIN: Concerto in E Minor etc. – Josef Hofmann, piano rolls – Nimbus NI 8803
COPLAND: – The Essence of America – Piano Concerto, Orchestral Variations, Billy the Kid, Appalachian Spring, Rodeo, Symphonic Ode, talk by MTT – San Francisco Sym./Michael Tilson Thomas – Red Seal 09026 63720-2 (3 CDs)
PAUL CRESTON: Symphonies 1 – 3 – Nat. Sym. Orch. Of Ukraine/Theodore Kuchar – Naxos 8.559034
DVORAK: Complete Chamber Works – Guarnierei Trio Prague, Josef Suk, Panocha Quartet, et al. – Supraphon 111450-1 130 (15 CDs)
DVORAK: Complete String Quartets (14) – Prague String Quartet – DGG 29293 (9 Cds)
Elgar/Payne: Symphony 3. Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra/Daniel. Naxos 8.554719
GEMINIANI: Concerti grossi after Corelli’s Op. 5 – Academy of Ancient Music/Andrew Manze – harmonia mundi 907261.62 (2 CDs)
GLASS: Sym. No. 3, Interludes from The Civil warS, The Light – Stuttgart Ch. Orch./Vienna Radio Sym./Dennis Russell Davies – Nonesuch 79581-2
HANDEL: The Eight Grand Suites – Blandine Verlet, harpsichord – Auvidis Astree E8655
HANDEL: Concerti Grossi Op. 6 – Academy of Ancient Music/Andre Manze – harmonia mundi 907228.29 (2 Cds)
HANSON: Sym. No. 1, Merry Mount Suite, Pan and the Priest, Variations on Two Ancient Hymns – Nashville Sym./Kenneth Schermerhorn – Naxos 8.559072
HAYDN & BOCCHERINI Cello Concertos – Jacqueline Du Pre,c./Daniel Barenboim & Sir John Barbirolli cond. – EMI 66948
HONEGGER: Le Roi David – soloists/Vittoria Regional Choir/Orchestre de la Cite/Michel Piquemal – Naxos 8.553649 (2 CDs)
KHACHATURIAN: Spartacus (complete ballet) – RIAS Ch. Choir/German Sym. Orch./Michael Jurowski – Capriccio 10 817/18 (2 CDs)
MAHLER: Symphony No. 10 – berlin Philharmonic/Simon Rattle – EMI 5 569 72 7
MAHLER: Das Lied von der Erde – Placido Domingo/Bo Skovhus/LA Philharmonic/Esa-Pekka Salonen – Sony Classical SK 60646
MILHAUD: Complete Symphonies – Basel Radio Sym. Orch./Alun Francis CPO 999 656-2 (5 CDs)
CONLON NANCARROW: Studies for Player Piano – Wergo WER6907 2 (5 Cds)
NIELSEN: Saul and David – complete opera cond. By Jascha Horenstein – Opera D’Oro
PENDERECKI: Symphony No. 7 “Seven Gates of Jerusalem” – Nat. Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra of Warsaw/Antoni Wit – Wergo WER6647-2
PROKOFIEFF: Alexander Nevsky; KHACHATURIAN: Violin Concerto – Kogan/BSO/Pierre Monteux – RCA High Perf. Series
RACHMANINOFF: Piano Concerto No. 3 – Volodos,p./Berlin Philharmonic/James Levine – Sony Classical SK64384
RESPIGHI: Pines & Fountains of Rome; Metamorphoseon – Cincinnati Sym./Jesus Lopez-Cobos – Telarc CD80505
RODRIGO: Concierto de Aranjuez; SCHWANTNER: From Afar, others – Sharon Isbin, guitar/Lausanne Ch. Orch./Lawrence Foster – Virgin Classics 7243 5 61627 23 (2 Cds)
Any recent releases in The Romantic Piano Concerto Series on Hyperion, incl. Concertos of THALBERG, PADEREWSKI, MOSONYI, HENSELT, PARRY, GLAZUNOV, LITOLFF, MENDELSSOHN, HOLBROOKE, ALKAN.
ROZSA: Violin Concerto; Cello Concerto; Theme & Variations – McDuffie,v./Harrell,c./Atlanta Sym./Yoel Levi – Telarc CD80518
SCHUBERT: Complete Lieder – Graham Johnson, p., various vocalists and ensembles – Hyperion (37 volumes!)
SHOSTAKOVICH: Complete String Quartets – Emerson Quartet – DGG 289 463 284-2 (5 CDs)
The SIBELIUS Edition – Symphonies 1-7, Karelia Suite, Pelleas & Melisande, etc. – Halle Orch./Sir John Barbirolli – EMI 7243 5 677299 2 (5 Cds)
STRAVINSKY: Pulchinella; Symphony of Psalms – Suisse Romande Orch./Ernest Ansermet – Dutton
STRAVINSKY: Miniatures (Shadow Dances) – Orpheus Ch. Orchestra – DGG 289 453 458-2
TORU TAKEMITSU: Toward the Sea II, Film music, Entre-temps, more – I Fiamminghi/Rudolf Werthen – Telarc CD80469
VELJO TORMIS: Litany to Thunder – Estonia Philharmonic Ch. Choir/Tonu Kaljuste – ECM New Series 1687
VILLA-LOBOS: String Quartets, Vol. 5 (and this entire series on Dorian) – Cuarteto Latinoamericano – Dorian DOR-93211
The Complete WEBERN – Berlin Philharmonic/Pierre Boulez; Ensemble InterContemporain; Gidon Kremer, BBC Singers. Etc. – DGG 457 637-2 (6 Cds)
KARL WEIGL: String Quartets No. 1 & 5 – Artis Quartet of Vienna – Nimbus NI 5646
CLASSICAL COLLECTIONS
Argerich: Live From the Concertgebouw: 1978 and 1979. EMI 7243 5 59034
Glorious John: Sir John Barbirolli Recordings from 1918-1970 – Dutton set
Eduard van Beinum: The Polydor and Decca Recordings from 1943-47 – Music & Arts of America
Bolero! – Orchestral Fireworks – Minnesota Orchestra/Eiji Oue – Reference Recordings RR-92CD
Chambersax & friends – Works of BUSCH, VILLA-LOBOS, KOECHLIN, HINDEMITH, WEBERN – Clarinet Classics CC0029
Peter Blanchette with The Virtual Consort – Had Miles Met Maurice – Dorian DOR-93198
Insomnia – Works for violin & harp by FRANCAIX, R. STRAUSS, CAGE, PAART, ROTA, TAKEMITSU etc. – Gidon Kremer/Naoko Yoshino – Philips 289 456 016-2
Kronos Quartet – Caravan – Nonesuch 79490-2
Silencio – Works by PAART, GLASS, MARTYNOV – Kremerata Baltica/Gidon Kremer – Nonesuch 79582-2
JAZZ
Oscar Aleman – Swing Guitar Masterpieces, 1938-57 – Acoustic Disc ACD 29
Basie Big Band – Pablo/JVC xrcd VIGJ-60257
Daniel Barenboim & guests – Tribute to Ellington – Teldec 398425252-2
Carla Bley Band – 4 X 4 – Watt 30 012 159-2
Jaki Byard, piano – Solo/Strings – Prestige PRCD-24246-2
Don Byron – A Fine Line (Arias & Lieder) – Blue Note 26801
The Willem Breuker Kollektief with Loes Luca – Hunger! – Bvhaast CD9916
Dave Brubeck, solo piano – One Alone – Telarc Jazz CD83510
Ron Carter, bass – Orfeu – Blue Note CD 72435224902 2V
Pierre Dørge’s New Jungle Orchestra – Giraf – DaCapo DCCD9440
Dave Douglas, trumpet – Soul On Soul – RCA Victor 63603-2
The Duke – The Essential Ellington Collection, 1927-1962 – Columbia Jazz C3K 65841
Don Ellis Band – Live in 3 2/3 over 4 Time – Pacific Jazz 7243 5 23996 2 8
Bill Evans – Further Conversations with Myself – Verve Master Edition 314 559 832-2
Bill Evans – The Last Waltz – Milestone 8MCD-4430-2 (8 Cds)
Jim Hall & Pat Metheny – Telarc Jazz CD83442
D.D. Jackson, piano & B3 – Anthem – RCA Victor 63606-2
Duke Elegant – Dr. John Plays the Music of Duke Ellington – Blue Note 7243 5 23220 2 2
Charles Lloyd – The Water Is Wide – ECM 1734
52nd Street Themes – Joe Lovano Nonet – Blue Note 72434 96667-2
Wynton Marsalis – Big Train – Columbia CK 69860-2
Oregon in Moscow – with the Moscow Tchaikovsky Sym. Orch. – Intuition 3303 2 (2 CDs)
Greg Osby – The Invisible Hand – Blue Note 20134
The Jazz Giants Play Charlie Parker – Yardbird Suite – Prestige PRCD 24224-2
Nicholas Payton – Nick @ Night – verve 314 547 5982
Lee Ritenour & Dave Grusin – Two Worlds – Works of BACH, FALLA, BARTOK, MOMPOU, VILLA-LOBOS, GRUSIN – Decca 012 157 960-2
Sonny Rollins – Way Out West – Contemporary JVC xrcd VICJ-60088
Martin Taylor’s Spirit of Django – Gypsy – Linn AKD 090
Clark Terry, trumpet – One on One – Chesky JD 198
The Sound of Jazz (l957 TV Special with Basie, Waldron, Giuffre, Rushing, Holiday et al.) – Columbia Legacy CK66082
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