The best new classical albums: Editor's Choice, Awards issue 2020
Wednesday, October 7, 2020
Featuring outstanding new albums from the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra and Paavo Järvi, Thibaut Garcia, Van Kuijk Quartet, Bertrand Chamayou, Bach Collegium Japan and Masaaki Suzuki, Jamie Barton, and many more
You can enjoy excerpts from the Awards issue's Editor's Choice albums via Apple Music below. To listen to complete tracks and albums subscribe to Apple Music, which is free for the first three months.
Recording of the month
Schmidt The Complete Symphonies
Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra / Paavo Järvi
DG
A significant addition to the Schmidt catalogue, this set of his symphonies has been lovingly prepared and powerfully performed by Paavo Järvi, a conductor clearly passionate about championing this music.
‘Aranjuez’
Thibaut Garcia gtr Toulouse Capitole Orchestra / Ben Glassberg
Erato
A performance of Rodrigo’s masterpiece from Thibaut Garcia of real poetry – and that’s just the opening of a truly splendid and diverse album of guitar music.
Mozart String Quintets, K515 & 516
Van Kuijk Quartet with Adrien La Marca va
Alpha
Captivating chamber playing from the Van Kuijk Quartet, joined by viola-player Adrien La Marca, in a reading of intelligence, colour and engaging freshness.
Prokofiev. Shostakovich Violin Sonatas
Natalia Prishepenko vn Dina Ugorskaja pf
AVI-Music
A personal and affecting pairing of two sonatas inspired by David Oistrakh – all the more so given the recent death of its pianist Dina Ugorskaja.
‘Good Night!’
Bertrand Chamayou pf
Erato
Last year’s Recording of the Year winner Bertrand Chamayou in a very different programme to that Saint-Saëns triumph – an intimate recital of tender beauty featuring music from Alkan, Brahms, Busoni, Chopin and many others.
JS Bach St John Passion
Sols; Bach Collegium Japan / Masaaki Suzuki
BIS
Masaaki Suzuki’s St Matthew Passion has won this year’s Choral Award – this performance of the St John is every bit as moving, heartfelt, dramatic and spiritual.
Heggie Unexpected Shadows
Jamie Barton mez Jake Heggie pf
Pentatone
Jamie Barton’s gloriously communicative voice and Jake Heggie’s music feel an inspired and inspiring pairing, on this compelling contemporary album.
‘Chanson d’amour’
Sabine Devieilhe sop Alexandre Tharaud pf
Erato
A luxurious immersion in the world of mélodies from two artists, soprano Sabine Devieilhe and pianist Alexandre Tharaud, truly steeped in its sound world.
‘Lamento’
Damien Guillon counterten Café Zimmermann
Alpha
Personal and profound, this emotional programme of 17th-century music is sung with moving emotional engagement and great beauty by countertenor Damien Guillon.
‘Anima rara’
Ermonela Jaho sop Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana / Andrea Battistoni
Opera Rara
Ermonela Jaho’s tribute to soprano Rosina Storchio was the subject of an in-depth interview last month – the resulting album brings her legacy to life brilliantly.
DVD/blu-ray
Massenet Don Quichotte
Sols; Vienna Symphony Orchestra / Daniel Cohen
C Major Entertainment
This DVD of a contemporary take on Massenet’s setting of the Cervantes character finds an engaging stage performance transferring successfully to screen.
Reissue/archive
‘The Decca Recitals’
Suzanne Danco sop
Decca Eloquence
This celebration of the Belgian soprano Suzanne Danco – spanning mélodies, Lieder and opera arias – is very warmly received by our archive expert Rob Cowan in this month’s Replay.
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