Jan. 3, 2023
Our most recent set of reviews sums up 2022 in a way. Along with recent releases, there were a few last minute holiday music recordings -- including a reimagining of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker by Kristjan Jarvi (pictured) -- and we caught up on many of the albums that were nominated for Grammy awards, which includes Mason Bates' Philharmonia Fantastique, a work to accompany an animated film exploring the instruments of the orchestra.
Rinaldo Alessandrini, Concerto Italiano - Monteverdi: Concerto; Settimo Libro de' Madrigali
Aznavoorian Duo - Gems from Armenia
Daniel Barenboim, Staatskapelle Berlin - Schumann: The Symphonies
Choir of Bath Abbey, Huw Williams - Caritas: Music of Love, Hope, Charity and Consolation
Derek Bermel, Christopher Otto, Wiek Hijmans, JACK Quartet - Derek Bermel: Intonations - Music for Clarinet and Strings
J'Nai Bridges, Will Liverman, Paul Sánchez - Shawn E. Okpebholo: Lord, How Come Me Here?
Javier Camarena - Signor Gaetano
Gautier Capuçon - Sensations
Renaud Capuçon, Martha Argerich - Beethoven, Schumann, Franck
Sara Couden, Jenny Lin - Artur Schnabel: Complete Vocal Works
Diana Damrau - My Christmas
Andrew Davis, BBC Philharmonic - Stravinsky: Symphony in C; Symphony in Three Movements; Divertimento
Tabea Debus, Adrian Chandler, La Serenissima - Forza Azzurri!: Music by Dall'Abaco, Brescianello, Sammartini, Vivaldi and Zavateri
Sylviane Deferne - Schubert: Der Wanderer
Lea Desandre, Iestyn Davies, Jupiter, Thomas Dunford - Eternal Heaven: Handel
Gustavo Dudamel, Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra - Antonín Dvorák: Symphonies Nos. 7-9
Dave Eggar, Tasha Warren - Ourself, Behind Ourself Concealed
Mark Elder, Lucy Crowe, London Philharmonic Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra - James MacMillan: Christmas Oratorio
Evgueni Galperine, Sébastien Hurtaud, Sergei Nakariakov, Maria Vasyukova - Evgueni Galperine: Theory of Becoming
David Garrett - Iconic
German Brass - It's Christmas Time
Delta David Gier, South Dakota Symphony Orchestra - Lakota Music Project
Kellen Gray, Royal Scottish National Orchestra - African American Voices
Hilary Hahn - Workout by Hilary Hahn
Lucie Horsch - Origins
icarus Quartet - Big Things
Kristjan Jarvi, Baltic Sea Philharmonic - Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker - A Dramatic Symphony
J.P. Jofre, Seunghee Lee - Aspire
Adam Kent - Tania León: Teclas de mi piano
Eunbi Kim - It Feels Like
Choir of King's College Cambridge - Carols from King's College Cambridge
Choir of King's College Cambridge, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - Christmas Carols at King's with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Alex Klein, Phillip Bush - When There Are No Words…: Revolutionary Works for Oboe and Piano
Vladimir Kulenovic, Lake Forest Symphony - Visions: James M. Stephenson - Symphony No. 3
Fabio Luisi, Danish National Symphony Orchestra - Carl Nielsen: Symphonies Nos. 4 & 5
Yo-Yo Ma, Leonidas Kavakos, Emanuel Ax - Beethoven for Three: Symphony No. 6 "Pastorale" and Op. 1 No. 3
Antonello Manacorda, Kammerakademie Potsdam - Beethoven: Symphonies 1, 2, 7
Robert McDuffie, Elizabeth Pridgen - Icons: Philip Glass, John Adams, John Corigliano
Choir of Merton College, Oxford; Benjamin Nicholas, Oxford Contemporary Sinfonia - Ian Venables: Requiem; Howells: Anthems for Choir & Orchestra
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra & Chorus, Yannick Nézet-Séguin - A Concert for Ukraine
Kenji Miura - Identity
Andres Mustonen, Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Münchner Rundfunkorchester - Valentin Silvestrov: Requiem für Larissa
Nidarosdomens Jentekor, TrondheimSolistene - Kim André Arnesen: Tuvayhun
Gianandrea Noseda, London Symphony Orchestra - Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5; Rimsky-Korsakov: Kitezh Suite
Edwin Outwater, Chicago Symphony Orchestra - Mason Bates: Philharmonia Fantastique - The Making of the Orchestra
The Choirs of Pembroke College, Cambridge; Anna Lapwood - A Pembroke Christmas
Daniel-Ben Pienaar - Byrd: Pavans & Galliards; Variations & Grounds
PUBLIQuartet - What Is American
Nemanja Radulovic, Double Sens - Roots
RIAS Kammerchor Berlin, Justin Doyle, Angela Gassenhuber, Philip Mayers - Brahms: Complete Liebeslieder Walzer Op. 52 & 65; Hungarian Dances
Timothy Ridout, Michael Spyres, Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg, John Nelson - Berlioz: Les Nuits d'Été; Harold en Italie
Maîtrise de Saint-Pierre-aux-Liens de Bulle, Jérôme Kuhn - Mon plus beau Noël
Inbal Segev - 20 for 2020
Carlos Simon, Marco Pavé - Carlos Simon: Requiem for the Enslaved
Skylark, Sarah Walker - Benedict Sheehan: A Christmas Carol
Tenebrae, Nigel Short - In Winter's House: Christmas with Tenebrae
Christian Tetzlaff, Deutsche Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Robin Ticciati - Brahms, Berg: Violin Concertos
Alexandre Tharaud - Cinema
Daniil Trifonov - Daniil Trifonov plays Chamber Music
Truro Cathedral Choir, Christopher Gray, BBC National Orchestra of Wales - Russell Pascoe: Secular Requiem
Various Artists - Rebecca Saunders: Skin
Lucienne Renaudin Vary - Trumpet Concertos
Julian Velasco, Winston Choi - As We Are
Sarah Willis, Havana Lyceum Orchestra, José Antonio Méndez Padrón - Mozart y Mambo: Cuban Dances
John Wilson, Sinfonia of London - Hollywood Soundstage
John Wilson - Upon Further Reflection
Itamar Zorman, Ieva Jokubaviciute, Kwan Yi - Violin Odyssey
Rinaldo Alessandrini, Concerto Italiano - Monteverdi: Concerto; Settimo Libro de' Madrigali
Aznavoorian Duo - Gems from Armenia
Daniel Barenboim, Staatskapelle Berlin - Schumann: The Symphonies
Choir of Bath Abbey, Huw Williams - Caritas: Music of Love, Hope, Charity and Consolation
Derek Bermel, Christopher Otto, Wiek Hijmans, JACK Quartet - Derek Bermel: Intonations - Music for Clarinet and Strings
J'Nai Bridges, Will Liverman, Paul Sánchez - Shawn E. Okpebholo: Lord, How Come Me Here?
Javier Camarena - Signor Gaetano
Gautier Capuçon - Sensations
Renaud Capuçon, Martha Argerich - Beethoven, Schumann, Franck
Sara Couden, Jenny Lin - Artur Schnabel: Complete Vocal Works
Diana Damrau - My Christmas
Andrew Davis, BBC Philharmonic - Stravinsky: Symphony in C; Symphony in Three Movements; Divertimento
Tabea Debus, Adrian Chandler, La Serenissima - Forza Azzurri!: Music by Dall'Abaco, Brescianello, Sammartini, Vivaldi and Zavateri
Sylviane Deferne - Schubert: Der Wanderer
Lea Desandre, Iestyn Davies, Jupiter, Thomas Dunford - Eternal Heaven: Handel
Gustavo Dudamel, Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra - Antonín Dvorák: Symphonies Nos. 7-9
Dave Eggar, Tasha Warren - Ourself, Behind Ourself Concealed
Mark Elder, Lucy Crowe, London Philharmonic Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra - James MacMillan: Christmas Oratorio
Evgueni Galperine, Sébastien Hurtaud, Sergei Nakariakov, Maria Vasyukova - Evgueni Galperine: Theory of Becoming
David Garrett - Iconic
German Brass - It's Christmas Time
Delta David Gier, South Dakota Symphony Orchestra - Lakota Music Project
Kellen Gray, Royal Scottish National Orchestra - African American Voices
Hilary Hahn - Workout by Hilary Hahn
Lucie Horsch - Origins
icarus Quartet - Big Things
Kristjan Jarvi, Baltic Sea Philharmonic - Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker - A Dramatic Symphony
J.P. Jofre, Seunghee Lee - Aspire
Adam Kent - Tania León: Teclas de mi piano
Eunbi Kim - It Feels Like
Choir of King's College Cambridge - Carols from King's College Cambridge
Choir of King's College Cambridge, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - Christmas Carols at King's with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Alex Klein, Phillip Bush - When There Are No Words…: Revolutionary Works for Oboe and Piano
Vladimir Kulenovic, Lake Forest Symphony - Visions: James M. Stephenson - Symphony No. 3
Fabio Luisi, Danish National Symphony Orchestra - Carl Nielsen: Symphonies Nos. 4 & 5
Yo-Yo Ma, Leonidas Kavakos, Emanuel Ax - Beethoven for Three: Symphony No. 6 "Pastorale" and Op. 1 No. 3
Antonello Manacorda, Kammerakademie Potsdam - Beethoven: Symphonies 1, 2, 7
Robert McDuffie, Elizabeth Pridgen - Icons: Philip Glass, John Adams, John Corigliano
Choir of Merton College, Oxford; Benjamin Nicholas, Oxford Contemporary Sinfonia - Ian Venables: Requiem; Howells: Anthems for Choir & Orchestra
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra & Chorus, Yannick Nézet-Séguin - A Concert for Ukraine
Kenji Miura - Identity
Andres Mustonen, Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Münchner Rundfunkorchester - Valentin Silvestrov: Requiem für Larissa
Nidarosdomens Jentekor, TrondheimSolistene - Kim André Arnesen: Tuvayhun
Gianandrea Noseda, London Symphony Orchestra - Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5; Rimsky-Korsakov: Kitezh Suite
Edwin Outwater, Chicago Symphony Orchestra - Mason Bates: Philharmonia Fantastique - The Making of the Orchestra
The Choirs of Pembroke College, Cambridge; Anna Lapwood - A Pembroke Christmas
Daniel-Ben Pienaar - Byrd: Pavans & Galliards; Variations & Grounds
PUBLIQuartet - What Is American
Nemanja Radulovic, Double Sens - Roots
RIAS Kammerchor Berlin, Justin Doyle, Angela Gassenhuber, Philip Mayers - Brahms: Complete Liebeslieder Walzer Op. 52 & 65; Hungarian Dances
Timothy Ridout, Michael Spyres, Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg, John Nelson - Berlioz: Les Nuits d'Été; Harold en Italie
Maîtrise de Saint-Pierre-aux-Liens de Bulle, Jérôme Kuhn - Mon plus beau Noël
Inbal Segev - 20 for 2020
Carlos Simon, Marco Pavé - Carlos Simon: Requiem for the Enslaved
Skylark, Sarah Walker - Benedict Sheehan: A Christmas Carol
Tenebrae, Nigel Short - In Winter's House: Christmas with Tenebrae
Christian Tetzlaff, Deutsche Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Robin Ticciati - Brahms, Berg: Violin Concertos
Alexandre Tharaud - Cinema
Daniil Trifonov - Daniil Trifonov plays Chamber Music
Truro Cathedral Choir, Christopher Gray, BBC National Orchestra of Wales - Russell Pascoe: Secular Requiem
Various Artists - Rebecca Saunders: Skin
Lucienne Renaudin Vary - Trumpet Concertos
Julian Velasco, Winston Choi - As We Are
Sarah Willis, Havana Lyceum Orchestra, José Antonio Méndez Padrón - Mozart y Mambo: Cuban Dances
John Wilson, Sinfonia of London - Hollywood Soundstage
John Wilson - Upon Further Reflection
Itamar Zorman, Ieva Jokubaviciute, Kwan Yi - Violin Odyssey