Critics Choice August 2024 | Discover now at Naxos (2024)

P.E. Fisher • Albany Symphony • D.A. Miller

‘The performance of Philip Edward Fisher at the piano is sensational, navigating with mastery between the lyricism of the most melodic passages and the exuberant virtuosity of the sections where the swell becomes dangerous.’
– Ritmo

J. Weber • Mayer • K. Wagner • Dohr • Schoch • Janoušková • Vogler • Kolinsky

‘Each of [the performer] is committed to his work with vigour and refinement, making this collection a great experience for this Czech composer.’
– Pizzicato

‘This is an important set. All pieces have been meticulously prepared and are played with commitment.’
– MusicWeb International

‘…magnificent performers…a fundamental contribution to the recording catalogue of the composer…’
– Scherzo

ORF Vienna Radio Symphony • Alsop

‘In every respect, this disc is a must for all fans of John Adams and Marin Alsop. The performances and recording are terrific…’
– MusicWeb International

Alekna • Lithuanian National Symphony • Lyndon-Gee

‘The interpretations on this album are powerful and colourful. The recording presents the orchestral sound in an exemplary manner…’
– Pizzicato ★★★★

‘Pianist Gabrielius Alekna is exceptional. [Bacevičius] demands a lot from the soloist and Alekna delivers time and again.’
– Charlottesville Classical

Quartetto Adorno

‘…the Quartetto Adorno makes the most of the music’s tuneful glow and wide range of colours and textures, with Benedetta Bucci’s viola often relishing the spotlight…’
– BBC Music Magazine ★★★★

D. Yablonsky • L. Martín

‘It becomes apparent in the first work on the program, Cassadó’s Requiebros, that this will be a collection of committed performances with nothing slapdash about them.’
– Fanfare

Berwaerts • Paul Huang • Residentie Orkest The Hague • Märkl

‘The violinist Paul Huang gives Genesis an intense interpretation… He offers a convincing version of the work with a dedication that realizes all the work’s playful demands and shapes the form of the composition.’
– Pizzicato ★★★★★

Minas Gerais Philharmonic • Mechetti

‘Vibrant and tuneful, it makes a fine introduction to the 20th-century Brazilian composer.’
– BBC Music Magazine ★★★★

‘A fine and generous survey makes this a genuine discovery.’
– MusicWeb International

Spyres • Mahnke • MacKinnon • Mulligan • Kanabas • Frankfurt Opera Chorus and Orchestra • Manacorda

‘…the performance is wonderful and the cast is up to Meyerbeer’s punishing vocal demands…’
– Opera Now ★★★★★

Giltburg • Brussels Philharmonic • Sinaisky

‘…a disc of undoubted value. Rarely will Rachmaninov sound so clear, beautiful and balanced at the same time as spectacular.’
– Ritmo ★★★★★

Duilio Meucci

‘Meucci is highly virtuosic, as is necessary for this often-difficult music. But he is also very committed aesthetically and affectively to this challenging repertoire. His attention to dynamics, balance, timbre, and articulation are exemplary.’
– Soundboard (Guitar Foundation of America)

Bamberg Symphony • Hruša

‘It is astonishing how many outstanding and yet so fundamentally different recordings of Bruckner’s Ninth there are. Jakub Hrůša’s is one of the very best, offering a very personal, coherent interpretation of this work.’
– Pizzicato ★★★★★

Olcay Bayir

‘This is a remarkably beautiful album.’
– Baker & Taylor CD Hotlist

Bavarian Radio Chorus • Munich Radio Orchestra • Dijkstra

‘In this interpretation, we experience music of fascinating inner radiance. Peter Dijkstra succeeds time and again in combining the stylistically rich liturgical music with Bruckner’s symphonic ideas.’
– Pizzicato

‘…the Bavarian Radio Choir offers us sublime, frank and emotionally deep and elegant interpretations, showcasing exemplary balance and precision, as well as a wonderful ensemble sound from beginning to end…’
– Scherzo

Uniting Voices • Pacifica Quartet • Josephine Lee

‘Affectionately and adroitly played, theirs is a very impressive performance indeed…’
– BBC Music Magazine

Ying-Hsueh Chen

‘…this is a recital of contemporary music that [is] by turns thoughtful, beautiful, and exciting.’
– Fanfare

G.S. Johnson • Kibbey • DeCaprio • Yun Han

‘…a gorgeous disc.’
– Limelight

‘…Johnson’s team, performing with gusto, have definitely revived something worthwhile.’
– The Best Classical Albums of 2024 So Far, The Times (UK)

Irnberger • B. Moser • Münchner Kammerphilharmonie dacapo • Schottky

‘This Gramola disc goes right to the top of the heap, as the disc of Haydn Violin Concertos.’
– Fanfare

Jouni Somero

‘This recital, like the whole series, is obviously a labour of love by Somero, and his playing is colourful and fully engaged.’
– Fanfare

L. Fridman • L. Ganci • Bordogna • Yajie Zhang • Oštrek • A.M. García • Berliner Operngruppe Choir and Orchestra • Krieger

‘The role of Dalinda is extremely demanding, and Russian soprano Lidia Fridman gives us plenty of thrills, with a dark fury in her tone and real dramatic presence throughout… Felix Krieger conducts his Berlin forces with drive and dramatic gusto, providing thrilling pace.’
– BBC Music Magazine ★★★★

‘All in all, this is one of the most successful revivals of its kind… thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining Grand Opera, packed with melody and drama, performed by highly talented young artists with zeal and expertise.’
– MusicWeb International

Bostridge • Turku Philharmonic • Mustonen

‘Mustonen elicits top-drawer playing from the Turku Philharmonic and Ondine’s engineering captures the orchestra’s marriage of technical brilliance and warm ensemble.’
– Limelight

‘…exciting, rousing pieces and feasts for the ears.’
– American Record Guide

Ghiaurov • Halem • Janowitz • Burrows • Konzertvereinigung Wiener Staatsopernchor • Vienna Philharmonic • Karajan

‘Nicolai Ghiaurov has an electrifying presence in the title role. …There is no doubt that [he] was one of the greatest interpreters of this role.’
– Pizzicato ★★★★★

Scandinavian Guitar Duo

‘…Beautiful recording and superb notes.’
– Soundboard (Guitar Foundation of America)

Scheurle • Hornig

‘Scheurle and Horning give the listener a carefully crafted work not only in the connection of the composers and the common thread of their works, but also in their delicate interpretation.’
– Ritmo ★★★★★

Inna Faliks

‘Embedded in these works are transcriptions of Schubert songs by Franz Liszt, in which Inna Faliks shows herself as a very personal and innovative pianist, both in terms of rhythm and phrasing.’
– Pizzicato ★★★★★

Stefano Cascioli

‘[Cascioli’s] playing is extremely attractive. Most important, he has a clear sense of what Farkas is expressing with this music, and he conveys its emotional subtleties and its dramatic range with admirable clarity and commitment.’
– Fanfare

Gary Bertini

‘It is no small praise to assume that Gary Bertini was comfortable conducting these works. The playing is excellent; special praise is due the first violins and woodwinds…’
– American Record Guide

‘I’ve lost count of how many recordings of this symphony are on my shelves, but this one is one of the best.’
– Fanfare

Vox VOX-NX-3043CD

St. Louis Symphony • Semkow • Susskind

‘Walter Susskind then conducts a very musical, dance-like and colourful interpretation of orchestral excerpts from Smetana’s The Bartered Bride.’
– Pizzicato ★★★★★

Assad • Labro • Takács Quartet

‘This album is a tour de force…’
– Positive Feedback Online

Naxos 2.110768–69
Also available on Blu-ray Video
(NBD0180V)

Grigorian • MacNeil • Mahnke • Mikhailov • Jost • Švēde • Frankfurt Opera Chorus • Frankfurt Opera and Museum Orchestra • Uryupin

‘…Asmik Grigorian…is the undisputed winner. […] Valentin Urypin’s direction is outstanding, underlining the dramatic contrasts of an opera that lasts more than three hours and yet is absolutely engaging.’
– Ritmo ★★★★★

Naxos 2.110758
Also available on Blu-ray Video
(NBD0170V)

Auster • Saartamo • Hauffe • Pfeil

‘…beautifully shot… The music, specially recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra under Eckehard Stier, is…intelligently chosen to convey the changing scenes…’
– The Wagner Journal

C Major 764908
Also available on Blu-ray Video
(765004)

Grimaud • Camerata Salzburg • Guzzo

‘All in all, this is a truly wonderful performance from Grimaud and team.’
– Fanfare

Bellocci • Cavalluzzi • Loi • Buzza • Theresia Orchestra • De Marchi • Scarton

‘…thoroughly winning performance… it delights in its ensembles and chain finales… there is about the whole performance a feeling of joyous togetherness…’
– Opera

Monteverdi Choir • English Baroque Soloists • Gardiner

‘Musically, Sir John Eliot Gardiner offers a landmark recording with Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo. The semi-staged theatrical presentation enhances the imaginative impact of his nuanced interpretation.’
– www.klassik.com ★★★★★

Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra • Thielemann

‘This is a stellar production across the board… Urgently, emphatically recommended.’
– Fanfare

Clare Wille

‘Many varied characters inhabit this trio of stories, and Clare Wille creates a distinctive voice for each one. …Not only can Wille develop each character’s personality with her attention to dialogue, she also captures the tone of the narrative, adding to the effect of the work as a whole.’
– AudioFile