For our last post in 2019, we went back and checked our statistics, finding out which reviews were most popular this year. So here there are, from 10 to 1, from piano to orchestra, from the classical era to 20th century music – the classical music reviews our audience read the most in the past year.
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10. Beethoven – Piano Concertos (Complete) – Jan Lisiecki
As part of their Beethoven 250 Birth year celebrations, Deutsche Grammophon planned to release a a full cycle of the Piano Concertos with Murray Perahia, conducting the Academy of Saint Martin in the Fields from the keyboard. Perahia has already recorded the cycle in the 1980s and has performed it with the ASMF in concerts, so the release was eagerly awaited. Unfortunately, Perahia couldn’t perform in the original concerts that was planned to be recorded for this album, and Jan Lisiecki, originally asked to perform a single Concerto, took upon himself to perform all five.
9. Beethoven – Symphony No. 9 – Bach Collegium Japan, Masaaki Suzuki
Masaaki Suzuki and the Bach Collegium Japan have given us a fine recording of the Missa Solemnis a few years back, but this is the first Beethoven Symphony recording the group ever released. In his review of the album, David A. McConnell found that the choir, orchestra and conductor connect with this music as naturally as they did with the Baroque masterpieces they have recorded and performed in the past several decades.
8. Mahler – Symphony No. 2 (“Resurrection”) – Osmo Vänskä, Minnesota Orchestra
This was the third release in Osmo Vänskä and The Minnesota Orchestra’s Mahler cycle, and it was followed by two other releases this year, which we also reviewed (Symphony No. 1, Symphony No. 4). The cycle is turning out to be extremely consistent – with a superb orchestra playing and a cooler, clear-headed interpretation. In the choral sections of the “Resurrection” Symphony, the Minnesota Orchestra is joined by the Minnesota Chorale.
7. Tchaikovsky – Complete Works For Solo Piano – Valentina Lisitsa
There have scarcely been pianists who recorded the complete piano music by Tchaikovsky, not to mention is such a short period of time. Valentina Lisitsa plays Tchaikovsky’s original solo piano music, transcriptions made by the composer and 4 hands works. In his original review of the release, Tal Agam expressed his particular admiration to Lisitsa’s performance of “Children Album”, a performance that, according to the review, should be treasured for its touching simplicity.
6. Weinberg – Symphony No. 2 & 21 – Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla
The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra’s new chief raised few eyebrows for choosing Weinberg’s music for her first Deutsche Grammophon recording, instead of the usual main repertoire. Together with the Kremerata Baltica and Gidon Kremer in the short Second Symphony, this is an interesting album of music not often heard, released in the composer’s 100 birth year.
5. Mozart – Die Zauberflöte – COE, Nézet-Séguin
After recording together most of Mozart’s famous operas, the Chamber Orchestra of Europe and Yannick Nézet-Séguin arrive to Die Zauberflöte, with an all-star cast of soloists, including Albina Shagimuratova as the night queen and Rolando Villazón as Papageno.
4. “Destination Rachmaninov – Arrival” – Piano Concertos No. 1&3 – Daniil Trifonov
Daniil Trifonov’s previous album in his Rachmaninov cycle with the Philadelphia Orchestra and (again) Yannick Nézet-Séguin, was the most popular review published in 2018, and in this year he lands at the respectable fourth most popular review. This album concludes the cycle, with Rachmaninov’s First and Third Piano Concertos, surmising a lovely, modern cycle of these endlessly fascinating works.
3. Beethoven – Complete Symphonies – Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra – Nelsons
Every new cycle of Beethoven’s Symphonies is a cause for celebration, but a cycle by the Vienna Philharmonic adds a layer of excitement. After all, some of the very best performances of Beethoven’s Symphonies were recorded by this prestigious ensemble, so it’s curious to examine what a conductor can bring to this repertoire and orchestra, so rich in tradition. As our review finds, Andris Nelsons delivers terrific accounts of some of the Symphonies, matched by a superb recording made at Vienna’s Musikverein.
2. Ivo Pogorelich Plays Beethoven and Rachmaninov
More than 20 years have past since Ivo Pogorelich’s previous album, so this new release of freshly recorded works, which the pianist hasn’t recorded before, attracted a lot of interest. In his review, Leighton Jones found that Pogorelich style is still distinctive as it ever was, and will still divide opinions.
1. Beethoven – Complete Piano Sonatas – Igor Levit
Igor Levit takes big chances in his recording career, and this is no exception. This 9 CDs album follows a debut of Beethoven’s last five Piano Sonatas, Bach’s complete keyboard Partitas and a triple album of three gigantic sets of variations (Bach’s Goldberg Variations, Beethoven’s Diabelli and Rzewski’s “The People United Will Never Be Defeated!”). The original review of the set found that whatever you think to Levit’s approach, you can’t fault him for lack of conviction or consistency. This is also true to the sound engineering and choice of instrument. As it turns out, taking big risks pays off, and so this review was our most popular in 2019.
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