Best of
Editor’s Choice: The Best New Classical Music Albums, December 2020
The choices of the best classical music albums we covered on The Classic Review the past month.
Romantic
Album Reviews
Review: Louis Lortie Plays Chopin, Volume 6
In the sixth volume of his ongoing Chopin cycle, Louis Lortie plays Mazurkas, Polonaises the Fantasie Op. 49 and the "La ci darem" variations.
Album Reviews
Review: Bruckner – Symphony No. 8 – Vienna Philharmonic, Thielemann
On the first of what to become a full Bruckner cycle with the Vienna Philharmonic, Christian Thielemann conducts the Eighth Symphony in the Haas edition.
Album Reviews
Double Review: Khatia Buniatishvili – “Labyrinth”, Bertrand Chamayou – “Good Night!”
In this double review, we compare two multi-track piano recitals - Khatia Buniatishvili's "Labyrinth", and Bertrand Chamayou's "Good Night!".
Album Reviews
Review: Franz Schmidt – Complete Symphonies – Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, Paavo Järvi
Paavo Järvi conducts the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra in Franz Schmidt's Complete Symphonies. An in-depth review of the new performance and how it compares to past recordings.
Album Reviews
Review: “Encounter” – Igor Levit, Piano
Igor Levit plays piano transcriptions of music by Bach, Brahms and Reger, with Morton Feldman's “Palais de Mari”.
Album Reviews
Review: Dvořák – Cello Concerto – Soltani, Staatskapelle Berlin, Barenboim
Kian Soltani is joined by Staatskapelle Berlin and Daniel Barenboim in Dvořák's famous Cello Concerto, with additional movements arranged for cello ensemble.
Album Reviews
Review: Bruckner, Stravinsky – Mass for Choir and Wind – Rundfunkchor Berlin
Gijs Leenaars performs Bruckner and Stravinsky's two Masses for choir and wind instruments, with the Rundfunkchor and Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin.
Album Reviews
Review: Schumann – Piano Concerto, Piano Works – Judith Jáuregui
Judith Jáuregui performs works by Robert and Clara Schumann. Together with the Piano Concerto, the album includes two variations movements by Robert and Clara.
Album Reviews
Review: Tchaikovsky – Symphony No. 4, Leshnoff – Double concerto – Honeck
Manfred Honeck conducts the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4 and a new "Double Concerto" by Jonathan Leshnoff.