Classical Top 10
The Classical Top Ten reflects what other classical fans are buying now and might give you some good ideas for your next purchase.
1 Belcea Quartet - Beethoven: The Complete String Quartets, Vol. 1
The award-winning Belcea Quartet has released both volumes of its critically acclaimed recordings of the Complete Beethoven String Quartets in Studio Master. The first volume was named 'CD of the Year' by Austrian Radio station ORF 1 whilst Gramophone stated that the Belcea Quartet performed with 'great artistry and perception' on the recording.
2 Belcea Quartet - Beethoven: The Complete String Quartets, Vol. 2
The second volume, like its predecessor, was recorded live in the superb concert hall conceived by Britten at
Aldeburgh and has met with critical acclaim.
Disc of the Week: 'impressive performances' BBC Radio 3 CD Review
3 Robin Ticciati - Berlioz: Les nuits d'ete
Building on the colour, energy and sheer visceral power of Robin Ticciati's first collaborative release with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, it is clear that this is a partnership set to last. Ticciati coaxes immense expressiveness and subtle turns of phrase from the orchestra and soloist Karen Cargill with a familiarity and effortlessness that is thoroughly irresistible.
Performance / Sound BBC Music Magazine
4 Gottlieb Wallisch - Mozart Piano Concertos
Master Mozartian Gottlieb Wallisch serves up a stunning performance of his fellow Austrian's own rarely-heard chamber orchestrations on his new album ‘Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 12, 13 & 14, The Chamber Version'. He is joined on this recording by one of the UK's leading young string quartets, the Piatti Quartet.
‘Wallisch's readings contain many attractive qualities: immaculately clean fingerwork, fine phrase-characterisation and sense of balance.' BBC Music Magazine
5 Cecilia Bartoli - Bellini: Norma
On this recording, the Italian superstar continues her mission to reveal lost details of expression and emotional variety in music covered by the dark varnish of later performance traditions. Norma, often portrayed as a superhuman priestess, emerges in Bartoli's performance as a woman of flesh and blood, torn between duty and love.
6 Robin Ticciati - Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique
The multi-award winning Scottish Chamber Orchestra's debut recording under the direction of Principal Conductor Robin Ticciati was widely acclaimed by the critics.
The album was named 'No. 3 Classical Album in the 100 Top Albums of 2012' (Sunday Times), 'One of the Best Classical Albums of 2012' (AllMusic.com), Critics' Choice 'Sound of 2012' (The Independent), 'Disc of the Week' (BBC Radio 3),'CD of the Week' (Classic FM Radio) and 'Record of the Month' (Hi-Fi News).
7 Scottish Chamber Orchestra - Mozart Symphonies 38 - 41
The multi-award-winning recording which won a Classical BRIT award, two BBC Music Magazine Awards, including 'Disc of the Year' and was named the number one Classical Album of 2008 by the Sunday Times and HMV Choice.
'Among the very best recordings of these four symphonies on disc.' The Times
8 Jonas Kaufmann - Wagner
This album showcases Jonas Kaufmann's - widely hailed as the greatest Wagnerian tenor - incredible passion and understanding of Wagnerian repertoire.
'...this is a further testimony to [Kaufmann's] lonely greatness among contemporary Wagner tenors.' BBC Music Magazine
9 Dunedin Consort - J. S. Bach: John Passion, Reconstruction of Bach's Passion Liturgy
For the first time on record, listeners can experience Bach's gripping John Passion within its original liturgical context. This recording marks the return of Dunedin Consort's star-studded cast including, Nicholas Mulroy, Matthew Brook, Robert Davies, Joanne Lunn and Clare Wilkinson.
Recording of the Month: '...[a] perfectly paced ensemble Passion.' Gramophone
10 Avison Ensemble - Corelli: Opus 5 Violin Sonatas
Opus 5: Violin Sonatas' follows on from 'Opus 6: Concerti Grossi', which MusicWeb International named a ‘Recording Of The Year 2012'. This collection brings together twelve sonatas which sees Pavlo Beznosiuk take centre stage to showcase his polished playing which is thrilling in its virtuosity
'[The playing] has enough audacity, daring and originality to make these astounding performances something truly special.' International Record Review