ClassicsToday.com’s Top Ten CDs of 2008

Over the years we’ve done many different “best of the year” articles, ranging from formal award presentations to lists drawn up using various methods. This year, Christophe Huss (of ClassicsTodayFrance fame) and I decided to keep it simple, and select ten outstanding recordings that had received the highest ratings on both of our sites—usually, but not always, featuring as “International Consensus” Disc of the Month picks. This process took remarkably little time, highlighting the fact that there really was strong agreement about the quality of the recordings listed below. Of course, there were many other excellent recordings that we covered, and if you’re looking for a more comprehensive list I can suggest nothing better than to visit our Disc of the Month archive: http://www.classicstoday.com/archive_dom.asp.

I’m sure you’ll agree that it’s been another year of impressive achievement, the poor economy and habitual state of chaos (and endless complaining) in the industry notwithstanding.

Among our top ten picks, you’ll find the conclusion of one of the truly great Beethoven cycles courtesy of Osmo Vänskä, the Minnesota Orchestra, and BIS; an amazing Sibelius Kullervo Symphony on Ondine; magnificent Roussel from Naxos (the shamefully neglected Second Symphony, a masterpiece if ever there was one); and on the same label one of the finest works from Penderecki (the Eighth Symphony) to come along in decades. Keyboard and chamber music also makes a very strong showing this year, with a singularly French accent. Consider Alexandre Tharaud’s glittering set of Chopin Preludes (HM), Jean-Efflam Bavouzet’s incredibly stylish cycle of Debussy piano music (Chandos), and an absolutely delicious coupling of cello sonatas by Alkan and Chopin on Hyperion. Staying with the French theme (and making Christophe especially happy, I’m sure), there was a splendid new recording of Saint-Saëns’ complete music for cello and orchestra on Hänssler Classics, as well as Marc Minkowski’s revelatory refurbishing of Bizet’s famous suites—from Carmen and L’Arlésienne (Naïve). Finally, for Baroque fans, don’t forget the Netherlands Chamber Choir’s sterling new set of Bach Motets from Channel Classics. From all of us at Classicstoday.com, as we enter our tenth year, we wish you health, prosperity, and Happy Listening in 2009!

For full reviews, click on the covers below: