Best of 2025

[Roasted Swan]

I thought the Ravel Paris 2025 was very enjoyable.

I did too.  Its a very consistent approach.  NOT hi-octane or thrill seeking but beautifully controlled and played.  For me it works best in the more reflective pieces - Ma Mere / Pavane and less well in the more muscular La Valse/Bolero.  But crowned by an excellent Daphnis.  Its not my favourite ever Ravel set but you can certainly appreciate the skill and thought that has gone into it.  Hurwitz's dismissal of it is misguided and superficial.

[71 dB]

Dementia prevents me from recalling how 2025 went. 

I tried to reconnect with classical music and I was somewhat successful. I managed to get one CD of Dvořák's String Quartets (Naxos 8.550251) and even all of his Piano Trios (Supraphone). Recently I got into Wagner's Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg.

That said, I buy very little new classical music CDs these days. I rather revisit the CDs I own.

[Mandryka]

https://jean-pauldessy.bandcamp.com/album/jean-paul-dessy-string-quartets-quintet

Just remarkable music, accessible and innovative.

[Madiel]

Hurwitz's dismissal of it is misguided and superficial.

Have you seen his review?

[JBS]

And now the ALDI ALDA awards are out:

https://www.classicstoday.com/review/alda-2025-the-avoid-like-death-awards/

The only one I've heard of those is the Bruckner/Schumann from Savall. It's not one of the best recordings of the year, but there's nothing bad about it.

[JBS]

That Korngold set is great, I completely forgot about it!



A rarity for me to say, but thanks, DH!

The only real fault with the Korngold set is that it splits the Third Quartet between discs. Obviously that's not a consideration for downloaders.

[DavidW]

The only real fault with the Korngold set is that it splits the Third Quartet between discs. Obviously that's not a consideration for downloaders.

I realized that I was thinking of a different set that I listened to this year, but I like it now that I've listened to it. I hate when CD sets do that. CDs are dirt cheap. There is no excuse!

[Brian]

There is a whole lot of consensus over some of these releases!

I agree with everyone about:



I'll also add some new ones:



For the attractive period ensemble sound and gentle creativity.



Recorded on the same kind of 1830s "pianino" that Chopin composed some of the music on during his Mediterranean holiday with George Sand.



A virtuosic, very physical account of Grace Williams' Sea Sketches, plus sensitive orchestrations of quartets by Bacewicz (Bartokian, folksy, fun) and Muller-Hermann (mellow, Germanic, warm, dedicated to her friend Zemlinsky).

-

There is so much I need to catch up on, however! I haven't listened to the MDG Kaufmann CD, the Bosmans revival, Marc-Andre Hamelin's new recital of contemporary music, the much-praised new Steven Osborne Schubert, the big new Thierry Escaich Te Deum for Notre Dame, the Belcea Quartet's Szymanowski, that new Ginastera quartet cycle, the Korngold collection, or either of MusicWeb's top two choices (Beatrice Rana playing Bach, and a Grace Williams mass).

[Brian]

Tallying up albums with multiple votes (# is # of people who've chosen it):

Hahn Le Dieu Bleu - 3
Mignone fantasias - 3

Barraine Symphonies - 2
Kaufmann orchestral works - 2
Korngold collection - 2 plus Hurwitz ROTY
Melartin symphonies - 2
something by Grace Williams, but not the same thing - 2 plus MusicWeb ROTY

[JBS]

Add my vote to these two


And I've been wondering about tnis one. It's been in and out of my shopping cart since it was released. Maybe I'll pull the trigger next time.

[Daverz]

something by Grace Williams, but not the same thing - 2 plus MusicWeb ROTY

I tried a bit of the Grace Williams Mass, but found the singing annoying.  Perhaps I'll try again when I'm in a more tolerant mood.

[Mapman]

Several of the works I discovered in 2025 that impressed me most are:
Magnard: Symphony #4
Piston: Symphony #2
Saint-Saëns: Africa
Mozart: Quintet for Piano and Winds, K 452

I also joined a community orchestra; the highlight there was Strauss' overture to Die Fledermaus.

[Mookalafalas]

Just heard this now, but was released in December. I don't remember ever being so smitten by a first listen.

[Roasted Swan]

Have you seen his review?

Yes - both the original dismissal and his inclusion of it in the "Red scarf of shame" end of year viturperative salvo/award or whatever he likes to call it.

[Madiel]

Yes - both the original dismissal and his inclusion of it in the "Red scarf of shame" end of year viturperative salvo/award or whatever he likes to call it.

Well, I don't regard it as superficial in either case, because he does explain what it is he doesn't like (and what he does).

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Tallying up albums with multiple votes (# is # of people who've chosen it):

Hahn Le Dieu Bleu - 3
Mignone fantasias - 3

Barraine Symphonies - 2
Kaufmann orchestral works - 2
Korngold collection - 2 plus Hurwitz ROTY
Melartin symphonies - 2
something by Grace Williams, but not the same thing - 2 plus MusicWeb ROTY

I forgot about Kaufmann, and would like to vote for it.

[Roasted Swan]

Well, I don't regard it as superficial in either case, because he does explain what it is he doesn't like (and what he does).

That's fair - a poor use of a word by me.  But my feeling is that its one of those reviews where he's get an idea in his head (for good or ill) and then runs with it.  In this case there is a clear/consisitent performing style across the set which is at least interesting to hear and certainly well-considered and the results are often very beautiful.  By all means DON'T like the choices made, but to suggest there are no choices or its some kind of lazy music-making is at best misleading.