Best of 2022: Classical CDs

BEST OF 2022: CLASSICAL CDS Ten of the year's best classical CDs from 'Team Rickson'

Ten of the year's best classical CDs

At the risk of sounding like a scratched record (or a cracked CD), it’s reassuring to know that you can still buy new recordings in physical formats. Granted, CDs do take up shelf space, but in most cases they sound better than most downloads and usually come with sleeve notes and texts. 

Classical CDs: Christmas discs 2022

A seasonal smorgasbord: tubas, candles and a deep, deep bass

 

GoldMundGoldMund, Anna Veit: Mehr Oder Weniger Lametta – arrangements of Tchaikovsky, Bach, Humperdinck, Martin Luther, John Rutter (Solo Musica)

Classical CDs: Masses, maths and memories

Big-hearted violin playing, English song and prime numbers in sonic form

 

Lisa B Secret LOve LettersSecret Love Letters – music by Franck, Szymanowski, Chausson and Debussy Lisa Batiashvili (violin) Giorgi Gigashvili (piano), Philadelphia Orchestra/Yannick Nézet-Séguin (DG).

Classical CDs: Bells, birthdays and elephants

CLASSICAL CDS Rediscovered French composers, contemporary Americana, a lighter Stravinsky

Rediscovered French composers, contemporary Americana and a 20th century giant letting his hair down

 

Helene de MontgeroultHélène de Montgeroult: Études Clare Hammond (piano) (BIS)

Classical CDs: Death, dragons and sea shanties

CLASSICAL CDS A rediscovered comic opera, orchestral froth & spectacular 20th century symphony

A rediscovered comic opera, orchestral froth and a spectacular 20th century symphony

 

Playhouse sessionsThe Playhouse Sessions: Bjarte Eike, Barokksolistene (Rubicon)

Classical CDs: Dragonflies, harmoniums and folded paper

CLASSICAL CDS Harmoniums, Gallic winds, fearless percussionists & Finnish songs

Gallic winds, fearless percussionists and Finnish songs

 

ColouriseColourise London Choral Sinfonia/Michael Waldron, with Roderick Williams (baritone), Andrew Staples (tenor), Elena Urioste (violin) (Orchid)

Classical CDs: Civil service, bassoon laments and a historic keyboard

CLASSICAL CDS Classical & late-romantic piano, 20th century symphonies, a sprightly nonagenarian

Classical and late-romantic piano music, plus 20th century symphonies and a sprightly nonagenarian

 

Mozart LevinMozart: The Piano Sonatas (Robert Levin, playing Mozart’s fortepiano) (ECM New Series)

Classical CDs: Five-pointed stars, unspecified instrumentation and talented siblings

CLASSICAL CDS: Five-pointed stars, unspecified instrumentation and talented siblings

Double lieder treats, Sarah Willis back in Cuba, Rachmaninoff transcriptions

 

Brahms richterBrahms Lieder Anna Lucia Richter (mezzo-soprano), Ammiel Bushakevitz (piano) (Pentatone)

Ein süßes Deingedenken: A Tender Memory of Thee – Lieder by Fanny and Felix Mendelssohn Kateryna Kasper (soprano), Dmitry Ablogin (piano) (TYXArt)

Subscribe to Classical CDs