The Best Classical Recordings of 2009

We at ArkivMusic are pleased to recognize the very best recordings of classical music released in 2009. Here we present our top selections by category (all on sale now!), matching our personal favorites with the most popular titles among our customers to determine the cream of the year's classical crop. See some other prominent critics' picks with best lists from the music critics of The New York Times and The New Yorker's Alex Ross as well as all the titles on Fanfare's 2009 Want Lists.
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Browse 1-35 of 35 Available Recordings

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1.

Concerto

Bach: Violin Concertos / Julia Fischer, ASMF

Release Date: 01/27/2009 Label: Decca Catalog: 001249002 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

Performers: Julia Fischer, Alexander Sitkovetsky, Andrey Rubtsov

Orchestra/Ensemble: Academy of St. Martin in the Fields

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2.

Beethoven: Piano Concertos / Fischer, Goode, Budapest Festival Orchestra

Release Date: 05/05/2009 Label: Nonesuch Catalog: 480508 Number of Discs: 3
Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

Performers: Richard Goode

Conductor: Iván Fischer

Orchestra/Ensemble: Budapest Festival Orchestra

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3.

Korngold: Violin Concerto, Much Ado About Nothing, Etc / Philippe Quint, Carlos Miguel Prieto

Release Date: 06/30/2009 Label: Naxos Catalog: 8570791 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Erich Wolfgang Korngold

Performers: Philippe Quint

Conductor: Carlos Miguel Prieto

Orchestra/Ensemble: Mineria Symphony Orchestra

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4.

Orchestral

Josef Suk: Asrael / Ashkenazy, Helsinki Philharmonic

Release Date: 01/27/2009 Label: Ondine Catalog: 1132 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Josef Suk

Conductor: Vladimir Ashkenazy

Orchestra/Ensemble: Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra

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5.

Mahler: Symphony No 4 / Persson, Fischer, Budapest Festival Orchestra

Release Date: 04/14/2009 Label: Channel Classics Catalog: 26109 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Gustav Mahler

Performers: Miah Persson

Conductor: Iván Fischer

Orchestra/Ensemble: Budapest Festival Orchestra

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6.

Szymanowski: Symphonies No 1 & 4, Concert Overture / Wit, Warsaw PO

Release Date: 04/28/2009 Label: Naxos Catalog: 8570722 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Karol Szymanowski

Performers: Jan Krzysztof Broja

Conductor: Antoni Wit

Orchestra/Ensemble: Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra

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7.

Chamber/Small Group

Echo - Glory Of Gabrieli / Canadian Brass

Release Date: 10/06/2009 Label: Opening Day Catalog: 7380 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Giovanni Gabrieli, Claudio Monteverdi, Samuel Scheidt

Performers: Eric Robertson, Joe Burgstaller, Brandon Ridenour, Jeff Nelson ...

Orchestra/Ensemble: Canadian Brass, Echo Brass

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8.

Ravel, Debussy, Faure: String Quartets / Quatuor Ebene

Release Date: 10/14/2008 Label: Virgin Classics Catalog: 19045 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Claude Debussy, Gabriel Fauré, Maurice Ravel

Performers: Mathieu Herzog, Pierre Colombet, Raphael Merlin, Gabriel Le Magadure

Orchestra/Ensemble: Quatuor Ebène

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9.

Faure: Piano Quintets No 1 & 2 / Cristina Ortiz, Fine Arts Quartet

Release Date: 06/30/2009 Label: Naxos Catalog: 8570938 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Gabriel Fauré

Performers: Ralph Evans, Efim Boico, Cristina Ortiz, Wolfgang Laufer ...

Orchestra/Ensemble: Fine Arts Quartet

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10.

Vocal

Sacrificium / Cecilia Bartoli

Release Date: 01/12/2010 Label: Decca Catalog: 001388602 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Leonardo Vinci, Carl Heinrich Graun, Nicolo Porpora, Leonardo Leo ...

Performers: Cecilia Bartoli

Conductor: Giovanni Antonini

Orchestra/Ensemble: Il Giardino Armonico

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11.

Furore - Handel: Opera Arias / Joyce DiDonato, Christopher Rousset, Les Talens Lyriques

Release Date: 01/13/2009 Label: Virgin Classics Catalog: 19038 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: George Frideric Handel

Performers: Joyce DiDonato, Dave Hendry, Josep Domenech

Conductor: Christophe Rousset

Orchestra/Ensemble: Les Talens Lyriques

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12.

Bel Canto Spectacular / Juan Diego Flórez

Release Date: 01/13/2009 Label: Decca Catalog: 001244502 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Gioachino Rossini, Gaetano Donizetti, Vincenzo Bellini

Performers: Placido Domingo, Juan Diego Flórez, Daniela Barcellona, Patrizia Ciofi ...

Conductor: Daniel Oren

Orchestra/Ensemble: Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana

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13.

Early Music

Diminuito / Rolf Lislevand

Release Date: 10/27/2009 Label: Ecm Catalog: 001335502 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Anonymous, Diego Ortiz, Giovanni Antonio Terzi, Alonso de Mudarra ...

Performers: Thor Harald Johnsen, Giovanna Pessi, Michael Behringer, Anna Maria Friman ...

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14.

Song Of Songs - Palestrina, Gombert, Lassus, Victoria / Stile Antico

Release Date: 04/14/2009 Label: Harmonia Mundi Catalog: 807489 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Jacobus Clemens non Papa, Giovanni Palestrina, Anonymous, Francisco Guerrero ...

Performers: Alison Hill, Benedict Hymas

Orchestra/Ensemble: Stile Antico

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15.

Teatro D'amore - Monteverdi: Zefiro Torna, Etc / Christina Pluhar, L'arpeggiata

Release Date: 02/10/2009 Label: Virgin Classics Catalog: 36140 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Claudio Monteverdi

Performers: Nuria Rial, Philippe Jaroussky, Joao Fernandes, Nicolas Achten ...

Conductor: Christina Pluhar

Orchestra/Ensemble: L'arpeggiata

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16.

Choral

Verdi: Requiem / Harteros, Ganassi, Villazon, Pape, Pappano

Release Date: 10/06/2009 Label: Emi Classics Catalog: 98936 Number of Discs: 2
Composer: Giuseppe Verdi

Performers: Sonia Ganassi, Anja Harteros, René Pape, Rolando Villazón

Conductor: Antonio Pappano

Orchestra/Ensemble: Santa Cecilia Academy Rome Chorus, Santa Cecilia Academy Rome Orchestra

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17.

Spanish Classics - Song Of The Stars

Release Date: 06/30/2009 Label: Naxos Catalog: 8570533 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Enrique Granados, Manuel Oltra, M Blancafort de Rosselló, Enrique Morera ...

Performers: Mark Kruczek, Douglas Riva, Erica Kiesewetter, Melissa Kelley

Conductor: Dennis Keene

Orchestra/Ensemble: Voices of Ascension

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18.

The Sacred Flame / John Rutter, Cambridge Singers, La Nuova Musica

Release Date: 05/05/2009 Label: Collegium Records Catalog: 134 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach, Heinrich Schütz, Hans Leo Hassler, Tomás Luis de Victoria ...

Performers: Katy Hill, James Holiday, Ben Breakwell, Gabriel Crouch ...

Conductor: John Rutter

Orchestra/Ensemble: Cambridge Singers, La nuova musica

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19.

Contemporary

Lauridsen: O Magnum Mysterium, Songs / Edison, Elora Festival Singers

Release Date: 10/27/2009 Label: Naxos Catalog: 8559304 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Morten Lauridsen

Conductor: Noel Edison

Orchestra/Ensemble: Elora Festival Singers

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20.

Bernstein: Mass / Sykes, Alsop, Baltimore SO

Release Date: 08/25/2009 Label: Naxos Catalog: 8559622-23 Number of Discs: 2
Composer: Leonard Bernstein

Performers: Jubilant Sykes

Conductor: Marin Alsop

Orchestra/Ensemble: Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

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21.

Pärt: In Principio / Kaljuste, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir

Release Date: 03/03/2009 Label: Ecm Catalog: 001259902 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Arvo Pärt

Conductor: Tönu Kaljuste

Orchestra/Ensemble: Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Estonian National Symphony Orchestra

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22.

Instrumental

Bach: Partitas No 1, 5 & 6 / Murray Perahia

Release Date: 09/01/2009 Label: Sony Catalog: 744361 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

Performers: Murray Perahia

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23.

Satie: Avant-Dernières Pensées - Solos & Duos / Alexandre Tharaud

Release Date: 02/10/2009 Label: Harmonia Mundi Catalog: 902017 Number of Discs: 2
Composer: Erik Satie

Performers: Alexandre Tharaud, Jean Delescluse, Isabelle Faust, David Guerrier ...

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24.

Vivaldi: Four Seasons (Arranged For Piano) / Jeffrey Biegel

Release Date: 06/30/2009 Label: Naxos Catalog: 8570031 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Antonio Vivaldi

Performers: Jeffrey Biegel

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25.

Opera

Ades: The Tempest / Keenlyside, Royal

Release Date: 06/30/2009 Label: Emi Classics Catalog: 95234 Number of Discs: 2
Composer: Thomas Adès

Performers: Ian Bostridge, Simon Keenlyside, Toby Spence, Kate Royal ...

Conductor: Thomas Adès

Orchestra/Ensemble: Royal Opera House Covent Garden Orchestra, Royal Opera House Covent Garden Chorus

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26.

Handel: Alcina / Curtis, DiDonato, Rensburg, Beaumont

Release Date: 04/14/2009 Label: Archiv Produktion (Dg) Catalog: 4777374 Number of Discs: 3
Composer: George Frideric Handel

Performers: Kobie van Rensburg, Vito Priante, Joyce DiDonato, Sonia Prina ...

Conductor: Alan Curtis

Orchestra/Ensemble: Il Complesso Barocco

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27.

Mozart: Idomeneo / Jacobs, Croft, Fink

Release Date: 06/09/2009 Label: Harmonia Mundi Catalog: 902036 Number of Discs: 3
Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Performers: Richard Croft, Bernarda Fink, Nicolas Rivenq, Alexandrina Pendatchanska ...

Conductor: René Jacobs

Orchestra/Ensemble: Berlin Radio Chamber Choir, Freiburg Baroque Orchestra

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28.

Historical

Edition Wilhelm Furtwängler - The Complete RIAS Recordings

Release Date: 06/09/2009 Label: Audite Catalog: 21403 Number of Discs: 13
Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven, Richard Wagner, Richard Strauss, Johannes Brahms ...

Performers: Gerhard Taschner, Yehudi Menuhin

Conductor: Wilhelm Furtwängler

Orchestra/Ensemble: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

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29.

Yehudi Menuhin - The Great EMI Recordings

Release Date: 04/21/2009 Label: Emi Classics Catalog: 64131 Number of Discs: 50
Composer: Johannes Brahms, Lili Boulanger, Ernest Bloch, Ludwig van Beethoven ...

Performers: Yehudi Menuhin, Ferguson Webster, Derek Simpson, Robert Masters ...

Conductor: Sir Adrian Boult, John Pritchard, George Enescu, Sir William Walton ...

Orchestra/Ensemble: London Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, Colonne Concerts Orchestra ...

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30.

DVD

Stravinsky & The Ballets Russes / Gergiev, Mariinsky Theatre

Release Date: 10/27/2009 Label: Bel Air Classiques Catalog: 41 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Igor Stravinsky

Conductor: Valery Gergiev

Orchestra/Ensemble: St. Petersburg Mariinsky Theater Orchestra

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31.

The Inaugural Concert / Dudamel, Los Angeles Philharmonic

Release Date: 12/15/2009 Label: Deutsche Grammophon Catalog: 001363809 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Gustav Mahler, John Adams

Conductor: Gustavo Dudamel

Orchestra/Ensemble: Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra

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32.

Messiaen: Saint Francois d'Assise / Metzmacher, Tilling, Gilfry, Hague Philharmonic

Release Date: 04/28/2009 Label: Opus Arte Catalog: 1007 Number of Discs: 3
Composer: Olivier Messiaen

Performers: Camilla Tilling, Hubert Delamboye, Rodney Gilfry, Henk Neven ...

Conductor: Ingo Metzmacher

Orchestra/Ensemble: Netherlands Opera Chorus, Hague Philharmonic Orchestra

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33.

Reissue

Weill: The Threepenny Opera / 1976 Public Theater Revival

Release Date: 04/07/2009 Label: Sony Catalog: 51520 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Kurt Weill

Performers: Raul Julia, Elizabeth Wilson, Robert Schlee, Roy Brocksmith ...

Orchestra/Ensemble: Orchestra

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34.

Carnegie Hall Presents: Bernstein - The Mahler Symphonies

Release Date: 04/14/2009 Label: Sony Catalog: 745369 Number of Discs: 12
Composer: Gustav Mahler

Performers: Gwenyth Annear, Dame Gwyneth Jones, Erna Spoorenberg, Anna Reynolds ...

Conductor: Leonard Bernstein

Orchestra/Ensemble: New York Philharmonic, London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra ...

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35.

Brahms: String Quartets & Quintets / Guarneri Quartet

Release Date: 02/03/2009 Label: Rca Catalog: 94195 Number of Discs: 2
Composer: Johannes Brahms

Performers: Arnold Steinhardt, John Dalley, David Soyer, Michael Tree ...

Orchestra/Ensemble: Guarneri String Quartet

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The Best Classical Recordings of 2009