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Naxos is proud of its unparalleled range of recordings, which include great music central to the classical repertoire as well as countless less familiar yet equally interesting and enjoyable works, many of which are difficult if not impossible to find on any other label.
During 2009, hundreds of Naxos recordings gained top reviews around the world and were featured on our monthly Critics’ Choice pages. This month, in addition to the Critics’ Choices for December 2009, we present the 40 Naxos CDs which featured most frequently as Critics’ Choices throughout the year. We also include some critically acclaimed Naxos DVDs and albums from our distributed labels.
If you’re expecting to see yet another list of ‘the same old compositions’—think again! Naxos’s commitment to exploration, our artists’ passion for unfairly neglected repertoire, our customers’ thirst for exciting musical discoveries, and the enthusiasm of expert critics combine to produce an intriguing ‘Top 40’.
Please click on each cover image below for more information about each album, and to purchase from leading online retailers.
The Daily Telegraph – A REVELATORY AND RICHLY RECORDED DISC
Gramophone – AN ESSENTIAL CD
BBC Music magazine – 5 STARS
MusicWeb International – MOST REWARDING COPLAND
Liverpool Daily Post – GOOD TUNES AND SYNCOPATIONS
Pizzicato – 5 QUAVERS
Classics Today – 9/9
American Record Guide – THE PLAYING HERE IS FANTASTIC
CD Hotlist – HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Turok’s Choice – TERRIFICALLY PERFORMED
Fanfare – STRONGLY RECOMMENDED
CLOFO.com – PELLUCID AND WELL FOCUSED
klassisk.com – 4 STARS
InsideCatholic – A WONDERFUL ROMP
MusicWeb International – CAPTIVATING MUSIC, ELOQUENTLY PLAYED
allmusic.com – THOROUGHLY ATTRACTIVE CONCERTOS
Audiophile Audition – 4 STARS
Fanfare – A GOLD STAR WINNER
Gramophone – ENTERTAINING VISIONS OF ENGLAND
American Record Guide – SOUND IS SPACIOUS AND DETAILED
Manchester Evening News – A CONVENIENT COLLECTION
The Herald – DEFINITIVE
Gramophone – DECIDEDLY IMPRESSIVE
Allmusic.com – IT’S SMART, IT’S SASSY
Classics Today – 10/9
Fanfare – INDISPENSIBLE
Dallas Morning News – SUPERB RECORDINGS
Classical Net – ENTHUSIASTIC RECOMMENDATION
GRAMOPHONE AWARD 2009 Best Orchestral Recording
cliffsclassics.com – A WELCOME ADDITION
Yorkshire Post – ABSOLUTELY RIVETING
MusicWeb International – FLAIR & SENSITIVITY
MusicWeb International – THRILLING
klassik.com – 4 STARS
Limelight magazine – 4 STARS
Gramophone – NOT TO BE MISSED
Pizzicato – 5 QUAVERS
Musica – 4/5 (Ottimo)
The Strad – ELECTRIC AND LYRICAL PERFORMANCES
The Strad – SEMI-PRECIOUS GEMS
Classical Source – EXTREMELY WELL PLAYED
Sequenza 21 – A WONDERFUL COLLECTION
Fono Forum – CONVINCING
American Record Guide – RHYTHMICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY EXCITING
Turok’s Choice – KOSOWER IS A TERRIFIC CELLIST
Ritmo – 4/4 (Excelente)
Phono Forum – 4 STARS
Diapason – SUPERBE
Monde de la Musique – 4 STARS
Ritmo – 4/4 (Excelente)
Rondo – 4 STARS
Luister – 4 STARS
American Record Guide – AN UNUSUALLY EFFECTIVE SET OF PERFORMANCES
MusicWeb International – URBANE IMPRESSIONISM
Classics Today – 10/10
American Record Guide – I AM EAGER TO HEAR MORE
InsideCatholic – MARVELOUS IMAGINATION
Classical Net – TERRIFIC CD
Fanfare – A TOP RECOMMENDATION
MusicWeb International – AN INTERESTING BUY, EXTREMELY WELL PLAYED
allmusic – 3.5 STARS
MusicWeb International – REVELATORY PERFORMANCE
Gramophone – EXCEPTIONAL
BBC Music magazine – 4 STARS
Audiophile Audition – 4 STARS
Classica Repertoire – 3 HEADPHONES
Albion Magazine – TWO DELIGHTFUL WORKS
MusicWeb International – THE PRICE MAY BE LOW BUT THE QUALITY OF THE PRODUCT IS MOST CERTAINLY NOT
The Star-Ledger – INVALUABLE DISC
MusicWeb International – REFRESHINGLY NEW
Sequenza21.com – VIBRANT MUSIC
Dvořák Society Newsletter – VERY CONVINCING
Gramophone – TREASURE UPON TREASURE
American Record Guide – ANOTHER TRIUMPH FOR NAXOS
Classical Lost and Found – AUDIOPHILE
Yorkshire Post – A “MUST BUY” RELEASE
InsideCatholic.com – CRYSTAL-CLEAR
The Times – PLAYING OF REAL QUALITY
MusicWeb International – TERRIFIC DISC!
MusicWeb International – SHOULD NOT BE MISSED AT ANY COST
winnipegfreepress.com – VERY SYMPATHETICALLY PLAYED
Fanfare – RECOMMENDED
MusicWeb International – VERY ATTRACTIVE
MusicWeb International – AMONGST MY CHOICE OF RECORDINGS FOR 2009
Gramophone – SPELLBINDING REPERTOIRE
allmusic.com – RIVALS THE BEST OF THE BEST FULL-PRICE LABELS
Classics Today – 9/9
Dallas Morning News – IMMEDIATELY APPEALING
Fanfare – RECOMMENDED TO BAX ADMIRERS EVERYWHERE
Classics Today – 9/9
Gramophone – MASTERLY PERFORMANCE…A SPLENDID BARGAIN
BBC Music Magazine – WELL WORTH HEARING FOR QUINT’S PASSIONATELY COMMITTED PERFORMANCE
MusicWeb International – A DELIGHTFUL DISC…NICE ONE, NAXOS.
ScreenSounds – THOROUGHLY ENTERTAINING
The Strad – 4 STARS
Classic FM – RICHLY ENJOYABLE
cliffsclassics.com – COUNTLESS HOURS OF PLEASURE
ClassicsToday – 8/8
MusicWeb International – A FINE ACHIEVEMENT…DEEPLY ENJOYABLE
allmusic.com – AN ABSOLUTE MUST
American Record Guide – THE KODALY’S DO THESE WORKS JUSTICE
MusicWeb International – IT HAS NO COMPETITION
David’s Review Corner – MOST STRONGLY RECOMMENDED
allmusic.com – FINE INTERPRETATIONS
MusicWeb International – GERARD SCHWARZ…PUTS GENUINE LOVE AND ATTENTION INTO EVERY ONE OF THES PIECES
The Dallas Morning News – WELL WORTH HEARING
Classical Lost and Found – RECOMMENDED
MusicWeb International – ONE OF NAXOS’S BEST
MusicWeb International – EAR-TINGLING DETAIL
Classical Net – BEAUTIFUL MUSIC…WELL WORTH HEARING
allmusic.com – IMMEDIATELY ACCESSIBLE…RECOMMENDED
gatheringnote.org – BROAD SWEEPING MUSIC
American Record Guide – A PLEASURE TO HEAR
Inside Catholic – SOARING LYRICISM AND PASSION
CLOFO.com – TREASURE THIS DISC!
Baltimore Sun – MAJOR ADDITION TO THE REPERTOIRE
Classical Net – ENGAGING
Fanfare – STRONG RECOMMENDATION
American Record Guide – VERY ATTRACTIVE MUSIC
Newmusicbox – SHARP, RHYTHMICALLY TIGHT, BRILLIANTLY IN TUNE…AND LOUD
Music & Vision – THE PERFORMANCE COULD NOT BE BETTERED
Classics Today – 9/10
Bandworld – YOUR IMAGINATION & MUSIC SENSES WILL BE WELL REWARDED
Gramophone – SPECTACULAR…A SUBSTANTIAL WORK
MusicWeb International – ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECES WRITTEN FOR BAND FOR SOME TIME
The West Australian – SUPERB
Pitchfork – ENLIGHTENING AND REFRESHING
MusicWeb International – THE STAMP OF AUTHORITY
San Francisco Chronicle – EDGY, AGGRESSIVE, THOUGHTFUL AND IRONIC
Allmusic.com – POST-MINIMALIST DEVELOPMENTS
PopMatters – A SERIOUS ACCOMPLISHMENT
The Classical Music Guide – HEARTILY RECOMMENDED!
The Yorkshire Post – A DAZZLING DISPLAY
klassik.com – 4 STARS
American Record Guide – A SPLENDID INTRODUCTION TO THE MUSIC OF PIERRE RODE
Fanfare – STRONGLY RECOMMENDED
Fanfare – NO FANCIER OF THE VIOLIN SHOULD BE WITHOUT THIS DISC
MusicWeb International – A CRITICAL PART OF HIS REPERTOIRE
allmusic.com – A WEALTH OF MELODIC INVENTION
MusicWeb International – WILL ENHANCE ANY RECORD COLLECTION
BBC Music Magazine – 5 STARS
Gramophone – A THOROUGHLY DESIRABLE RELEASE
Classical Lost and Found – AUDIOPHILE
Classics Today – 10/10
MusicWeb International – SETTING NEW STANDARDS IN THIS REPERTOIRE
allmusic.com – THOROUGHLY ENJOYABLE
Atlanta Audio Society – LUXURIANTLY SCORED MUSIC…HARD TO RESIST
The Buffalo News – RESTLESS, PROTEAN AND EXTRAORDINARY TALENT
BBC Music Magazine – 5 STARS
ScreenSounds – HIS DISTINCTIVE STYLE SHINES THROUGH
Gramophone – STRENGTH AND APPEAL
MusicWeb International – A TRULY REMARKABLE COMPOSER
klassik.com – 4 STARS
American Record Guide – A MAGNIFICENT WORK
Fanfare – DEEPLY SATISFYING
The Sunday telegraph – EVOCATIVELY PLAYED
MusicWeb International – AN HOUR OF DELICIOUS LISTENING
Gramophone – IMPRESSIVE IMPRESSIONIST COLLECTION
MusicWeb International – VERY SATISFYING
American Record Guide – EXPERTLY AND SENSITIVELY PLAYED
Fanfare – ONE HECK OF A GOOD PERFORMANCE
MusicWeb International – IMPORTANT ADDITION TO THE CATALOGUE
All About Jazz – THE HANDS OF A MASTER ROMANTIC
classicalnet.com – YOUTHFUL HUMOUR AND JOY
Classical Net – YOUTHFUL HUMOR AND JOY
allaboutjazz.com – AN IMPORTANT BEETHOVEN RENAISSANCE IS UNDERWAY
allmusic.com – A MAJOR STATEMENT
Liverpool Daily Post – ATTRACTED BY THE NAXOS SPANISH CLASSICS SERIES
MusicWeb International – A VERY ATTRACTIVE DISC
Scherzo – EXCEPCIONAL
Classics Today – 9/9
Gramophone – ALLURING IBERIAN EXOTICISM
Fanfare – WELCOME COLLECTION…LOTS OF FUN
Classics Today – 10/10
Score Notes – EXCELLENT CLASSICAL FILM MUSIC
MusicWeb International – HAS SHOWN US NEW SIDES OF SHOSTAKOVICH’S ENDEAVOR
allmusic.com – WELL WORTH HEARING
Gramophone – SHOULD BE IN EVERY SHOSTAKOVICH COLLECTION
Classical Net – RECOMMENDED
Toronto Star – GREAT RECORDING
The Washington Post – EXUBERANT…ONE OF ALSOP’S HAPPIEST ACHIEVEMENTS
The Baltimore Sun – THOROUGHLY PERSUASIVE AND INVOLVING
MusicWeb International – A TRUE REVELATION
infodad.com – EMOTIONALISM AND STRONG PERSONAL INVOLVEMENT
Gramophone – TRIUMPHANT
cliffsclassics.com – BELONGS IN EVERY SERIOUS MUSIC LOVER’S LIBRARY
Audiophile Audition – 5 STARS
cliffsclassics.com – LANDMARK ANTHOLOGY
Classical Net – STRONGLY RECOMMENDED
MusicWeb International – A GREAT SET
The New Recordings – LOVELY CREATIONS
Classical Net – RECOMMENDED
Audiophile Audition – 5 STARS
Gramophone – ENJOYABLE AND ECONOMICAL…AN INEXPENSIVE TREAT
Music & Vision – TITANIC, ZEALOUS STUFF
BBC Music magazine – 5 STARS
Charlestown Gazette – BEST RECORDING I HAVE HEARD THIS YEAR
2 GRAMMY AWARDS – Best Classical Vocal Performance & Best Classical Contemporary Composition
The Weekend Australian – 5 STARS
Classics Today – MORE GIANNINI, PLEASE
allmusic.com – WELL CRAFTED, IMAGINATIVE
American Record Guide – ENDOWED WITH GENEROUS, HUMANE EMOTION
Classical Net – EXPRESSIVE, HEARTFELT MUSIC
Fanfare – DAZZLING COMBINATION OF PASSION AND PRECISION
Sequenza21.com – STRONG AND EXPRESSIVE
Gramophone – INDISPENSABLE
freep.com – LOCATES THE EMOTIONAL CORE WITH STRIKING EASE
NewMusicBox – DRAMA, HUMOUR, PASSION
Fanfare – A TRIUMPH OF ADVENTUROUS AND STUNNING MUSIC-MAKING
Pizzicato – 5 QUAVERS
GlobeandMail.com – EXQUISITELY PERFORMED
Sequenza21.com – VALUABLE
MusicWeb International – TESTIMONY TO AN ASTONISHING MUSICAL PERSONALITY
thewholenote – A STANDOUT
MusicWeb International – BARGAIN OF THE MONTH…PERFECTION
GuideLive – GRAB UP ALL FOUR VOLUMES [Boxed Set 8.504016]
The Wholenote – EXEMPLARY PLAYING
American Record Guide – EXCELLENT IN EVERY WAY
Gramophone – THE ART OF LUTE-PLAYING AT ITS MOST REFINED AND SENSITIVE
Gramophone – APPEALING
limelight – 4 ½ STARS
MusicWeb International – SONGFUL CONCERTOS
American Record Guide – AN EXCELLENT ADDITION TO THE LIBRARY
Fanfare – URGENTLY RECOMMENDED
MusicWeb International – NEBOLSIN GREATLY IMPRESSES
Gramophone – POWER AND POETRY
MusicWeb International – EXCEPTIONALLY POWERFUL AND REALISTIC RECORDING
Classic FM – 4 STARS
American Record Guide – KEEPS YOU ON THE EDGE OF YOUR SEAT
Yorkshire Post – MOST ENGAGING
MusicWeb International – A MUST FOR ALL IRELAND ENTHUSIASTS
CLOFO.com – AUDIOPHILE
Gramophone – RAVISHING PLAYING
Fanfare – STRONGLY RECOMMENDED
The New Recordings – STELLAR AND RICHLY INSPIRED PERFORMANCES
MusicWeb International – LYRICAL MUSIC-MAKING OF THE FIRST ORDER
The Wholenote – CLEAR AND NATURAL
Winnipegfreepress.com – DELIGHTFUL RELEASE
American Record Guide – STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL VIOLIN PLAYING
Classical Source – A TOP-NOTCH RELEASE
Strings Magazine – BRILLIANT AND GENEROUS HUNGARIAN RECITAL
All Music Guide – IMMENSE PRECISION…WITH A WARM, VELVETY TONE
Ritmo – 4/4 (Excelente)
MusicWeb International – A WINNING RECITAL
Gramophone – BRILLIANT FILM
Opera Today – A BRILLIANT ADAPTATION OF MONTEVERDI’S FOURTH BOOK OF MADRIGALS THAT IS TOTALLY FAITHFUL TO THE COMPOSER’S MUSIC
The Times – A BRILLIANT FILM…A SEARING DRAMATISATION
Fono Forum – LA BOUCHARDIÈRE’S CONCEPT FINDS ITS IDEAL REALISATION IN FILM. BRILLIANT.
Classics FM – BRILLIANT (5 STARS)
American Record Guide – FANTASTIC! I WISH THE WORD ‘BRILLIANT’ HAD NOT BEEN SO OVERUSED, SO THAT I COULD SUMMON IT TO PRAISE THIS FILM
Musica – 4/5 (Ottimo)
MusicWeb International – RECORDING OF THE MONTH
David’s Review Corner – VIVID PERFORMANCE
Video Librarian – RECOMMENDED
American Record Guide – HIGH COMEDY…THE SINGING IS QUITE FINE
David’s Review Corner – A SUPERB PRESENTATION OF THE HIGHLY AMUSING COMEDY
MusicWeb International – RECORDING OF THE MONTH
Classical Net – FINE RENDITION OF THIS DONIZETTI MASTERPIECE. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
David’s Review Corner – A RELEASE I MUCH COMMEND
allmusic.com – INTENSE AND PASSIONATE
Turok’s Choice – EXCELLENT PERFORMANCES…EXCELLENT SOUND
American Record Guide – VERY VERSATILE COMPOSER
allmusic.com – ENGAGING AND ENJOYABLE
Classical Lost and Found – A SONIC EXTRAVAGANZA OF CONSIDERABLE PROPORTIONS
Audiophile Audition – 4STARS
Classics Today – REALLY GOOD CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
Classical CD Review – AN OUTSTANDING RELEASE. GET IT!
Audiophile Audition – 4 STARS
American Record Guide – ONE OF THE YEAR’S BEST RELEASES
Classics Today – 10/10
ClassicsToday – 10/10
allmusic.com – COGENCY AND POLISH
WETA FM – URGENTLY RECOMMENDED
MusicWeb International – EXCITING TEXTURES AND MYSTERY
Fanfare – IDIOMATIC AND COMMITTED…A LOT OF FUN
San Francisco Chronicle – EXCELLENT…WONDERFULLY IDIOSYNCRATIC
David’s Review Corner – PROVES MODERN MUSIC CAN BE INSTANTLY LIKEABLE
The New York Times – HIGH ENERGY PERFORMANCE
The Philadelphia Inquirer – 4 STARS
Audiophile Audition – 4 STARS
Classics Today – 10/10
allmusic – 4 STARS
CD Hotlist – EXCELLENT
Baker & Taylor CD Hotlist – A MUST
American Record Guide – MASTERY OF THE “SWEDISH MOZART”
Fanfare – OUTSTANDING
MusicWeb International – A DELIGHTFUL PROGRAMME
American Record Guide – KIRKBY’S HANDEL IS OF SPECIAL MERIT
Baker & Taylor CD Hotlist – THE PIECES ARE ALL DELIGHTFUL
American Record Guide – VERY FINE PERIOD INSTRUMENT PERFORMANCES
Turok’s Choice – ESSENTIAL
Evening Standard – 4 STARS, RATHER JOLLY REQUIEM
Allmusic.com – ENTHUSISTICALLY RECOMMENDED
Turok’s Choice – ESSENTIAL
American Record Guide – WORTH THE ATTENTION OF HAYDN COLLECTORS
Turok’s Choice – ESSENTIAL
Fanfare – HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
The New Recordings – ALTOGETHER FUN CD
MusicWeb International – GREAT FUN
American Record Guide – AS GOOD AS ONE WILL HEAR