Best Recordings of 2017

Time for a review of classical CDs that were outstanding in 2017 (published in whole on Forbes.com here and here (Part II)).

My lists for the previous years: 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, (2011 – “Almost”), 2010, (2010 – “Almost”), 2009, (2009 – “Almost”), 2008, (2008 - "Almost") 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004.

# 1 - New Release

Franz Schubert, Die Schöne Müllerin, Christian Gerhaher, Gerold Huber, Sony Classical

Franz Schubert, Die Schöne Müllerin, Christian Gerhaher, Gerold Huber Sony Classical

Hyperbole has little room in classical music – it’s too blunt, usually inaccurate, ever unsubtle, mostly unsuitable, and a bit in bad taste. But it gets eyeballs.

And in this case, some hyperbole might just apply. Christian Gerhaher and Gerold Huber, that perfect symbiosis for all matters Lied, mélodie, and artsong (but especially Lied), have… has re-recorded Franz Schubert’s song cycle Die Schöne Müllerin after putting their first go at it on record 14 years ago (Arte Nova).

I had been counting the days, for years. GerhaherHuber (one word) is to Lied what Willie Mays and Babe Ruth, rolled into one, were to Baseball. (Read the full review here: Review: Oh, Only The Best Schöne Müllerin Ever!)...

# 1 – Reissue

Ludwig van Beethoven, String Quartets +, Takács Quartet, Decca

Ludwig van Beethoven, The String Quartets +, Takács Quartet, Decca

...taking everything into consideration, across all 16 ¼ quartets, my favorite so far remains the Takács Quartet. And not just mine: Their interpretations have long been the rightly forerunner among modern interpretations of the Beethoven String Quartets. Interestingly these recordings – jewels in the Decca catalogue – were long treated more like step-children. The line-up in those years was that of Edward Dusinberre, Károly Schranz, Roger Tapping, András Fejér, which was an 11-year golden period for the quartet (Roger Tapping left in 2005).

The recordings had to be financed because Decca wouldn’t front the bill, despite their great success. (Admittedly, Decca couldn’t have known who successful they’d become… at least not before the first box had hit the market.)...



The complete list of the "Best Classical Recordings of 2017 on Forbes.com can be found here, for new releases. For re-issues, the link is here



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