Best Classical CDs of 2004

1. Crumb
Orchestra 2001, Miró Quartet
Complete Crumb Edition, Vol. 7: Unto the Hills, Black Angels (Bridge)

This album includes the first commercial recording of George Crumb's fascinating ongoing "American Songbook" — a Philadelphia performance, in fact, titled Unto the Hills. This performance is separated by more than 30 years from the masterpiece Black Angels, written in the Vietnam era for amplified string quartet. Time has not diminished the astonishing power of this landmark work.

2. Feinberg
Nikolaos Samaltanos, Christophe Sirodeau, piano
Piano Sonatas 7-12 (Bis)

A generation of major Russian musicians were hidden from the Western world during the time of Stalin, including the pianist and composer Samuil Feinberg. His music is drenched with Scriabin-like chromaticism and great density, but like the music of Scriabin and Rachmaninoff, his grand vision builds a firm, powerful structure from a mountain of notes.

3. Vivaldi
The English Concert; Andrew Manze, violin and director
Concertos for the Emperor (Harmonia Mundi)

Andrew Manze is a second-generation period instrumentalist, with no axe to grind but the desire to make the music come alive. This he does with gusto, as in these bracing, incisive performances of Vivaldi's sparkling scores.

4. Mozart
René Jacobs, conductor
Marriage of Figaro (Harmonia Mundi)

Here is the much anticipated follow-up to the brilliant Così fan tutte from Jacobs, et al. Everything about this performance radiates freshness and pointed theatricality. Mozart lives!

5. Jacqueline du Pré
Jacqueline du Pré in Portrait (BBC Opus Arte)

British cellist du Pré, whose career, and then life, were cut short by multiple sclerosis, has become a romanticized, legendary figure. Her voluptuous, heart-on-sleeve music-making is not for the demure listener, but she makes the cello sound like a human voice. On this CD and accompanying DVD, her accompanist, both at the piano and as conductor, was her husband, Daniel Barenboim.

6. Jussi Björling
Rediscovered (RCA)

This is a reissue of a legendary 1955 Carnegie Hall recital by the Swedish tenor who was, for an ardent segment of cognoscenti, the tenor. You can hear the audience excitement crackling in the background as he starts going through his encores, with amazing strength and fabulous soaring tone. If you can listen to his rendition of "Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair" and remain dry-eyed, you must be made of stone.

7. Rolando Villazón
Italian Opera Arias (Virgin)

This rapturous CD is like a time capsule. Villazõn, a Mexico City native, conjures the fabled voices of Italian opera, including Caruso, Martinelli and Gigli. He can throw out a big, grand sound, but his voice is most beautiful at lower levels, which is far more impressive (check it out, Pavarotti fans). Make no mistake; here is a great voice for our time.

8. Higdon
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Robert Spano conductor
City Scape; Concerto for Orchestra (Telarc)

Local yokel Jennifer Higdon's star continues to rise. She writes new music that almost everyone seems to like, such as these bright, vivacious scores. No less than Matt Groening (of Simpsons fame) has placed this album on his 10-best list this year. Who are we to argue?

9. Brahms
Wilhelm Backhaus, piano
Piano Concerto No. 1 (Naxos Historical)

Naxos, while still selling CDs at budget rates, continues to demonstrate why it is the most vital classical music label around. Here is a remarkable disc from its historical series; Backhaus was one of the great lions of the golden age of the piano, and this 1932 recording captures him in full, glorious roar.

10. Lindberg
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra; Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor
Piano Concerto; Kraft (Ondine)

Magnus Lindberg is a sort of Scandinavian version of our own Christopher Rouse, finding expression in sheer volume of sound and wild diversity of texture. These pieces are huge in every sense, and the antithesis of elevator music. You might not like what you hear (or you might love it), but you have to listen.