Top 10 Classical

by Peter Burwasser

1 Ursula Oppens
Oppens Plays Carter
(Cedille)

Two of the works in this collection of solo piano music by Elliott Carter, who turned 100 this past year, have now entered the standard repertoire: the early Piano Sonata and "Night Fantasies." The longtime advocacy of this fantastic, beguiling music by Ursula Oppens, one of the great champions of new music, is a major reason why.

2 Various Performers
Americans in Rome
(Bridge)

This four-CD set is a remarkable survey of American art music in the preceding century, highlighting residences at the celebrated American Academy in Rome. A history lesson, but a very satisfying one.

3 Piffaro
Kile Smith: Vespers
(Navona)

Good for Philadelphian Kile Smith for creating a worldwide buzz with this exceptionally beautiful work commissioned and performed by Piffaro, our acclaimed Renaissance ensemble. Vespers sneaks up on you, like a velvety cocktail, and then you are hooked.

4 Georges Cziffra
Cziffra in Tokyo 1964
(Medici Arts)

Georges Cziffra had one of the most spectacular piano debuts in recent history, but even early on was bedeviled by willful mannerisms. When he is on, the results are phenomenally thrilling — as on this recording of music by Chopin and Liszt — but even on a bad day, well, there is something perversely attractive about a train wreck.

5 Danish National Symphony Orchestra
Plateaux Pour Piano et Orchestre
(Dacapo)

Danish composer Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen is the real deal, a complete package. He has a superb sense for timbral blending; produces original melodic material; and presents it all in a cohesive, sensible architecture. This is one of the most compelling new piano concertos in recent memory.

6 John Cheek
J. Mark Scearce: The 99 Beautiful Names of God
(Albany)

This is, rather provocatively, a work inspired by the Koran, 99 separate reflections on the image of the Almighty. The music is rich and lovely, in the spirit of such multilayered solo piano jaunts from Bach, Beethoven and Brahms. Fascinating and moving.

7 Christian Zacharias
Mozart Piano Concertos Vol. 4
(MDG)

8 Various Performers
Music of Stefan Wolpe, Vol. 5: Lazy Andy Ant
(Bridge)

This is volume five of a survey of the music by great modernist (and, briefly, Philadelphia resident) Stefan Wolpe, including, improbably but delightfully, music for a children's puppet play. Also superb music for piano four-hands.

9 Paul Badura-Skoda
Chopin Etudes
(Music and Arts)

The great Viennese classicist is not known for much repertoire outside the central European canon (in America, anyway), but here he is in a vintage recording of one of the Everests of solo piano music, with playing as vivid and expressive as any in the catalog.

10 Leonard Bernstein
Mahler: The Complete Symphonies
(Sony)

Mahler, Mahler everywhere — but it wasn't always so. It was Lenny's recordings, more than anyone else's, that put this music on the map. This newest production, in excellent remasters, is a nice, shiny tribute to that accomplishment.

(p_burwasser@citypaper.net)