<B>Mozart: Piano Music</B><BR>
Sonata in a, K.310; March in C, K.408; Courante in E-flat, K.399; Gigue in G, K.574; Rondo in a, K.511; Sonata in F, K.533/494
Richard Goode, piano
Nonesuch 79831-2 (CD). 2005. Max Wilcox, prod., eng. DDD. TT: 59:32<BR>
Performance <B>*****</B><BR>
Sonics <B>*****</B>
<B>VIVALDI: <I>La Stravaganza</I></B><BR> 12 Violin Concertos, Op.4<BR> Rachel Podger, violin; Arte dei Suonatori<BR> Channel Classics CCS 19598 (2 CDs). 2003. Jonathan Freeman-Attwood, prod.; C. Jared Sacks, eng. DDD. TT: 102:59<BR>Performance <B>*****</B><BR> Sonics <B>*****</B>
<IMG SRC="/images/archivesart/40thlogo.jpg" WIDTH=150 HEIGHT=150 HSPACE=6 VSPACE=4 BORDER=0 ALIGN=LEFT>And I used to think our annual "<A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/showcategory.cgi?category=Records%202%20Die%… To Die For</A>" issue was difficult. Whew! When it came down to choosing the 40 most influential rock/pop, jazz, and classical records of the past 40 years, during which this magazine has been the most honest and enjoyable source of high-end audio journalism, my initial list contained more than 200 choices. A painful paring-down process ensued, with input from every member of the <I>Stereophile</I> staff.
<B>SCHOENBERG: <I>Gurrelieder</I></B><BR> Karita Mattila, soprano; Anne Sofie von Otter, mezzo-soprano; Thomas Moser, Philip Langridge, tenors; Thomas Quasthoff, bass-baritone, speaker; Gentlemen of the Ernst Senff Choir, Berlin Radio Chorus, Leipzig Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk Chorus; Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Simon Rattle<BR> EMI 5 57303 2 (2 CDs). 2002. Stephen Johns, prod.; Graham Kirkby, Andy Beer, Mike Cox, engs. DDD. TT: 110:14<BR> Performance <B>****</B><BR> Sonics <B>****</B></B>
<B>TRIO MEDIAEVAL: <I>Words of The Angel</I></B><BR> <B>Anonymous</B>: <I>Messe de Tournai</I>. <B>Moody</B>: <I>Words of The Angel</I>. Misc. 13th-century monophonic and 14th-century polyphonic works. Trio Mediaeval: Anna Maria Friman, Linn Andrea Fuglseth, Torunn Østrem Ossum, sopranos<BR> ECM 1753 (CD). 2001. John Potter, prod.; Peter Laenger, eng. DDD. TT: 65:45<BR> Performance <B>*****</B><BR> Sonics <B>*****</B>
<B>MOZART: <I>Così fan tutte</I></B><BR> Véronique Gens, Fiordiligi; Bernarda Fink, Dorabella; Werner Güra, Ferrando; Marcel Boone, Guglielmo; Pietro Spagnoli; Graciela Oddone, Despina; Kölner Kammerchor, Concerto Köln, René Jacobs<BR> Harmonia Mundi 951663.65 (3 CDs). 1999. Barbara Valentin, artistic dir.; Mark Hohn, eng. DDD. TT: 3:21:09<BR> Performance <B>*****</B><BR> Sonics *****</B>