From the December 28 issue of Time Out New York (on newsstands this afternoon), here are my lists of the year's top ten classical events, classical recordings and non-classical recordings. TONY's list of top non-classical live events, which was assembled by the entire music staff, included two of my choices: Anthony Braxton's 12(+1)tet at Iridium and Ornette Coleman at Carnegie Hall.
CLASSICAL EVENTS (NYC-only, roughly chronological)
New York Philharmonic "Hear and Now" Concerts: Hosted by sharp, affable composer Steven Stucky, these midweek concerts offered valuable glimpses of the creative process in new music.
Lincoln Center's Golijov Festival: Lincoln Center did itself proud when it mounted a major celebration of a significant modern composer, including plenty of context.
Hercules at BAM: Luc Bondy's spare, elegant staging gave Joyce DiDonato plenty of room for a harrowing portrayal of a Handel heroine coming unhinged.
Valery Gergiev's Shostakovich cycle: Leading two orchestras in seven concerts during the spring and fall, the Russian maestro cut straight to the heart of works both familiar and obscure.
Lysistrata at New York City Opera: Mark Adamo's sexy, sassy comedy proved that contemporary opera can be genuinely funny -- and touching -- without pandering.
Student composer concerts: Students from New York University, Columbia University and the Juilliard School revealed a refreshing range of fresh, individual voices, sans dogma.
"Steve Reich @ 70": An unprecedented collaboration between Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and BAM celebrated one of our foremost composers while he was still around to participate.
The new season at the Metropolitan Opera: Anthony Minghella's visually stunning Madama Butterfly and Bartlett Sher's larky Il Barbiere di Siviglia lived up to the buzz generated by Peter Gelb's new regime.
Semele at New York City Opera: The company's hot streak in Handel was extended by this playfully staged oratorio, which featured daredevil singing by Vivica Genaux.
Pierre Laurent Aimard at Zankel Hall: The masterful French pianist interrupted his previously scheduled programming for an impromptu world premiere on Elliott Carter's 90th birthday.
CLASSICAL RECORDINGS
Peter Lieberson: Neruda Songs (Nonesuch) The late, lamented mezzo Lorraine Hunt Lieberson poured her heart, soul and voice into her husband's radiant love poems.
(ArkivMusic, Barnes & Noble)
Richard Wagner: Die Walküre (Testament) Hans Hotter's anguished intensity in Wotan's Act Two soliloquy is but one high point in a magnificent, previously unissued 1955 Ring cycle.
(ArkivMusic, Barnes & Noble)
Claudio Monteverdi: Vespers of 1610 (Hyperion) Robert King leads his King's Consort in a performance of regal poise and pious grace, in a recording made possible by true believers.
(ArkivMusic, Barnes & Noble)
Osvaldo Golijov: Ainadamar (Deutsche Grammophon) Golijov's chamber-opera fantasy on the death of Lorca is charged with heated passion, fiery love and a riveting machine-gun fugue.
(ArkivMusic, Barnes & Noble)
Frederic Chopin: Waltzes (Harmonia Mundi) Alexandre Tharaud weaves Chopin's 19 waltzes into a compelling, personalized tapestry of intoxicating melody.
(ArkivMusic, Barnes & Noble)
Magnus Lindberg: Clarinet Concerto (Ondine) Stellar soloist Kari Kriikku takes center stage on a disc of contemporary works as communicative as they are inventive.
(ArkivMusic, Barnes & Noble)
John Adams: My Father Knew Charles Ives; The Dharma at Big Sur (Nonesuch) The composer conducts authoritative accounts of two of his most evocative, engaging recent works.
(ArkivMusic, Barnes & Noble)
Ben Johnston: String Quartets Nos. 2, 3, 4 and 9 (New World) The Kepler Quartet presses this American maverick's cause with the initial volume of a commanding complete run.
(ArkivMusic)
Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 6 (Ondine) Christoph Eschenbach's tenure with the Philadelphia Orchestra has completely unraveled; here's compelling evidence of what's been lost.
(ArkivMusic, Barnes & Noble)
Nico Muhly: Speaks Volumes (Bedroom Community) The first recording by a young composer on the rise blends ancient modes and contemporary gear to timeless ends.
(Bedroom Community)
NON-CLASSICAL RECORDINGS
Joanna Newsom: Ys (Drag City) While the singer-harpist is clearly dancing in her head, the sweeping elegance of Van Dyke Parks's arrangements invites everyone inside.
(Barnes & Noble)
Ornette Coleman: Sound Grammar (Sound Grammar) The wily alto icon serves up endless melody and wit, and his crack current band offers solid support.
(Barnes & Noble)
Gnarls Barkley: St. Elsewhere (Downtown) Slinky grooves by Danger Mouse and unfettered soul from Cee-Lo Green make this more than simply the album that went "Crazy."
(Barnes & Noble)
Cursive: Happy Hollow (Saddle Creek) Swing and sway to the sounds of small-town ennui and repression, courtesy of this ambitious set of "hymns for the heathen" by Tim Kasher & Co.
(Barnes & Noble)
My Chemical Romance: The Black Parade (Reprise) Gerard Way's anthems of adolescent angst attain epic proportions in a Technicolor production worthy of Queen.
(Barnes & Noble)
Tengir-Too: Mountain Music of Kyrgyzstan (Smithsonian Folkways) Flickering Jew's harps and the high lonesome wail of singer Zainidin Imanaliev are just two highlights of a disc rich in nearly lost treasures.
(Barnes & Noble)
Album: Microbricolages (Delhotel) This young quartet from Monterrey converts a bewildering range of pop appropriations into a compelling set of miniatures that burst with style and humor.
(CD Baby)
Corey Dargel: Less Famous Than You (Use Your Teeth) A promising young "artsongwriter" stakes out his turf with a set of poignant vignettes, set to pleasantly tricky electronic compositions.
(Darla)
Celtic Frost: Monotheist (Century Media) On its first new record since 1989, the seminal Swiss metal band sounds heavier and more unholy than ever.
(Barnes & Noble)
Joseph Holbrooke Trio: The Moat Recordings (Tzadik) A long-delayed session by the late avant-garde guitarist Derek Bailey finds him striking a simpatico chord with old friends Gavin Bryars and Tony Oxley.
(Tzadik, Barnes & Noble)
Interestingly, one of the "classical" releases (Nico Muhly) could easily have traded places with one of the "non-classical" releases (Corey Dargel), but I called those two the way I felt them. I didn't get my act together this year in time to submit my non-classical list to Idolator's Jackin' Pop poll, but I did submit it to the Village Voice's Pazz & Jop poll. Just for grins, I also assembled the following list of top singles and tracks for the latter:
Gnarls Barkley: "Crazy" (Downtown)
Christina Aguilera: "Ain't No Other Man" (RCA)
Beyonce: "Check on It" (Sony)
My Chemical Romance: "Welcome to the Black Parade" (Reprise)
Prince: "Lolita" (Universal)
Rihanna: "S.O.S." (Def Jam)
Shakira: "Hips Don't Lie" (Sony)
Justin Timberlake: "SexyBack" (Jive)
The Raconteurs: "Steady As She Goes" (V2)
Bob Dylan: "Someday Baby" (Columbia)
Farewell, Godfather. And happy holidays to all!
Playlist:
Napalm Death - Smear Campaign (Century Media)
Vincenzo Bellini - La Straniera - Renata Scotto, Beniamino Prior, Domenico Trimarchi, Teatro La Fenice Chorus and Orchestra/Ettore Gracis (Opera d'Oro)
Dark Funeral - The Secrets of the Black Arts (Death), De Profundis Clamavi ad Te Domine and Attera Totus Sanctus (both Candlelight)
Enslaved - Ruun (Candlelight)
Ernest Chausson - Poème; Andre Jolivét - Violin Concerto - Isabelle Faust, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin/Marco Letonja (Harmonia Mundi)
Dmitri Shostakovich - Cello Concerto No. 1*; Symphony No. 5 - Lynn Harrell*, New York Philharmonic/Lorin Maazel (Deutsche Grammophon "DG Concerts" download)
Daath - The Hinderers (Roadrunner; March 15 release)
Rush - Moving Pictures (Mercury)
Sean Noonan's Brewed by Noon - Stories to Tell (Songlines; January 9 release)
Klaus Schulze - Moondawn; Irrlicht (Revisited/SPV)
Meshuggah - Destroy Erase Improve (Nuclear Blast)
Scritti Politti - White Bread Black Beer (Nonesuch)
Robert Ashley - Dust (Lovely)
Jean-Michel Jarre - Oxygene (Dreyfus)
Hall and Oates - The Essential Hall and Oates (RCA/Arista/Legacy)
Franz Schubert - Symphony No. 9; Richard Strauss - Tod und Verklärung; Claude Debussy - La Mer; Ibéria; Ottorino Respighi - Feste romane; Hector Berlioz - "Queen Mab" Scherzo (from Roméo et Juliette); Felix Mendelssohn - Incidental Music to A Midsummer Night's Dream; Peter Il'yich Tchaikovsky - Symphony No. 6 - Philadelphia Orchestra/Arturo Toscanini (RCA Red Seal)
Thanks for the shout-out to NYU composers! We have another concert coming up if you're interested...ICE will be premiering some new pieces of ours at Tenri Cultural Institute on February 25, 8 PM. Hope you can make it!
Posted by: Jenny Olivia Johnson | January 03, 2007 at 07:04 PM
that is pretty much the most ridiculous playlist i have ever beheld... you hippy.
Posted by: Drew | January 11, 2007 at 10:24 PM