Continuing a tradition from last year, here’s what you can find on eMusic from the list of recommended 2008 recordings published by Alex Ross. (Note that CaptWhiffle also has Alex Ross picks for 2007 and 2008 as a user list on eMusic, something I didn’t notice until I’d almost finished this post.)
“Crystal Tears”: songs of Dowland, Robert Johnson, Byrd, and others; Andreas Scholl, countertenor, Julian Behr, lute and Concerto di viole (Harmonia Mundi). This is 21 tracks (about half of my monthly allotment), but I like early music and the samples sound good, so this is a likely download for me.
“Heavenly Harmonies”: music of Tallis and Byrd; Stile Antico (Harmonia Mundi). Same story as for “Crystal Tears.”
Chopin, Preludes, and pieces by Mompou; Alexandre Tharaud, piano (Harmonia Mundi). This is not on CaptWhiffle’s list, probably because it was released late in the year.
Brahms and Schumann Lieder; Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, mezzo-soprano, and Julius Drake, piano (Wigmore Hall Live).
Several releases on eMusic were also on Ross’s “honorable mention” list; some of these are missing from CaptWhiffle’s list:
Beethoven’s Symphonies Nos. 2 and 7, with Osmo Vänskä conducting the Minnesota Orchestra (BIS).
Piano works by Salonen, Stucky, and Lutosławski, with Gloria Cheng (Telarc).
Elliott Carter’s Quartets Nos. 1 and 5, with the Pacifica Quartet (Naxos). Elliott Carter’s 100th birthday was yesterday, so you can download this as a belated birthday gesture if you forgot to send a card.
Volume 4 of Beethoven’s Piano Sonatas, with Paul Lewis (Harmonia Mundi). 29 tracks, but even the MP3 release on Amazon is $27.49.
“Now,” The NOW Ensemble (New Amsterdam). I really like this album, and wrote about it previously in the context of the indie classical scene and the role of New Amsterdam Records within it. New Amsterdam is attracting a lot of interesting artists to its roster (e.g., Corey Dargel, Victrola, Build); some of them I find somewhat meh, but others I really like. Being able to cheaply explore releases from labels like New Amsterdam is one of the great things about eMusic;
“Mothertongue,” Nico Muhly (Bedroom Community/Brassland). I really liked Muhly’s “Speaks Volumes” (not on eMusic), but after listening to this one a few times I’m still having problems getting into it. The Sequenza21 review captures some of my concerns.
“Scattered Rhymes” (works of O’Regan, Machaut, Bryars, and Dufay), with the Orlando Consort and Paul Hillier conducting the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir (Harmonia Mundi).
Ross also posted a list of what he considers to be the ten best performances of 2008. This is also interesting, and provided me at least one suggestion for future eMusic exploration.