• “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.