Dagens Nyheter’s music critics have compiled their list of the best classical albums released between December 2023 and November 2024, showcasing a diverse range of composers, performers, and musical styles. From rediscovered operas to contemporary orchestral works, the selections highlight both established masters and emerging talents, reflecting the vibrant and ever-evolving landscape of classical music.
Topping the list is Jonas Dominique’s ”Musicam semper amavi,” featuring his ”Reformation Suite.” This album, inspired by Martin Luther’s love for music, offers a compelling blend of tradition and innovation. Dominique reimagines hymns, psalms, and chorales – musical cornerstones that have resonated through centuries – in a multi-layered odyssey. This performance serves as a testament to the present-day capabilities of Swedish musical forces, showcasing their ability to bridge the gap between the historical and the contemporary.
Christoph Willibald Gluck’s ”Iphigénie en Aulide,” in a period-accurate interpretation, takes the second spot. This opera, a pivotal work bridging the baroque and classical eras, revolutionized the operatic form. Gluck’s characters transcend the limitations of mere puppets, with Iphigénie challenging her sacrificial role and ultimately diminishing the influence of the gods. The recording’s release coincides with a year celebrating French baroque opera, marked by triumphant performances of Rameau’s ”Platée” and Lully’s ”Armide” in Sweden.
The third position belongs to Helvi Leiviskä’s ”Orchestral Works, Vol. 1,” conducted by Dalia Stasevska. Stasevska’s innovative mixtape featuring contemporary art music, coupled with her ongoing project with the Lahti Symphony Orchestra, has sparked talk of a renaissance for Finland’s first significant female composer. Leiviskä’s music, nestled between late Romanticism and more abstract modernism, found a unique symphonic voice in the shadow of the towering Sibelius. This first volume in the series has garnered international acclaim, presenting opulent and vibrant music brimming with both beauty and confidence.
Anja Lechner’s ”Bach / Abel / Hume” secures the fourth spot, highlighting the expressive range of the cello. Lechner’s album interweaves two of Bach’s dance suites with works by the early gamba master Hume, a Scottish mercenary serving under Gustavus Adolphus. Hume’s distinctive humor transcends centuries, resonating within Lechner’s interpretation. The album also features emotive pieces by Abel Jr., son of the composer who inspired Bach’s suites. Lechner’s relaxed and insightful playing, framed by ECM’s signature soundscape, creates a truly captivating listening experience.
Rounding out the top five is Bára Gísladóttir’s ”Orchestral Works,” featuring the Iceland Symphony Orchestra conducted by Eva Ollikainen. Gísladóttir, a double bassist who conceptualizes sound as a living entity, fearlessly explores the extremes of music. Her compositions, drawing connections between death metal, drone music, and the chilling scores of Penderecki, unflinchingly approach the unsettling. Listening to these orchestral works is akin to being flung into a swirling, blackened uncertainty, only to discover the nuanced shades within the darkness itself.
The list continues with Bo Linde’s piano trio and solo piano works at number six, lauded for their expressive storytelling. Number seven features the ”Beethoven for Three” album with Yo-Yo Ma, Leonidas Kavakos, and Emanuel Ax, capturing Beethoven’s vibrant spirit in a supertrio performance. The eighth spot showcases Louise Bertin’s rediscovered opera ”Fausto,” a sensational recovery of a forgotten work. Ruby Hughes and the Manchester Collective’s ”End of My Days,” a poignant product of the pandemic era, takes the ninth position. Finally, Joana Mallwitz and the Konzerthausorchester Berlin’s ”The Kurt Weill Album” rounds out the top ten, celebrating the works of the influential German-American composer. This diverse array of recordings reflects the ongoing vitality and dynamism of the classical music world, offering a rich tapestry of sounds and experiences for listeners to explore.
