In every issue of Gramophone, Editor Martin Cullingford chooses 12 albums (10 new releases, plus one video and one archive recommendation) as his Editor's Choice. Below, you will find the albums selected as Editor's Choice in the 2024 Awards issue, beginning with the Recording of the Month. 

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Recording of the month

Elgar Violin Concerto

Vilde Frang vn Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin / Robin Ticciati (Warner Classics)

Elgar’s magnificent Violin Concerto receives a performance of extraordinary expression from Vilde Frang, supported by orchestral playing of great sensitivity.

Read the review ● Buy or stream on Presto Music

Bruckner Symphony No 4

Anima Eterna Brugge / Pablo Heras‑Casado (Harmonia Mundi)

There’s a vivid and unique immediacy to Pablo Heras-Casado and Anima Eterna’s sound in this splendid period-instrument recording of Bruckner’s Fourth Symphony.

Read the review ● Buy or stream on Presto Music

Shostakovich Symphonies Nos 4‑6

Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra / Klaus Mäkelä (Decca)

Klaus Mäkelä brings his ever-impressive insight to bear on this fascinating segment of Shostakovich’s life and output, with Decca presenting it in outstanding sound.

Read the review ● Buy or stream on Presto Music

Brahms Piano Quartets Nos 2 & 3

Christian Tetzlaff vn Barbara Buntrock va Tanja Tetzlaff vc Lars Vogt pf (Ondine)

This was pianist Lars Vogt’s last recording, a perfect tribute to his artistry and his generosity as a collaborative musician.

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Elias Music for Strings

Various artists (Signum)

A journey through Brian Elias’s music for strings, played with conviction by a line-up of brilliant artists: ‘the finest album of contemporary chamber music I have encountered this year,’ writes an impressed Guy Rickards.

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‘Souvenirs’

Johan Dalene vn Peter Friis Johansson pf (BIS)

This album from last issue’s cover artist, violinist Johan Dalene, is a tribute to iconic soloists of the past, shaped in the spirit of our own era; pianist Peter Friis Johansson is a perfect partner for this stylish project.

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Campra Requiem

Ensemble Correspondances / Sébastien Daucé (Harmonia Mundi)

Sébastien Daucé and Ensemble Correspondances’s performance of Campra’s Requiem, a major work of the French Baroque, beautifully brings out the music’s melodies and sense of direction.

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Futrell Stabat mater

Terjungensemble / Lars‑Erik ter Jung (BIS)

This recent addition (composed in 2021) to the line of musical meditations on the Stabat mater comes from Tyler Futrell, and is a work of immense power, poignancy and distinctiveness.

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Tilson Thomas ‘Grace’

Various artists (Pentatone)

Produced with great care, this set from Pentatone gathers together our new Lifetime Achievement Award winner Michael Tilson Thomas’s work as a composer, a perfect tribute in his 80th year.

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‘Angele Dei’

Latvian Radio Choir / Kaspars Putniņš, Sigvards Kļava (Skani)

A ‘time stamp’ of new Latvian choral music in 2023, as Andrew Mellor puts it, rewardingly rich in its diversity, and beautifully performed throughout by the Latvian Radio Choir.

Read the review ● Buy or stream on Presto Music

DVD/blu-ray

Martinů The Greek Passion

Sols; Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Maxime Pascal (Unitel Edition)

This contemporary staging of Martin≤’s The Greek Passion from the Salzburg Festival comes highly recommended by reviewer Hugo Shirley. 

Read the review ● Buy or stream on Presto Music

Reissue/archive

Louis Lane ‘The Complete Epic and Columbia Album Collection’

Cleveland Orchestra / Louis Lane (Sony Classical)

An opportunity to enjoy the recordings from Cleveland of Texan conductor Louis Lane, a one-time Martin≤ pupil and assistant to George Szell.

Buy or stream on Presto Music

Explore all of this year's Gramophone Award winners in the 2024 Awards issue – out now. Never miss an issue – subscribe today