Some Favorite Recordings of 2014

As you may know, I don't do "best-of" lists. I find "best" too subjective, implying too many things to too many people. Besides, "best" implies that I've sampled everything available in order to come to a decision, and even though I review hundreds of discs a year, I confess I have heard but a fraction of what's out there. So I prefer to do "favorites" lists. Here are just a few of the recordings (listed alphabetically, to be fair) I heard last year that I enjoyed for their performance and sound. I know I've forgotten a few; forgive me. These stood out, some of them new releases and some of them remasters of old favorites.

1865
"Songs of Hope and Home from the American Civil War." Anonymous 4, with Bruce Molsky. Harmonia Mundi.
To read the full review, click here:
http://classicalcandor.blogspot.com/2014/12/1865-sacd-review.html

A Beethoven Odyssey, Volume 2
Piano Sonatas Nos. 8, 14, 19, 20, and 21. James Brawn, piano. MSR Classics.
To read the full review, click here:
http://classicalcandor.blogspot.com/2014/05/a-beethoven-odyssey-volume-2-cd-review.html

Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 "Pastoral"
Also, Egmont Overture. Fritz Reiner, Chicago Symphony Orchestra. HDTT.
To read the full review, click here:
http://classicalcandor.blogspot.com/2014/08/beethoven-symphony-no-6-pastoral-hqcd.html

Chopin: A Chopin Recital
Andrew Rangell, piano. Steinway & Sons.
To read the full review, click here:
http://classicalcandor.blogspot.com/2014/11/a-chopin-recital-cd-review.html

Chopin: Life According to Chopin
Jeffrey Biegel, piano. GPR Records.
To read the full review, click here:
http://classicalcandor.blogspot.com/2014/02/chopin-life-according-to-chopin-cd.html

Chopin: Preludes
Ingrid Fliter, piano. Linn Records
To read the full review, click here:
http://classicalcandor.blogspot.com/2014/11/chopin-preludes-sacd-review.html

Fantasy
Piano Fantasies of Schubert, Hirtz, Mozart, Di Liberto, and Schumann. Jon Kimura Parker, piano. FP.
To read the full review, click here:
http://classicalcandor.blogspot.com/2014/11/fantasy-cd-review.html

French Fantasy
Music of Saint-Saens, Faure, and Ravel for duo pianists. Susan Merdinger and Steven Greene, piano. Sheridan Music Studio.
To read the full review, click here:
http://classicalcandor.blogspot.com/2014/10/french-fantasy-cd-review.html

Myung Whun Chung: Piano
Myung Whun Chung, piano. ECM New Series.
To read the full review, click here:
http://classicalcandor.blogspot.com/2014/06/myung-whun-chung-piano-cd-review.html

Paganini: Violin Concerto No. 1
Also, Wieniawski: Violin Concertos Nos. 1 and 2. Michael Rabin, violin; Sir Eugene Goossens, Philharmonia Orchestra. EMI Japan.
To read the full review, click here:
http://classicalcandor.blogspot.com/2014/06/paganini-violin-concertos-no-1-cd-review.html

Sharon Kam: Opera!
Sharon Kam, clarinet; Ruben Gazarian, Wurttembergisches Kammerorchester Heilbronn. Berlin Classics.
To read the full review, click here:
http://classicalcandor.blogspot.com/2014/01/sharon-kam-opera-cd-review.html

Schubert: Arpeggione
Also, music by Debussy, Britten, and Schumann. Gautier Capucon, cello; Frank Braley, piano. Erato.
To read the full review, click here:
http://classicalcandor.blogspot.com/2014/03/schubert-arpeggione-cd-review.html

Schubert: Songs of the Harper (SACD review)
Also, Sonatina for Violin and Piano; Impromptus Nos. 2-4; Gretchen at the Spinning Wheel; Sonata in A minor for Arpeggione and Piano; Piano Trio in B-flat Major. Marie-Pierre Langlamet, harp; Anna Prohaska, soprano; Ludwig Quandt, cello; Lara St. John, violin. Ancalagon.
To read the full review, click here:
http://classicalcandor.blogspot.com/2014/10/schubert-songs-of-harper-sacd-review.html

Thomson: The Plow That Broke the Plains
Also, The River. Leopold Stokowski, Symphony of the Air. HDTT.
To read the full review, click here:
http://classicalcandor.blogspot.com/2014/09/thomson-plow-that-broke-plains-hdcd.html

JJP