Here are some of the best things I heard this year.
Preponderantly notational
— Peter Lieberson, Neruda Songs, Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, James Levine, Boston Symphony (Nonesuch, 12/19)
— Arvo Pärt, Da Pacem, Paul Hillier, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir (Harmonia Mundi)
— Debussy, Preludes Books I and II, Steven Osborne (Hyperion)
— Magnus Lindberg, Clarinet Concerto, Kari Kriikku, Sakari Oramo, Finnish Radio SO (Ondine)
— Nicolas Gombert, Missa Media Vita In Morte Sumus, Hilliard Ensemble (ECM)
— Sibelius, Complete Symphonies, Segerstam, Helsinki Philharmonic (Ondine)
— C. P. E. Bach, Symphonies Nos. 1-4, Andrew Manze, English Concert (Harmonia Mundi)
— Osvaldo Golijov, Ainadamar, Spano, Atlanta Symphony (DG)
— Philip Glass, Eighth Symphony, Dennis Russell Davies, Bruckner Orchestra Linz (Orange Mountain)
— Rachmaninov, All-Night Vigil, Hillier, Estonians (Harmonia Mundi, 2005; should have been on last year’s list)
Also: Shostakovich, Symphonies Nos. 1 and 14, Rattle, Berlin Philharmonic (EMI); Nico Muhly, Speaks Volumes (Bedroom Community); Shostakovich, Quartets Nos. 3, 7, 8, St. Lawrence Qt. (EMI): Julian Anderson, Book of Hours (NMC); Beethoven, Ninth Symphony, Vänskä, Minnesota Orchestra (BIS); Mozart, La Clemenza di Tito, Jacobs (Harmonia Mundi); Xenakis, Percussion Works (Mode); Adams, My Father Knew Charles Ives (Nonesuch); Silvestrov / Ustvolskaya, Misterioso (ECM); George Perle, Retrospective (Bridge)
Preponderantly non-notational (f/ Jonathan)
— Joanna Newsom, Ys (Drag City)
— Timberlake / Timbaland, FutureSex/LoveSounds (Jive)
— Hossein Alizadeh and Djivan Gasparyan, Endless Vision (World Village)
— Kelis, Kelis Was Here (Jive)
— Bob Dylan, Modern Times (Columbia)
— Ali Farka Touré, Savane (World Circuit)
— Brad Mehldau, House on Hill (Nonesuch)
— Cat Power, The Greatest (Matador)
— Jenny Lewis with The Watson Twins, Rabbit Fur Coat (Team Love)
— Sonic Youth, Rather Ripped (Geffen)
Singles: Timberlake / Timbaland, "My Love," "SexyBack"; Bob Dylan, "Ain’t Talkin’"; Cat Power, "The Greatest"; Beyoncé, "Irreplaceable"; Kelis f/ Cheryl Evans and W. A. Mozart, "Like You"; Jenny Lewis with The Watson Twins, "The Big Guns"; Tapes ‘n Tapes, "Insistor"; Jennifer Hudson, “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going”; Paris Hilton, "Stars Are Blind" (yes, I’m gay)
Live events:
— Sufjan Stevens singing "Seven Swans," American Songbook, Lincoln Center
— Ian Bostridge singing Britten’s Winter Words, Zankel Hall
— Kenji Bunch’s Confessions of the Woman in the Dunes, Issue Project Room
— Angela Gheorghiu in La Traviata, Met
— Kaija Saariaho’s Adriana Mater, Opéra Bastille
— Handel’s Solomon, René Jacobs, Lincoln Center
— Madama Butterfly at the Met, opening night
— Shostakovich Eighth, Gergiev, Maryinsky, Lincoln Center
— Reich at 70, Carnegie
— György and Márta Kurtág, Vienna