bset-of-classical It's the time of year for discussing our favourite releases of 2011. With a wealth of recordings at our fingertips we had some serious decisions to make. These are our best 12 of 2011, four each from our regular reviewers, Phil and Kate from Carlton and Evan from Hawthorn.

Each of these recordings showcases some of the top musicians around today. Whether you are looking for instrumental, vocal, early music or contemporary, these 12 recordings will not disappoint.

vivaldi_french Vivaldi: The French Connection 2/La Serenissima
Adrian Chandler

The second volume in this series is as good as the first (AV2178). Again a collection of various concertos for winds or strings, La Serenissima deliver tight performances full of warmth and lively energy. - Evan Meagher, Readings Hawthorn

rachmaninov_piano_sonatas Rachmaninov: Piano Sonatas 1/2
Leslie Howard

Leslie Howard brings his singular gifts to Rachmaninov, including the rarely performed, and extremely difficult, original version of the Second Sonata, exposing its rich and complex textures. - Evan Meagher, Readings Hawthorn

poulenc_piano_concertos Poulenc: Concerto for Two Pianos/Concert Champêtre/Suite Française
Anima Eterna Brugge & Jos van Immerseel

With his wit and stylistic caprice, Poulenc's music can be difficult to categorise, but it is brilliant and often lovely music that demands listening. These performances respond sensitively to both the cerebral and the emotional in Poulenc's music. - Evan Meagher, Readings Hawthorn

echoes_of_time Echoes of Time
Lisa Batiashvili

This brilliant violinist's debut for DG collects works affected in one way or another by Soviet rule. The highlight is the Shostakovich Violin Concerto No. 1, which may be about the best performance available of this work. - Evan Meagher, Readings Hawthorn

adams_son_of_chamber John Adams: Son of Chamber Symphony/String Quartet
John Adams & St. Lawrence String Quartet

This new disc from Composer John Adams, arguably America’s greatest living composer, is a fine example of his compositional style. All works on this disc will please lovers of Adams music and convert a few non believers. - Phil Richards, Readings Carlton

fiesta_criolla Fiesta Criolla: Latin American Orchestral Works
Gabriel Castagna & Wurttembergische Philharmonie Reutlingen

This feast of classical music, from the early to mid-twentieth century featuring composers from Argentina, Peru, Brazil and Columbia is an excellent jumping off point for classical music from this diverse continent. All works are beautifully performed and the Chandos sound is excellent. - Phil Richards, Readings Carlton

ramaeu_suites Rameau: Suites D’Orchestra Jordi Savall, L’Orchestra de Louis XV & Les Concerts Des Nations

Jean-Philippe Rameau said: ‘A good musician must abandon himself to all the characters he sets out to depict…but the music must speak to the soul.’ This is Rameau played perfectly and Jordi Savall does indeed let the music speak to your soul. - Phil Richards, Readings Carlton

higdon_tchaikovsky Tchaikovsky/Higdon: Violin Concertos
Hilary Hahn, Vasily Petrenko & RLPO

This disc from violinist Hilary Hahn will only enhance her position as one of the great classical violinists in the world today. The two works here, Jennifer Higdon’s Pulitizer Prize-winning violin concerto and Tchaikovsky’s violin concerto are the perfect vehicles for Hahn to display her command of classical music no matter what style or era it comes from. - Phil Richards, Readings Carlton

gaubert_orchestra Gaubert: Orchestral Works Vl 3
Philippe Graffin, Henri Demarquette, Marc Soustrot & Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg

Philippe Gaubert’s Orchestral works have been seriously neglected since their original performance dates. Every work is romantic, without being mushy, elastic without losing the underlying musical structure. While the orchestration is stunning and use of solo instruments interwoven with lush full orchestra moments are simply heavenly. - Kate Rockstrom, Readings Carlton

gershwin Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue/Piano Concerto
Riccardo Chailly, Stefano Bolani & Gewandhausorchester Leipzig

Stefano Bollani has been called a ‘jazz star’, while Riccardo Chailly is considered one of the premier conductors still alive. What do you get when you mix them? Why, just about perfect Gershwin of course! Full of joy, and the cheekiness inherent in Gershwin’s music, this blend of jazz and classical has never been so beautiful. - Kate Rockstrom, Readings Carlton

worcester_ladymass A Worchester Ladymass
Trio Medieavel

Three women from the ends of the earth gather together in a sacred place to create something devilishly beautiful. Sounds almost witchlike, doesn’t it? This music will capture you from the very opening, with a purity of tone that is unrivaled and a quality to the musicianship that allows you to listen to this recording on repeat. - Kate Rockstrom, Readings Carlton

hispania_and_japan Hispania and Japan Dialgoues
Jordi Savall

With the devastation of Japan earlier this year, Jordi Savall decided he wanted to do something to raise money for the relief fund. So he brought together traditional Japanese music with that of Spain to create what should be a discordant blend of cultures, but instead shows that if you have two beautiful styles, you’ll simply create extraordinary music. - Kate Rockstrom, Readings Carlton



Other 'best of 2011' lists: