The Best Classical Music of 2021

A new year means new music! Check out our top picks for the best classical music of 2021. From Beethoven to Bach, these pieces are sure to please any classical music lover.

Introduction

It’s been a tough year for everyone, and we could all use a little beauty and calm in our lives. If you’re looking for the best classical music of 2021, we’ve got you covered. From beautiful piano pieces to soaring symphonies, these are the classical recordings that have brought us joy this year.

Best Orchestral Works

There are many great orchestral works that were composed in 2021. Here is a list of some of the best:

1. “The Nutcracker” by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
2. “The Four Seasons” by Antonio Vivaldi
3. “The Messiah” by George Frideric Handel
4. “Symphony No. 5” by Ludwig van Beethoven
5. “ThePlanets” by Gustav Holst
6. “Pictures at an Exhibition” by Modest Mussorgsky
7. “Scheherazade” by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
8. “Pomp and Circumstance” by Edward Elgar
9. “The Firebird” by Igor Stravinsky

Best Symphonies

1. Beethoven Symphony No. 9 – New York Philharmonic, Leonard Bernstein (Deutsche Grammophon)
2. Brahms Symphony No. 4 – Boston Symphony Orchestra, Andris Nelsons (Deutsche Grammophon)
3. Dvorak Symphony No. 9 – Cleveland Orchestra, Franz Welser-Möst (London/Decca)
4. Mendelssohn Symphonies Nos. 3 & 4 – Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Robin Ticciati (LinnRecords)
5. Prokofiev Symphonies Nos. 1 & 5 – Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela, Gustavo Dudamel (Deutsche Grammophon)
6. Shostakovich Symphony No. 5 – Berlin Philharmonic, Simon Rattle (Berlin Phil/Sony)
7. Sibelius Symphonies Nos. 2 & 7 – Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Hannu Lintu (Ondine)

Best Concertos

Classical music fans rejoice: 2021 is already shaping up to be a banner year for releases, with much-anticipated albums from some of the genre’s brightest stars. We’ve rounded up some of the most highly anticipated classical music releases of the year, so you can start 2021 off on the right note.

One of the most eagerly awaited albums of the year is Yo-Yo Ma’s forthcoming Bach concertos set, which features the cellist performing all six of Bach’s works for solo instrument and orchestra. It’s a fitting tribute to Ma’s 60th birthday, and with conductor Daniel Barenboim leading the Staatskapelle Berlin, it’s sure to be a special album.

violinist Arabella Steinbacher is set to release her first album in five years with a performance of Beethoven’s Violin Concerto. Joined by Staatskapelle Dresden and conductor Christian Thielemann, Steinbacher delivers a masterful performance that highlights her rich tone and virtuosic technique.

Pianist Hélène Grimaud is also releasing a new album this year, featuring Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A Minor. Conducted by Manfred Honeck and recorded with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Grimaud brings her trademark passion and fire to this well-loved work.

Other highlights include Anne-Sophie Mutter’s performance of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons (with conductor Emmanuel Krivine leading the Münchner Philharmoniker), Andris Nelsons conducting Mahler’s Symphony No. 5 (with the Boston Symphony Orchestra), and soprano Renée Fleming singing Strauss’ Four Last Songs (with gustavo Dudamel leading the Wiener Philharmoniker).

So whatever your taste in classical music, there’s sure to be an album on this list that will appeal to you. Sit back, relax, and enjoy some of classical music’s finest offerings in 2021.

Best Chamber Music

There was a lot of excellent chamber music released in 2021. Here are some of our favorites.

Beethoven: The Complete String Quartets by the Takács Quartet

Mendelssohn: The Complete String Quartets by the Doric String Quartet

Schubert: The Complete String Quartets by the Alban Berg Quartett

Brahms: The Complete String Quartets by the Hagen Quartet

Best Opera

2021 has been a great year for opera lovers, with several stellar performances and new productions to enjoy. Here are some of the best opera moments of the year:

-The Marriage of Figaro at the Royal Opera House: This production of Mozart’s classic opera was a huge hit with audiences, with many praising the strong cast and innovative staging.
-La Bohème at the Metropolitan Opera: Puccini’s classic tale of young love in Paris was brought to life by a talented cast of young singers, with many calling it one of the best Met productions in recent years.
-Rigoletto at La Scala: Verdi’s tragic opera about a cursed court jester was given a fresh twist in this star-studded production, which featured some of the biggest names in opera.
-The Barber of Seville at the Glyndebourne Festival: Rossini’s hilarious comedy was given a new lease of life in this fun and inventive production, which had audiences laughing from start to finish.

Best Vocal Music

In the world of classical music, vocal music is some of the most popular and well-known. From grand operas to intimate art songs, there is a vocal work for everyone. And, in 2021, there are a number of outstanding vocal recordings that have been released or are scheduled for release.

Among the best vocal albums of 2021 are:

-Dove sono i bei momenti (Deutsche Grammophon): This album features soprano Renee Fleming singing arias by Mozart. Fleming is one of the world’s most acclaimed opera singers, and her performances on this album are sure to delight fans of both Fleming and Mozart.

-Verdi: Otello (Sony Classical): This album features baritone Lorenzo Regazzo in the title role of Verdi’s operatic masterpiece Otello. Regazzo is one of today’s leading interpreters of Verdi’s work, and his performance on this album is sure to be one of the highlights of the year in vocal music.

-Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor (Decca): This album features soprano Anna Netrebko in the title role of Donizetti’s bel canto opera Lucia di Lammermoor. Netrebko is one of today’s most popular opera singers, and her performance on this album is sure to please fans of both Netrebko and bel canto opera.

Best Choral Music

Choral music has been around for centuries, and there are a wide variety of choral pieces that have been composed over the years. Classical choral music is a genre that is often overlooked, but it can be some of the most beautiful and moving music ever written. If you’re looking for the best choral music of 2021, look no further than the list below.

-Requiem by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
-Messiah by George Frideric Handel
-Cantata No. 140 by Johann Sebastian Bach
-The Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi
-The Nutcracker by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
– Carmen by Georges Bizet

Best Solo Instrumental Music

There are many great solo instrumental pieces that were composed in 2021. Here is a list of some of the best:

-Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 35 “Funeral March” by Frédéric Chopin
-Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77 by Johannes Brahms
– cello Suite No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007 by Johann Sebastian Bach
-Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major, K. 488 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
-Clarinet Concerto in A major, K. 622 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Best New Releases

We’ve collected some of the best new classical music of 2021 so far, including releases from Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms. If you’re looking for something new to listen to, this is a great place to start.

Bach: The Goldberg Variations
This release from Deutsche Grammophon is a new recording of Bach’s Goldberg Variations, performed by pianist Alexandre Tharaud. Tharaud’s performance is delicate and nuanced, with a light touch that brings out the beauty of Bach’s music.

Beethoven: Eroica Symphony
This release from Decca Classics features conductor John Eliot Gardiner leading the London Symphony Orchestra in a performance of Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony. Gardiner and the orchestra give a stirring performance of this well-known work, bringing out all of the symphony’s drama and power.

Brahms: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2
This release from harmonia mundi features conductor Simone Young leading the Hamburg Philharmonic in performances of Brahms’ Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2. Young and the orchestra give dynamic performances of both works, with plenty of energy and passion.