THE BEST CDs OF 2003

RICHARD DYER

Classical Music, with a strong local accent:

Opera: Massenet: "Manon," with Renee Fleming, Marcello Alvarez, the Paris Opera Orchestra and Chorus, Jesus Lopez-Cobos, conductor (Sony Classical)

Concerto: Beethoven: Piano Concertos, Pierre-Laurent Aimard, piano, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, conductor, Chamber Orchestra of Europe (Teldec)

New Music: Elliott Carter: "What Next?" and "ASKO Concerto," Soloists, Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra, Peter Eotvos, conductor (ECM); Pierre Boulez: "Rituel," "Notations," "Figures-Doubles-Prismes," Lyon National Orchestra, David Robertson, conductor (Naive Montaigne); Andrew Violette: Piano Sonata No. 7, Andrew Violette, piano (Innova)

Boston Symphony Orchestra: Andre Previn: Violin Concerto, with Anne-Sophie Mutter, Previn conducting, together with Bernstein: Serenade, with Mutter, Previn and the London Symphony Orchestra (Deutsche Grammophon)

Historical reissue/Chamber Music: Casals Festival at Prades (live recordings) (Music & Arts)

Piano: Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier Books 1 & 2 - Rosalyn Tureck, piano (BBC Legends)

Lieder: "Ballad of the Banquet: A European Songbook of the 20th Century," Mitsuko Shirai, mezzo-soprano, and Hartmut Hoell, piano (Capriccio)

Crossover: "Starlight and Sweet Dreams," classic American theatre and popular songs with Nancy Armstrong, soprano, Robert Honeysucker, baritone, Laura Jeppesen, electric gamba, and Daniel Stepner, electric violin (Centaur)

Ambitious Local Project: Lukas Foss, "Griffelkin," Kendra Colton, soprano, and others with the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Gil Rose, conductor (Chandos)

Early music: Handel: Ode for St.Cecilia's Day; Alexander's Feast. Soloists, The Handel & Haydn Society, Christopher Hogwood, conductor (Arabesque); Bach 6 Suites for Solo Cello, Phoebe Carrai, cello (Magnatune)

Special award for Most Adventurous New Project: The Milken Archive of American Jewish Music (10 CDs so far, on Naxos)