Albums of the Year | 2025

Classical California’s music programming team - Rik Malone, John Van Driel, and Ella Harpstead - have chosen their top three albums of 2025. Explore all nine selections below, along with the reasons they think you’ll love them too.

Rik Malone

Eldbjorg Hemsing: Colors of Bach (Sony) "Norwegian violinist Eldbjorg Hemsing and her ensemble have put together a beautiful album of – yes – colorful new arrangements of Bach melodies, some famous, some not so well-known. The treatments range from the straightforward to the cinematic, while remaining reasonably faithful to the source material, and always interesting and enjoyable."

Anna Shelest: Donna Voce Vol.3 (Music&Arts) "This whole series has been pretty terrific, focusing on music by women composers reclaimed from history. Volume 3 spotlights Clara Schumann and Cecile Chaminade, as different in temperament as they were in national origin. The major works here are Schumann’s Piano Concerto and Chaminade’s Concertpiece, but there are a number of wonderful miniatures for solo piano as well."

John Willimas: The Anthology (Sony) "This is the definitive collection of music by the man who redefined the film score and is arguably the most influential composer of orchestral music of the last 50 years. Vol.1 (22 discs!) features music from Williams’ early career, 1969-1990; Volume 2 contains film scores and concert music from 1991-2008; and Volume 3 focuses on his career from 2011-2022. Perfect for binge-listening, reminiscing, or discovering something new from this composer’s amazing catalogue."

John Van Driel

Esther Abrami: WOMEN. (Sony) "In collaboration with the Vienna Radio Symphony, French violinist Esther Abrami brings a full-throated celebration of women in music. She has a style and passion that is infectious and a worthy tribute to the women she admires. Ethel Smyth would be proud."

Kanneh-Masons: River of Music. (Decca). "An eclectic mix of music that brings together all 7 siblings of this remarkable Kanneh-Mason family. From Welsh hymns to Schubert’s Trout Quintet, the recording represents the diverse influence music has played on their lives. Oh, and gloriously played, by the way."

Brahms: Symphonies 1-4. (DGG) "I must admit, I have a soft spot for Brahms 4 Symphonies. It took him quite a while to get revved up but once he got going it all seemed to fall into place. Here is a good reason to go Dutch, this recording features the great Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam lead by Sir John Elliot Gardiner and it will make a wonderful addition to your collection."

Ella Harpstead

Eunike Tanzil: The First of Everything (Deutsche Grammophon) "It’s not every year that the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin records the debut album of a 27-year-old composer for Deutsche Grammophon, which makes this release especially exciting and inspiring. From the piano, Eunike Tanzil leads us through her own tender and thrilling memories in cinematic fashion, touching on the sounds of Maurice Ravel, Joe Hisashi, and John Williams. Let your heart sing and ache along with Tanzil’s."

Jess Gillam Ensemble: PRISM Vol. 1-3 (Decca) "Sometimes, we need a reminder that some of the most enticing music comes from instruments not typically associated with orchestras and choirs. Over three EPs, saxophonist Jess Gillam and her chamber ensemble enchant us as they present music from Telemann and Scarlatti to 20^th century composers and today’s living legends."

Alice Sara Ott: John Field – Complete Nocturnes (Deutsche Grammophon) "I’ll admit, I really only started paying attention to nocturnes in the last year and a half as our CCAN programmer. With Alice Sara Ott’s celebrated release of John Field’s complete collection, though, I think I’m in good company with other new appreciators of the style. Ott delivers peaceful and clear performances of the music that would inspire Chopin, Faure, and generations to come."