The German Record Critics’ Awards (PdSK) for the third quarter of 2024 have been announced, with violinists among the standout winners. The awards are decided by 156 critics organized into 32 expert juries who review new recordings from the past three months. Categories include symphonic music, chamber music, opera, harpsichord music, as well as jazz, folklore, heavy metal, and hip hop.
Top violinists received accolades in this round of awards. In the Orchestral Music and Concerts category, violinist Isabelle Faust was recognized for her recording of the Britten Violin Concerto and chamber works. Faust performed with Boris Faust, Alexander Melnikov, the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, and Jakub Hrůša for Harmonia Mundi. Jury member Lothar Brandt praised Faust for her nuanced and contrasting presentation of the concerto, highlighting her satirical flair and the orchestra’s attentive accompaniment.
In the Chamber Music category, violinists Sergey Khachatryan and Antje Weithaas were honored. Khachatryan was awarded for his recording of Ysaÿe’s Six Solo Sonatas on naïve, with jury member Benjamin Herzog noting the extremes and melodious daring in his playing, which retains the narrative essence of the sonatas.
Weithaas was recognized for her recording of Beethoven Violin Sonatas Vol. III (Nos. 1, 5, 6 & 10) with pianist Dénes Várjon on the Bertus label. Jury member Andreas Göbel described this album as essential listening, commending the fresh and exciting interpretation by Weithaas and Várjon, which brings a new dimension to these frequently performed works.
The awarded recordings were selected from a longlist of 280 albums across various categories, with 28 titles ultimately chosen as the best.
The German Record Critics’ Awards Association, founded in 1963, consists of music critics and journalists from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The jurors release their recommended recordings each quarter and also present additional annual and honorary awards.
