This film of Chailly's 2012 performances of Mahler 6 in Leipzig is testament to his musical perspicuity, the orchestra's world-class credentials and a really brutal reading of one of the bleakest works in the canon.
2. Strauss's Don Quixote and Till Eulenspiegel by the Gürzenich Orchester Köln and Markus Stenz (Hyperion Records)
There's real schwung and bounce to these musical narratives. Don Quixote is emotionally rich, not least because Stenz has two particularly fine leads in Alban Gerhardt and Lawrence Power. Stenz and the Gürzenich Orchester then really run riot with Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche.
3. The Brahms Symphonies by the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig and Riccardo Chailly (Decca)
Again, like the Mahler, these works come up fresh as a daisy. I don't agree with everything Chailly does, but I have repeatedly returned to these three discs, which include the symphonies and several other orchestral works.
4. Wagner by Jonas Kaufmann (Decca)
In terms of playing hours in the Entartete Musik household, Jonas Kaufmann's last disc for Decca, before he was snaffled by Sony, is the winner of 2013. Would that we could more of Kaufmann's Wagner live in the UK.
5. The Dvořák Cello Concertos by Steven Isserlis, Mahler Chamber Orchestra and Daniel Harding (Hyperion Records)
We've waited a while for this performance on recording, and it was worth the wait. The most ravishing tone and heart from soloist and orchestra, with the added revelation of a version of Dvořák's earlier concerto.
6. Mahler Orchestral Lieder by Christian Gerhaher, OSM and Kent Nagano (Sony)
Every year Gerhaher features on these lists. His place is entirely deserved, given the technical finesse and textual understanding he brings to his singing. Superb.
7. Der Schatzgräber by De Nederlandse Opera (Challenge Classics)
At last, a recording of Schreker's most popular opera that we can truly cherish. We can only hope that Netherlands Opera and Challenge continue to explore this fascinating repertoire.
8. Bartók Violin Concertos by Isabelle Faust, Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra and Daniel Harding (Harmonia Mundi)
Another strong disc from Faust, if not quite reaching the benchmark she set with her Berg and Beethoven disc in 2012.
9. Alma Nativa (col legno)
It was a real thrill discovering the work of Alma this autumn. Fruity, feisty folk from the Austrian hinterland.
10. Mahler and Berg by the Wiener Philharmoniker and Pierre Boulez (DG)
While I'm not always entirely convinced of Boulez's Mahlerian credentials, his insights into the Lulu Suite here, with the superb Anna Prohaska, deserve much attention.
Turkey: Valentina Lisitsa's frigid attempts on the Rachmaninoff Piano Concertos.
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