The ALDA (Avoid Like Death Awards) Are Out! Celebrating The Worst Classical Recordings of 2024!

ALDA (Avoid Like Death Awards) 2024

The White Scarf of Irredeemable Chutzpah Recipients:
1. Stravinsky: Petrushka Debussy: Jeux; Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun Orchestre de Paris, Klaus Mäkelä (cond.) Decca
2. Tchaikovsky: Symphonies Nos. 5 and 6 "Pathétique." Orchestra Della Svizzera Italiana, Markus Poschner (cond.) Claves
3. Mahler: Symphony No. 9. Mahler Academy Orchestra, Philipp von Steinaecker (cond.) Alpha
4. Bruckner: Symphonies Nos. 1-9. Vienna Philharmonic, Christian Thielemann (cond.) Sony

The Scarlet Scarf of Shame Recipients:
5. Dvořák: Symphonies Nos. 7-9; Overtures: In Nature's Realm, Carnival, Othello. Czech Philharmonic, Semyon Bychkov (cond.) PentaTone
6. Ravel: Daphnis et Chloë. Sinfonia of London, Sinfonia of London Chorus, John Wilson (cond.) Chandos
7. Franck: Symphony in D minor Fauré: Pelléas et Melisande (Suite) Berlin Philharmonic, Daniel Barenboim (cond.) DG

The Taupe Scarf of Turpitude Recipients:
8. Saint-Saëns: The Carnival of the Animals, Piano Concerto No. 2, Various Solo Pieces by French Composers (incl. Women!). Lang Lang and Gina Alice (pianos), Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Andris Nelsons (cond.) DG
9. Ravel: Piano Concertos Falla: Nights in the Gardens of Spain Alexandre Tharaud (piano), Orchestra National de France, Louis Langrée (cond.) Erato

The Black Scarf of Lingering Stench Recipient:
10. Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night's Dream (complete incidental music, English and German versions, with and without the words in both languages). Soloists, La Capella Nacional de Catalunya, Le Concert des Nations, Jordi Savall (cond.) Alia Vox (4 CDs + book)