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Anne Midgette, a contributor to the New York Times, reviews the year in classical music and opera.

Anne Midgette's 2006 Picks:

Berio: Sequenzas, Solo Works -- Various artists (Mode; four CDs)
Shostakovich: Symphonies (15) -- Various orchestras and soloists, conducted by Mariss Jansons (EMI Classics; 10 CDs)

Wagner: Ring Cycle - Astrid Varnay, soprano; Wolfgang Windgassen, tenor; Hans Hotter, bass-baritone; Bayreuth Festival Orchestra, conducted by Joseph Keilberth (Testament; four CDs)

Adams: 'The Dharma at Big Sur,' 'My Father Knew Charles Ives'
Tracy Silverman, electric violinist; BBC Symphony, conducted by John Adams

Lieberson: 'Neruda Songs'
Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, mezzo-soprano; Boston Symphony, conducted by James Levine (Nonesuch)

Andriessen: 'Writing to Vermeer'
Netherlands Opera; Schoenberg Ensemble and Asko Ensemble, conducted by Reinbert de Leeuw (Nonesuch; two CDs)

Steve Reich: Phases (5-CD box)
Featuring Donald Palma, Maya Beiser, Sharon Prater, Evan Ziporyn, and Steve Reich (Nonesuch)

The Essential Martin Bresnick, Flux String Quartet, Jupiter Trio, Bang on a Can All-Stars, Lisa Moore, piano

Evelyn Lear and Thomas Stewart: A Musical Tribute
Evelyn Lear, soprano; Thomas Stewart, baritone; various artists (Deutsche Grammophon; five CDs).

The New York Times