1. Bach's "St. John Passion," St. Paul Chamber Orchestra: Bach's musical telling of Christ's crucifixion plumbed deep emotions in English baroque specialist Jonathan Cohen's interpretation, with Twin Cities guest choir the Singers.
2. Mahler's Seventh Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra: Osmo Vänskä's exhilarating Mahler series marched on with a triumphant reading of the allegedly problematic Seventh. By turns sizzling and sensitive, Vänskä's Mahler could be his crowning achievement in Minnesota.
3. Aizuri Quartet, Chamber Music Society of Minnesota: Bristling energy and insights into Beethoven, Beecher and Wiancko made the Aizuri Quartet's summer recital a memorable homecoming for violinist Ariana Kim, a Minnesota native.
4. Bernstein's "Songfest," LOFTrecital: Pop-up concert specialists LOFTrecital served up a rarely heard Leonard Bernstein centenary treat. Twelve songs, six singers, two pianos and a palpitating slice of Bernstein's melting-pot America.
5. Quince and Lumina: Chicago's eight-woman Quince paired with Twin Cities-based Lumina to form a vocal "supergroup." Think oodles of contemporary repertoire and silky close-harmony vocalism.
6. "As One," Skylark Opera Theatre: Transgender issues met opera in this fascinating one-act, with two singers playing the pre- and post-transition central character. Minnesota soprano Bergen Baker's breakout performance is lodged in the memory.
7. "Old American Songs," Lakes Area Music Festival: Sometimes escapism is necessary. Baritone John Taylor Ward's chipper, nostalgic foray into Copland's "Old American Songs" provided it. His barnyard imitations in "I Bought Me a Cat" were priceless.
8. Marc-André Hamelin, Minnesota Beethoven Festival: Few pianists have the necessary juice for Liszt's scorching Piano Sonata. Marc-André Hamelin does. And he switched on the afterburners for this Winona recital.
