The best classical recordings of spring 2012 are appropriately refreshing, including a collection of choral works from young Norwegian composer Ola Gjeilo, a century-spanning collection of French song from American soprano Renée Fleming, and bright new performances from a roster of rising soloists, including pianists Li Yundi and Benjamin Grosvenor, and trumpeter Alison Balsom. The two most important recordings here include a first compilation of short sacred choral works by Alan Hovhaness, and Yuja Wang's immaculate collection of encores. 
1. Yuja WangFantasia
Though she's on top of the classical world, at times it seems that the murmurs about 25-year-old pianist Yuja Wang's concert attire might drown out the praise for her playing. Her three previous records are formidable, including a Grammy-nominated debut and impressive treatises on Stravinski and Rachmaninov. Fantasia is a collection of miniatures drawn largely from encores and thus lacks much of a thematic center. Even so, the energetic crowd-pleasers -- Dukas' L'apprenti sorcier, a blistering Chopin waltz and a small set of Scriabin -- boast enough bombast to warrant a close listen.
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Looking back on 2011, ears attuned to classical releases were given a wealth of exhilarating discoveries; in new music, young musicians and rediscovered historical scores. It was also the 200th anniversary of the birth of composer and virtuoso Franz Liszt, which all but required commemorative Liszt recordings from A-list pianists bent on proving themselves worthy of his thundering musical legacy. Hip young composers like Matt Haimovitz and Nico Muhly turned an eye on the indie market with collaborations and crossovers, while early music fans were treated to discoveries and premiere recordings of newly unearthed Renaissance works. But it was the string soloists who stole the show: the troupe of young violinists like Charlie Siem, Hilary Hahn, Mikhail Simonyan and Nicola Benedetti dominated the musical conversation with one stunning performance after the next.
The past year has seen a crop of excellent releases from the most talked-about rising stars in classical music, a varied set of neo-traditionalists who breathe life into the genre though fiery performances, scandalous outfits and bold programming choices. Astonishingly, none of them are older than 30.
This Classical Roundup has a decidedly American bent: Leonard Bernstein and Hilary Hahn bring life to Ives, Mikhail Simonyan plays Barber, and Leonard Pennario rolls though Gottschalk. To round things out, and for a touch of international diversity, Matt Haimovitz takes on 
Devoted readers of The Mix (hi, mom!) might remember that my last 
Classical artists don't typically rocket to the stardom in the manner of Aleksandra Kurzak, a Polish soprano whose startling talent made jaws drop when she debuted in London as Rosina in Rossini's Barber of Seville. Her sparkling solo debut leads off our early-fall Classical Roundup, in which she's joined by several other remarkable women, from a retrospective honoring violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter to Lara Downes' modern update on Bach's Goldberg Variations. Early September's other notable releases include a heart-wrenching Steve Reich/Kronos Quartet collaboration inspired by the September 11 tragedy and James Ehnes' expertly performed collection of three Bartok string concertos.
Although notable new classical releases include a collection from American wunderkind composer Nico Muhly and a lovely early opera from Elizabeth Kenny, the 200th birthday of a 19th-century piano virtuoso, composer and alleged lady-killer has been dominating recent classical programming. Franz Liszt's dabbling in the dark side is the focal point of a grandstanding recording from Georgian prodigy Khatia Buniatishvili, but it's Nelson Freire's passionate program that frames the composer most eloquently. A lesser anniversary is also celebrated with Murray Perahia's presentation of Bach concerti (Perahia caused quite a flutter by recording these on a modern grand piano — not the harpsichord — a decade ago). Other notable releases include the Beethoven debut of Argentine pianist Ingrid Fliter and a set of Baroque works for cello by Lynn Harrell. Too stuffy for you? Cue up the accessible classical crossover upstarts 2Cello as they dabble with Guns N' Roses.