Piotr Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4 in F minor Op. 36; Francesca da Rimini, Fantasia after Dante Op. 32 -
London Symphony Orchestra; George Szell; New Philharmonia Orchestra; Lorin Maazel
Classical | 1 CD | EAC Rip | 355 MB, 3% recovery | FLAC+LOG+Cue | Complete scans
Publisher: Decca Eloquence| Recorded: 1962;1971 | Published: 2005

George Szell's excellent Tchaikovsky Fourth Symphony, long absent from the catalog, has made a welcome return on several different labels, most recently Universal's not overwhelmingly successful Penguin Classics line. Here, it comes coupled with a sensational Francesca da Rimini that has Maazel and the New Philharmonia in razor-sharp form throughout. –David Hurwitz

Kalevi Aho's compositions have a similar expansiveness to that which is found in the works of Sibelius. While they might not score as high on the accessibility meter, they are worthy of consideration. His symphonies in particular, the first of which is represented here, will reward the listener who gives them a serious listen.

Daniel G. Berk @ Amazon.com

Enjoyed the rare opportunity to listen to Jon Nakamatsu playing Woelfl at the San Francisco Symphony Hall tonight - a true revelation! Woelfl, Beethoven's unappreciated contemporary was brought to life in the most brilliant manner by this highly talented young pianist. Nakamatsu's interpretation of Woelfl's sonata in E major is uncompromising. Highly recommended!

Dirk Lammerts @ Amazon.com

Le Chat Lunatique’s Demonic Lovely Gives Dancers and Listeners Cause for Celebration CD captures the verve, swing and musicality of this “filthy, mangy jazz” quartet…

”A fully mature artist who dares to take chances, and succeeds with an instinctive feeling that lends credibility to everything she does.” - Boris Rabinowitsch, Politiken (Danish national daily newspaper) Sinne Eeg released Waiting For Dawn - her second album in her own name - in August 2007, four years after the release of her debut CD Sinne Eeg. Waiting For Dawn has stirred up a great deal of enthusiasm…

I’ve always taken a rather broad view about what qualifies as “western swing.” I’ve recorded brand new compositions as well as songs from Broadway shows and beloved movies. I've recorded songs by artists from Hank Williams and Faron Young to Duke Ellington and Rosemary Clooney, as well as classics by those giants on whose shoulders…

What the American hard rock and metal scene needs right now is an infusion of youth and some new blood coursing through its veins. Enter ANTI-MORTEM and their upcoming debut album, New Southern. An Oklahoma quintet whose combined average age is just 21-years-old, ANTI-MORTEM were raised on southern rock & heavy metal and driven by a hunger to make an impact. The band dole out bottom-heavy and groove-laden heavy rock anthems, and as with all the metal greats they've learned from, a modern sense of melody infuses every track. Also present and accounted for is southern swagger, courtesy of the band's roots and upbringing.

The German sound-pioneer is a house-hold name in the world of electronic music, particularly in the fields of ambient and chillout-music. In the past he has produced chillout mixes for artists like Rammstein or Mike Oldfield. Now he is coming up with a full-length album packed with chillout-versions of his gold-selling no 1 album 'Sun' 'Sun' - The Chill Out Edition includes chill-out mixes of the best tracks of the regular 'Sun' album and sets a new level in the world of ambient and chill out music. Inspired by electro classics like Tangerine Dream, Kraftwerk and Jean- Michel Jarre, von Deylen creates visionary sounds that are ahead of their time.

Finnish melodic death metallers INSOMNIUM will release their sixth studio album, "Shadows Of The Dying Sun", on April 28 in Europe and on April 29 in North America via Century Media Records. All the drums were recorded at studio SF Sound with Kimmo Perkkiö while the rest of the instruments were laid down at studio Korkeakoski with Teemu Aalto. André Alvinzi of Fascination Street Studios took care of the mix, with Svante Forsbäck at Chartmakers overseeing the mastering. The artwork was once again created by Wille Naukkarinen.

Naples has always been one of the musical metropolises of Italy, but it became especially important in the first half of the 18th century. Many composers were active in the city, in particular in the realm of opera, and a number of them were also teachers at the various conservatoires. In particular in the 1730s the Neapolitan style began to disseminate across Italy, and even beyond the Italian borders. Some of the best castratos were pupils of one of Naples' most famous composers, Nicola Porpora. One of them was Farinelli, who scored triumphs all over Europe.

The acclaimed Polish period band Arte dei Suonatori perform eight of Vivaldi’s concertos a Quattro. Their version of Handel’s 12 Concerto grossi Op. 6 was awarded ‘Orchestral Choice of the Month’ in BBC Music Magazine, alongside further critical acclaim from the international music press. As well as being a major composer in the formation of the solo concerto, he also was the leading exponent of the older concerto a quattro – music in four parts, with several players to a part. His works in this genre are notable not only for their beauty, but also for their experimental character and for providing the most important examples of fugal writing in Vivaldi’s instrumental music.