This album from the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and conductor Sergiu Comissiona presents two works by Mendelssohn: the Symphony No. 4 “Italian,” and the Symphony No. 5 “Reformation.” The title Italian designates the symphony Mendelssohn began writing during a visit to Italy in 1930-31 and completed in Berlin on March 13, 1833, a few weeks after his 24th birthday. When he conducted the first performance two months later, at a Philharmonic concert in London, the work was very well received. Mendelssohn withheld the score from publication for several years in order to make revisions. The final version was not performed until the second anniversary of his death. The Reformation Symphony was begun in Wales in 1829, a few weeks after Mendelssohn made his first sketches for the Scotch Symphony during his very productive first visit to Britain. While the Scotch was set aside for more than 12 years, the Reformation was completed in 1830, for Mendelssohn intended it for presentation in the celebration of the tercentenary of the Augsburg Confession in June of that year. The event did not take place, however, and the Symphony was not performed until 1832 when it was introduced in Berlin. The score, however, remained unpublished until after his death.

Includes work(s) by Robert Schumann, Edvard Grieg.

Includes work(s) by Franz Joseph Haydn.

Acclaimed lyric soprano Patrice Michaels, “a formidable interpretative talent” (The New Yorker), conceived and headlines this inventive, wide-ranging two-disc, 26 song project where classical music and jazz find common ground. A vocalist of uncommon intellect and sophisticated wit, Michaels has assembled a singular collection of songs, including one she composed, which give Ms. Michaels and her stellar instrumental collaborators room to gently improvise and swing the music.

No collection of the composer's orchestral works would be complete without the overtures and theater music. The Minnesota Orchestra and Stanislaw Skrowaczewski's acclaimed VoxBox set of the overtures and incidental music makes a welcome return to the catalogue. Produced by the legendary Elite Recordings team of Marc Aubort and Joanna Nickrenz, and newly remastered from the original analogue tapes in high-definition.

REVIEW:

This set is an absolute joy. In athletic and muscular playing, the orchestra appear to strain at the leash, ready to explode with exuberance. Phyllis Bryn-Julson and the Minnesota Bach Society are an excellent match in the vocal numbers, and the recording is as vivid and rich as the performers.

-- BBC Music Magazine

Learn more about the VOX Label, the Elite Recordings production team, and the reissuing of these classic Utah Symphony recordings on the Naxos Classical Spotlight Podcast!

Vox Audiophile Edition. Tchaikovsky’s unnumbered symphony Manfred is based on a poem by Byron and charts the tempestuous journey of Manfred towards the long-sought peace of death. The rousing Marche slave is a long-established concert favorite. The much-admired Tchaikovsky recordings by the Utah Symphony Orchestra and Maurice Abravanel were originally released on Vox in 1974 as quadraphonic LPs (QSVBX 5129 and QSVBX 5131). Remastered in high definition from the original source tapes.

Learn more about the VOX Label, the Elite Recordings production team, and the reissuing of these classic Utah Symphony recordings on the Naxos Classical Spotlight Podcast!

Vox Audiophile Edition. Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 3 is his only symphony in a major key and displays echoes of Mendelssohn; Schumann and Schubert. The tragic and tempestuous symphonic poem Francesca da Rimini is based on scenes from Dante’s Divine Comedy. The much-admired Tchaikovsky recordings by the Utah Symphony Orchestra and Maurice Abravanel were originally released on Vox in 1974 as quadraphonic LPs (QSVBX 5129 and QSVBX 5131). Remastered in high definition from the original source tapes.

Learn more about the VOX Label, the Elite Recordings production team, and the reissuing of these classic Utah Symphony recordings on the Naxos Classical Spotlight Podcast!

Vox Audiophile Edition. Symphony No. 6 in B minor ‘Pathétique’ is the culmination of Tchaikovsky’s symphonic canon. The fantasy-overture after Shakespeare’s Hamlet is an insightful character study. These Vox recordings by the Utah Symphony Orchestra conducted by Maurice Abravanel were originally released in 1974 as quadraphonic LPs (QSVBX 5129 and QSVBX 5131) and also appeared in 2001 as part of a complete Tchaikovsky symphonic edition on the Vox label (CD5X 3603). The Elite Recordings for Vox by legendary producers Marc Aubort and Joanna Nickrenz are considered by audiophiles to be among the finest sounding examples of orchestral recordings. Remastered in high definition from the original source tapes.

REVIEW:

Along with a convincing performance of the symphony, Maurice Abravanel delivers a Hamlet that is lively and entertaining, with plenty of drama and flair. This is simply a very good, straightforward, well-played, excellently recorded example of the conductor's way with this music.

-- Classical Candor

Learn more about the VOX Label, the Elite Recordings production team, and the reissuing of these classic Utah Symphony recordings on the Naxos Classical Spotlight Podcast!

Vox Audiophile Edition. Tchaikovsky composed his First Symphony just after graduating from the St Petersburg Conservatory. The Second Symphony presents an infectious cheerfulness and imaginative skill in orchestration. These Vox recordings by the Utah Symphony Orchestra conducted by Maurice Abravanel were originally released in 1974 as quadraphonic LPs (QSVBX 5129 and QSVBX 5131) and also appeared in 2001 as part of a complete Tchaikovsky symphonic edition on the Vox label (CD5X 3603). The Elite Recordings for Vox by legendary producers Marc Aubort and Joanna Nickrenz are considered by audiophiles to be among the finest sounding examples of orchestral recordings. Remastered in high definition from the original source tapes.

Learn more about the VOX Label, the Elite Recordings production team, and the reissuing of these classic Utah Symphony recordings on the Naxos Classical Spotlight Podcast!

Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony is paired here with his ‘noisy festival piece’, the 1812 Overture. These Vox Audiophile Edition recordings were originally released in 1974 as quadraphonic LPs and also appeared in 2001 as part of a complete Tchaikovsky symphonic edition on the Vox label. The Elite Recordings for Vox are considered by audiophiles to be among the finest sounding examples of orchestral recordings.

REVIEW:

Abravanel brings a startlingly fresh and very American tone to the climaxes of the first movement. The string sound is well defined and powerful, and the brass playing in the return of the ‘fate motif’ of the second movement is exhilarating. In fact, the articulation of the opening is markedly more exacting than many other discs; more than anything, it is the intensity of the high points that give this recording such an energetic character. The companion piece, 1812 Overture, is performed with appropriate gusto here, but the real highlight of this disc is the impassioned string playing and vibrant conducting.

-- Classical Music Daily

Learn more about Elite Recordings and the revival of their VOX Classics albums on the Naxos Classical Spotlight Podcast!

These Vox recordings from 1974 capture Leonard Slatkin and the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra in classic performances of Gershwin’s most popular orchestral works including An American in Paris, Catfish Row and Cuban Overture. Newly remastered in 192kHz / 24-bit high definition.

ONCE UPON A TIME: THE LOST 1965 NEW YORK STUDIO

The Whole Darn Family emerged from Richmond, Virginia in the late 70's and were managed, produced and promoted by August (Mr. Wiggles) Moon who ran an independent label called Soul International Records from a storefront in Richmond's Southside District. "Seven Minutes of Funk" has become a cult favorite as it's been sampled by Jay-Z, Wu-Tang Clan, Foxy Brown, Method Man, Biggie Smalls and countless other hip-hop artists. The LP is a gem to find for any top D. J. , and a hunted collector's item. THIS IS THE NON-RSD VERSION OF THE RELEASE; ONCE THE RSD EXCLUSIVE 3 MONTH EXCLUSIVE IS OVER, THIS RELEASE WILL REPLACE THE RSD VERSION AND BE MADE AVAILABLE

Out of print LP with NO new vinyl & used copies available. This deluxe package includes: an OBI strip, Single cardboard album jacket, printed inner sleeve, orginial record label and speciality "double split" Red translucent & Yellow translucent vinyl. Larry Coryell (The Godfather of Fusion) & The Eleventh House is one of the best known 70s fusion groups. At Montreux was recorded live at the Montreux Jazz and Pop Festival, Montreux, Switzerland, July 4, 1974. The album is critically acclaimed as "The cutting Edge of Jazz-Fusion" and "A Coll Fusion Good Time".

This never-heard- before recording of the legendary tenor sax "Little Giant" Johnny Griffin playing at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club and backed by members of Ronnie's House Band (Stan Tracey, Malcolm Cecil and Jackie Dougan) sees a AAA vinyl release. The album was mastered at Gearbox Records using an all-analogue signal chain and cut directly from the original tapes, which were recorded at the club by Les Tomkins in 1964. The sleeve features photography by the esteemed Val Wilmer and liner notes by Richard Williams.