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This selection is also available on Walking Frog (distribution) 266.

This release marks the beginning of a series organized around the nationalities of the composers in the Segovia Archive. The pieces recovered from the archive were dedicated to Sergovia or commissioned by him, involving composers from eight countries. The Spanish composers recorded here are to be followed soon by an album of French composers.

The Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev was one of the giants of 20th century music. Reference Recordings is proud to present the Utah Symphony conducted by Thierry Fischer, in grand new performances of "Alexander Nevsky" and the "Lieutenant Kijé Suite", two of his most brilliant and dramatic musical works. The music of Lieutenant Kijé was originally written as the score to the film of the same name, released in March 1934. Prokofiev soon adapted it into the five-movement Lieutenant Kijé Suite, first performed in December 1934, and which quickly became a favorite in the international concert repertoire. Then, in 1938, Prokofiev collaborated with film director Eisenstein to create the score for the film Alexander Nevsky. He later adapted much of his score into the large-scale cantata for mezzo-soprano, orchestra and chorus featured on this recording.

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REVIEW:

The Lieutenant Kijé Suite's piquant opening movement, ‘Kijé’s Birth’, is notable for some nimble playing, especially from the Utah Symphony’s woodwinds. ‘Romance’ is nicely shaped and I liked the contributions of the tenor saxophonist. The cheeky music of ‘Kijé’s Wedding’ is nicely pointed and the tuba ‘oompahs’ add a suitably amusing touch. In the concluding ‘Kijé’s Funeral’ Prokofiev offers a kind of musical obituary by weaving in snippets from the four preceding movements. This is a very nicely done performance and I enjoyed it.

The Alexander Nevsky cantata is a vivid, theatrical score and in the right hands it certainly packs a punch. This new version from Thierry Fischer has a lot going for it, not least the vivid recorded sound.

The quality of the sound is immediately evident in ‘Russia under Mongolian Tyranny’ where the brooding atmosphere established by Fischer and his orchestra is emphasised by the wide-ranging recording. The sound has impact and genuine presence, offering a vivid aural picture of the orchestra. The Utah choirs make a strong showing in the delivery of their long phrases in ‘Song of Alexander Nevsky’. Things really get cracking in ‘The Crusade in Pskov’ where the oppressive dissonance of Prokofiev’s music is strongly projected by the orchestra, reinforced eventually by the choir. The recording has power and clarity, maximising the impact of the performance.

– MusicWeb International

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Holiday Musical Treasures- Newly Imagined! Eric Holtan, founder and conductor of True Concord Voices and Orchestra states: "Every December, True Concord presents it's popular Lessons and Carols by Candlelight concerts in the Tucson area. Unique in the local milieu of seasonal offerings, the focus is on sacred Christmas carols. Even in their simplest form, carols evoke emotionally powerful memories of personal and family experiences that enrich and enliven annual holiday celebrations. With this album, I wanted to capture the essence of our much-loved concerts with the mostly familiar carols presented here, but in musical settings by American composers that are new or not widely known. With the kind assistance of advisor Dale Warland - who set the standard of excellence with several cherished Christmas recordings over the years by The Dale Warland Singers - True Concord offers these holiday treasures, most of which are receiving their world premiere recordings. This is Christmas With True Concord - Carols in the American Voice."This is the group's second album on Reference Recordings. True Concord's first album, "Far in the Heavens,"received a GRAMMY� nomination for Best Choral Performance, and composer Stephen Paulus won posthumously the GRAMMY� for Best Classical Contemporary Composition.

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GRAMMY-nominated, BAFTA-winning composer Austin Wintory created this orchestral score for this single player role-playing tactical game, currently available on PC and Mac. The soundtrack score features the Dallas Winds, recorded by GRAMMY-winning engineer Keith O. Johnson and the Reference Recordings team at the Meyerson Center in Dallas, TX. The Banner Saga is the first-ever video game soundtrack recording from independent audiophile label Reference Recordings, on it's FRESH! From RR series.

Doug MacLeod is known for his superb songwriting, guitar wizardry, warm soulful vocals, wit and unforgettable live performances. Over 26 years, 16 studio albums, several live records, compilations, and two DVDs, MacLeod has consistently earned rave reviews, his songs being covered by many artists including Albert King, Albert Collins, Joe Louis Walker and Eva Cassidy. MacLeod wrote all the songs on Brand New Eyes with the exception of the co-written Midnight in Memphis. For ten years running, MacLeod penned "Doug's Back Porch," a regular feature column in Blues Revue Magazine.

Winner of the 2014 Blues Music Awards' 'Best Acoustic Artist' and 'Best Acoustic Album,' Doug MacLeod is a unique, powerful guitarist with a rich and soulful voice, singing original songs based on his own life. This is 'Genuine Original Acoustic Music' at it's very best!

Tropic Affair

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The follow-up to 1995's from the Age of Swing reunites many musicians from the first recording with exciting new soloists for an uncannily realistic evocation of the days of Benny Goodman and Gene Krupa. Players include Jay Leonhart (bass), Peter Appleyard (vibraphone), Nancy Marano (vocals), Butch Miles (drums), Ken Pizzarelli (guitar), Randy Sandke (trumpet), Frank Wess (sax) and Dick Hyman (piano). This album was recorded live to 2-track in stunning HDCD sound.

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This selection is a High Definition Compatible Digital (HDCD) recording.

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Fiona Boyes is Australia s most successful and celebrated international Blues artist. Her previous Reference Recordings release, Professin The Blues, received the 2017 Acoustic Album of the Year award from Blues Blast Magazine. The Blues Foundation in Memphis honored her with six Blues Music Award nominations, including Acoustic Album of the Year. This new album, Voodoo in the Shadows, is a self-produced session by the multi-talented guitarist/singer-songwriter, exploring the allure of the back roads from Memphis, through Mississippi, to New Orleans and down to the Gulf. In 11 songs, including 9 originals, we hear stories of respect, partying, attitude, mystery, sensuality and love. Joining her are three Australian bandmates: multi-instrumentalist Tim Neal, percussionist Mark Gruden, and Johnny Sansone, one of New Orleans finest musicians. As is customary, Fiona plays a cornucopia of guitars: her 6-string Maton, three cigar-box instruments and her rare baritone National Reso-lectric. Players combine in several groupings, featuring their different instruments, and a collaborative magic emerges, taking listeners along on the journey.

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Eileen Farrell Sings Torch Songs