Gran Turismo 5 (Original Game Soundtrack)

STRAUSS: FOUR LAST SONGS DIE

Half a century after walking onto the world stage as the first classical guitar quartet, Los Romeros continue to shape and contribute to the lexicon of classical guitar. On "Celebration" the internationally acclaimed "Royal Family of the Guitar" celebrate the occasion of their fiftieth anniversary. The recording embodies the literature representative of their musical journey. From the "Malaguenas" of their father, the first pieces they played as a quartet, to "De Cadiz a la Habana", especially written for this recording and "Tonadilla" written by revered composer Joaquin Rodrigo, the expanse of their artistry is apparent and as vibrant as ever. - RCA

R E V I E W S

"This is the latest incarnation of “The Royal Family of the Guitar,” commemorating 50 years since the beginning of the guitar quartet as an art form. The original family was built around father Celedonio Romero and his three virtuoso guitarist sons Celin, Pepe and Angel. They moved from Spain to the U.S. in 1957 and immediately began a concert career and performances all over the world. Their recordings for Mercury and Philips are well-known and their quartet inspired many composers to create works for guitar quartet and guitar quartet plus orchestra. (I once recorded them for The Standard School Broadcast.)

Founder Celedonio Romero passed away in 1996 and two of his sons plus grandsons Celino and Lito now continue the tradition. In 2007 the new formulation of The Romeros was awarded the Recording Academy President’s Merit Award during Grammy Week in LA. The program they have created for this new CD is subtitled “From Baroque to Bretón.” The works of Bach and Pachelbel take care of the first half of that title, and the opening Prelude by Tomas Bretón follows the second half. The latter is a classic work of Spanish nationalism and is thrilling in its arrangement for four guitars. Some solo guitar tracks alternate with the massed strings, as on most previous Romero Family recordings. For example, the familiar Recollections of the Alhambra is solo by Pepe, and Celino plays La Paloma by Iradier as a solo. The Cuarteto No. 1 is a short four-movement suite for the four guitarists by a priest-composer of their acquaintance. Pepe is known equally well as a virtuoso flamenco guitarist, and his piece Farrucas de Sabicas is an homage to that great flamenco guitarist. The closing track, Malaguenas, is for the entire quartet, from the late Celedonio."

- John Sunier, Audiophile Audition [11/18/2009]

PIANO CONCERTOS NO. 3 & 4

CARO AMOR

SYMPHONY 8 SACD

2012 release from the British entertainer. Tracie received critical raves for her performance as Judy Garland in the musical End of the Rainbow, which chronicles the last days of Judy's life. This release features Tracie performing Garland favorites from that popular production.

Marek Janowski’s recording of Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen was the first ever digital recording of the opera. With sessions beginning in 1980, the complete set was not released until 1984. The cast for the four operas consisted of legendary Wagnerians and features the authoritative Wotan of Theo Adam, the fresh- voiced Siegmund of Siegfried Jerusalem and Jessye Norman as Sieglinde, heard here at the peak of her early career. Rounding out the amazing cast are tenors Rene Kollo and Peter Schreier, and soprano Jeannine Altmeyer. This 2-CD set is the perfect introduction to the Ring and features selected musical highlights and all the most popular tunes.

Drawn from the worldwide catalog holdings of Sony Classical, which includes both the Columbia/CBS and RCA Victor label imprints, the SONY Classical Originals, SONY Classical Masters Singles and Box Sets, and SONY Opera House series offer an extensive selection of highly desirable and collectible EU (Germany) pressed import editions, smartly designed and graphically pleasing, featuring the most sought-after recordings by the world's preeminent, legendary artists both past and present, with many titles newly re-mastered in 24 bit High Resolution Audio.

BIG BAND COLLECTION:GOODMAN

SEVEN YEARS IN TIBET

Selection includes Introduction about the premiere performance of "The Birth of Christ".

EXPERIENCE:LIVE NYC

DVORAK GREAT HITS

The Truth about Love