2009 10 X CD box set collection. Historical Russian Archive live recordings from 1964-1988 conducted by Gennady Rozhdestvensky. Includes orchestral works by Haydn, Dvor�k, Fleischmann, Shostakovich, Shebalin, Shaporin, Rakov, Agadzhikov, Volkonsky, Belimov, Polovinkin, Mosolov & more.

"The orchestra is full of interesting colors, and, under Yablonsky gives the familiar melodic material considerable direction and shape. There is something wonderfully human about the interpretive ideas that makes these performances so interesting." -- Peter Dobrin, The Philadelphia Inquirer, February 2003

"Let me say immediately that this new complete Swan Lake is thoroughly recommendable, and most enjoyable, both as a performance and recording. The Russian State Symphony Orchestra is obviously thoroughly at home in this glorious music. So is their excellent conductor, Dmitry Yablonsky, whose tempi can hardly be faulted.Throughout the four acts, Tchaikovsky's magnificent score is presented spontaneously and excitingly, vividly underlining the coherence of this masterpiece. The Russian solo playing is consistently impressive: Act 2's 'Dances of the Swans' (with fine solo violin and cello contributions) are as vivid as the national dances of Act 4. The orchestra is set back realistically and the effect is always convincing, suitably brilliant with good range and atmosphere and arresting climaxes (the Russian trumpets are especially striking)." -- Ivan March, Gramophone

A delightfully colorful introduction to classical music, aimed to fire the imagination of young children aged 5-7 years! Readers are asked to think about the different places in which we might hear music, whether it is in a concert hall, or just on television. They are then introduced to a selection of famous composers including Mozart and Beethoven, and learn about each of the musical instrument families, from woodwind to percussion. Throughout the book children are referred to the accompanying CD so that they can hear examples as they read. Music on the CD includes The Magic Flute (Mozart), Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Williams), Carnival of the Animals (Saint-Saëns), The Planets (Holst), Petrushka (Stravinsky) and Peter and the Wolf (Prokofiev).

MOZART, W.A.: Symphonies (Essential), Vols. 1-6 (Norrington)

CONRAD, J.: Nostromo (Unabridged)

Léopold Simoneau & Pierrette Alarie, Vol. 1

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Down a Path of Wonder: Memoirs of Stravinsky, Schoenberg and Other Cultural Figures Hardcover - Robert Craft met Stravinsky by invitation in 1948, after nearly four years of letter correspondence with the composer. It was this close association that steered Craft into a stimulating world of leading composers, writers and artists. At virtually the same time that he became a member of the Stravinsky household, Craft, aged twenty-four, discovered the 'path of wonder' created by Arnold Schoenberg. In 1950, the young conductor sought instruction from Schoenberg in the performance of his music, and maintained a friendship with him that became increasingly cordial until the week of the composer's death a year later. 'Remembering Schoenberg', the first chapter of "Down a Path of Wonder", charts with charm the development of this mutual understanding and friendship. Craft's musical observations are pertinent and witty, and it is music that underpins this collection of memoirs. However, his descriptions of Stravinsky's collaborator-friends, such as George Balanchine, T.S. Eliot, W.H. Auden, Aldous Huxley and other Makers of the Twentieth Century, also provide a fascinating contribution to the intellectual and cultural history of our era. Craft's travel diaries, forming the final part of this book, focus on Italy, Seville and Cambodia; they are similarly insightful, colorful and edifying. "Down a Path of Wonder" is a unique and truly compelling perspective on the post-Second World War artistic world - and beyond.

One of the musical and audiophile highlights of jazz recording history is available in unsurpassed SACD sound. A celebration of the 30th anniversary of the recordings, the analogue masters have been transferred using improved technology to SACD. For the first time, the complete recordings are collected with full documentation and photos. Some of the tracks, previously only available in limited editions, are all present in this collection. The set also includes a previously unreleased DVD, in which Lars Erstrand (vibes) and Georg Riedel (bass) recall these wonderful concerts.

Classical Music

"This historical recording feature the reading - by Andre Maurois himself - of "Les Silences du colonel Bramble". Inspired by his own story (he was a soldier during World War I) Maurois depicts a very british-style atmosphere, and the possibility of reaching a way of happiness in the darkests periods of History. Andre Maurois became famous with this very book and he reads himself his work in this broadcasted 1955 archive." Claude Colombini - Fremeaux

This 8 CD box set has more than 10 hours of Ben Webster's music including previously unreleased tracks. The sessions were recorded mainly during 1964-1973 in Europe, mostly in Scandinavia, and include live recordings from festivals, clubs and radio and television broadcasts. They feature Webster at Copenhagen's famous Montmartre club and other Danish locations as well as sessions from his renowned month-long residency at London's Ronnie Scott's. Completing the set are recordings from Finland, Sweden, Belgium, Germany and several tracks recorded before he left New York.

Classical Music