The EMI Classics recordings of Cécile Ousset (b. 1936), spanning the years between 1982 and 1991, would mark her third and most prestigious recording collaboration, launching her, at age forty-six, into the international limelight. Indeed, recognition did not come easily to this grand dame of the piano, who, at the age of fourteen, obtained her prize at the Paris Conservatoire under the tutelage of Marcel Ciampi and began the gruelling rounds at major competitions shortly after: Geneva, Long-Thibaud, Queen Elisabeth and Busoni, as well as the inaugural edition of the Van Cliburn. As a young female pianist, doors remained firmly shut, even with the support of the great Arthur Rubinstein, who personally invested in Ousset’s early career after witnessing her performance at the Long-Thibaud competition.

Both of the works on this 2024 release by pianist Éric Le Sage, violinist Daishin Kashimoto, and the Schumann Quartet have seen their fortunes rise in recent years as sumptuous late French Romanticism seemed somehow to resonate with the over-the-top luxuries of the present day. There have been several good readings of Chausson's Concerto for piano, violin, and string quartet, a unique work that combines the utmost lushness with considerable art in balancing the various forces involved. The work has attracted some big names, but this one, with Berlin Philharmonic concertmaster rendering the concerto's soaring passionate lines, can stand with any of them.

Lise Davidsen has recorded Wagner’s Der fliegende Holländer in a live performance at her home opera house, Oslo. Her first full length opera recording on Decca Classics. These live performances were the only time she will ever perform the role of Senta, and this album forms an important part of her future legacy. Gerald Finley stars as The Dutchman, a role in which he has won international acclaim for his superb acting and lieder-like vocal finesse. The concert marked the inauguration of Edward Gardner as the new Music Director at Oslo Opera House.

2011 four CD set from the British Prog Rockers spanning the years 1969-1973. The Harvest Years contains remastered versions of their first five albums (Wasa Wasa, Sing Brother Sing, Edgar Broughton Band, Inside Out and Oora) plus a previously unreleased concert: Live at Hyde Park, London, 18th July 1970. It was the band's third appearance at the park, on a bill featuring fellow Harvest luminaries Roy Harper, Kevin Ayers, and headlined by Pink Floyd. This previously unreleased recording appears here for the first time, mastered at Abbey Road under the supervision of the band themselves. Their 45 minute set is faithfully reproduced in all it's raw and raucous glory.

Conceptually, Eldamar used to be inspired by J.R.R Tolkien, Heathenism, Elven Magic and Nature. On the new albums, however, this focus has shifted more towards existential themes and nonphysical experiences.
The goal of Eldamar's art has always been to help listeners to open up to the music in an emotional way and combine the experience with their imagination. To that end, the combination of aural and visual impressions was and still is important.
Where in the past Eldamar used the gorgeous nature paintings of Albert Bierstadt to help the listener to enter dream-like lands, the new album, which is part two of a conceptual work, uses another magnificent painting by the Polish master of surreal art Mariusz Lewandowski to give the listener some visual cues as to what this album is about…

Part of country music's late-'90s crop of female crossover stars, Jo Dee Messina's appeal nonetheless remained more with country fans than pop audiences. Messina was born August 25, 1970, in Framingham, Massachusetts, and grew up in nearby Holliston. She sang in musical plays starting at age eight but discovered country music at age 12 and got hooked on the likes of the Judds, Reba McEntire, and Dolly Parton.

Though it was considered a disappointment upon its release (indeed, its production was much too sleek at times, and it lacked the creative daring of Perfect Strangers), 1987's House of Blue Light has actually stood the test of time just as well, if not better, than its predecessor. The second effort from the re-formed Mark II lineup, this album showed Deep Purple searching for an '80s-flavored hit single, and by doing so, sounding uncomfortably similar to guitarist Ritchie Blackmore's other band, Rainbow.

Singles – The UA Years is a terrific double-album set that chronicles all of Dr. Feelgood's major singles, from 1976's "Roxette" to 1986's "See You Later Alligator." Although the hits-only approach leaves out some major Feelgood songs, Singles remains a first-rate retrospective, and for many years, it was the best Dr. Feelgood collection available. The 1997 double-disc Twenty Five Years of Dr. Feelgood later replaced Singles as the definitive retrospective, yet there are enough songs on this collection to make it worthwhile for serious fans who don't want to spring for either the box set Lookin' Back or the entire catalog.

This double CD is the most comprehensive collection of Elkie's music yet released. The first CD is similar to previous compilations, focusing on hits and covers of other songs. Some covers (Nights in white satin (Moody Blues), Don't Stop (Fleetwood Mac)) show that Elkie can take famous songs and keep them interesting. Others (such as Lilac wine) she plucked from obscurity and made her own. This CD contains much great music, most if not all previously released on CD. The second CD showcases Elkie's blues roots. It also includes covers, but of bluesy songs such as Hello stranger (Barbara Lewis), The way you do the things you do (Temptations), Rescue me (Fontella Bass), He's a rebel (Crystals) and Do right woman do right man. The first 13 tracks on this CD pre-dates Elkie's commercial breakthrough and some may be making their CD debut.