From a landmark Janacek album to a previously unpublished Schubert/Mozart recording, this collection presents the Deutsche Grammophon, British and American Decca, and Westminster legacy of Rudolf Firkušný (1912-1994), acclaimed by Stereo Review as 'the outstanding champion of Czech piano music on the international circuit'.

This splendid and authoritative recital by Elissa Edwards and Richard Kolb of arias and cantatas from Barbara Strozzi’s last published opus showcases the dramatically coloured, highly charged power of the composer’s expressive toolkit, lit by the emerging harmonic language of the Baroque, influenced by Monteverdi through her teacher Cavalli, as a serious precedent for the future of opera. In his booklet notes Kolb comments that in Strozzi’s time a taste for ‘indulgence in the sensual pleasure of vocal melody or as an esoteric manifestation of nothingness’ was growing – the future indeed.

Even though Vladimir Ashkenazy is most often celebrated for his brilliantly virtuosic interpretations of Romantic repertoire, his skills in playing works of the Classical era are just as worthy, as proved by this 10-disc set from London of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's piano concertos. These performances span a period from 1966 to 1988, capturing a youthful and vigorous Ashkenazy playing and conducting the Philharmonia Orchestra and the English Chamber Orchestra from the keyboard, in approved Mozartian fashion. All of the keyboard concertos are here, including the official 27 concertos for piano and orchestra, the Concerto for two pianos in E flat major, K. 365, the Concerto for three pianos in F major, K. 242, as well as the two Rondos K. 382 and K. 386. Ashkenazy's elegant playing has been highly praised by critics and placed on a level with his esteemed contemporaries Murray Perahia, Daniel Barenboim, and Alfred Brendel, all past masters of Mozart's primary medium of expression.

Esoteric Recordings are pleased to announce the next release in the continuing series of reissues of the entire catalogue by the legendary classical rock band Sky. Formed in 1979, Sky brought together the worlds of rock and classical music in a highly successful and inspiring way. Featuring the gifted talents of guitarist John Williams, percussionist Tristan Fry, legendary bass player Herbie Flowers, former Curved Air keyboard player Francis Monkman and guitarist Kevin Peek, Sky recorded their debut album at Abbey Road studios in the early months of 1979. The band’s self-titled debut reached the UK top ten in May 1979 and went on to achieve Platinum status in the UK and was also a major hit in Europe and Australia.

Jaco Pastorius was a meteor who blazed on to the scene in the 1970s, only to flame out tragically in the 1980s. With a brilliantly fleet technique and fertile melodic imagination, Pastorius made his fretless electric bass leap out from the depths of the rhythm section into the front line with fluid machine-gun-like passages that demanded attention. He also sported a strutting, dancing, flamboyant performing style and posed a further triple-threat as a talented composer, arranger and producer. He and Stanley Clarke were the towering influences on their instrument in the 1970s. Collection includes 'Broadway Blues' & 'Teresa', 'Heavy'n Jazz' & 'Stuttgart Aria', 'Live In Italy' & 'Honestly'.

By 1978, David Liebman had played with Miles Davis and Elvin Jones, founded the adventurous cooperative Free Life Communications and led a funk band with James Brown alum Pee Wee Ellis. Early that year, he booked a week at the Village Vanguard. The gig reunited him with pianist Richie Beirach, combining their previous flights of freedom in a grounded, straightahead setting. Trumpeter Randy Brecker joined the frontline while bassist Frank Tusa and drummer Al Foster helmed the rhythm section. The group on the Mosaic Select Pendulum set didn’t last beyond that February week, though Beirach and Liebman would continue to work together closely, in duos and groups like Quest, which included Foster. The three discs recall a transitional time for jazz when musicians had freedom, fusion and tradition to draw on in their playing. Aside from three originals, the group expands on material like “Impressions,” “Footprints” and a few standards (“Night and Day” and “There Is No Greater Love”). The set list was called on the Vanguard stage and most tracks last well beyond a quarter of an hour. The loose nature and the anything-goes mood of the time brought out the best in the group.

For this second volume of Beethoven’s string quartets, the Doric String Quartet has combined one middle period, one late, and two early quartets to create a programme that works on its own terms, as well as forming part of the complete cycle. The musicians start off with a vivid performance of Op. 18 No. 2, following it with the Quartet, Op. 130, in which, as finale, they perform the Große Fugue (Op. 133), as Beethoven long contemplated it.

Misael Barraza-Diaz is one of the most outstanding Mexican guitarists of his generation. He graduated “Summa Cum Laude” from the Master Guitarra Alicante, a special program where he studied with world-renowned musicians David Russell, Manuel Barrueco, Ignacio Rodes, Paul O’dette, Hopkinson Smith, Fabio Zanon, Roberto Aussell and Shin Ichi Fukuda. As of December 2014, Misael holds both a Masters degree from the Master Guitarra Alicante (Spain) and a second Master’s degree from the University of Arizona (U.S.A.) where he is currently pursuing his Doctorate in Musical Arts and continues to study with Thomas Patterson, David Russell, and Sergio and Odair Assad.

The new album by Portuguese composer António Pinho Vargas brings together two landmark works, performed live by Casa da Música’s resident ensembles. Six Portraits of Painwas one of the highlights of the venue’s inaugural programme in 2005, featuring the virtuoso cellist Anssi Karttunen as soloist alongside the Remix Ensemble, conducted by Frank Ollu. A deeply moving work, it draws inspiration from texts by Deleuze/Spinoza, Thomas Bernhard, Anna Akhmatova, Manuel Gusmão, and Paul Celan, each evoking different forms of existential suffering. Oscuro, on the other hand, stands as a testimony to more recent times, an era marked by tragedy and disfigurement, from the pandemic to the wars afflicting the world. It is performed by the Casa da Música Porto Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Pedro Neves. These historic recordings, captured live at the premiere performances, are now released in a carefully produced edition by Artway, reaffirming Pinho Vargas as a vital voice in contemporary European music.

One of the greatest stars of the rock & roll era, David Bowie evaded easy categorization throughout his career, operating as the artiest rocker within the mainstream and the most accessible musician on the fringe.

Sine Music will be releasing the new ambient album The Beginning by Glint. The album contains eleven tracks and will be available in all well-known download stores and streaming services. After the successful albums Estival Arvo and Human, Glint returns with his latest work The Beginning and delivers a musical experience full of groove, playfulness and dreamy melodies. Fans of the German TV show Das perfekte Dinner are already familiar with his music - his tracks can be heard there regularly.

100 No 1 Hits of the '50's is designed and signed as a reference on your choice of several exchangers file. 100 No.1 Hits Of The ’50s Artist: VARIOUS ARTISTS Format: 4CD Digipack If ever there was a time that saw a seismic shift in musical output and fan reaction on both sides of the Atlantic, it was the fifties. From the early years of the decade, when virtually nothing rivalled the Tin Pan Alley-based records from established stars, through to the later years with the arrival of rock & roll and skiffle, there was never such a radical upheaval in the music business. Our selection of 100 hits is drawn from both the American and British charts, though many of them were top sellers in both countries. Convenience, reliability and availability, is the property of our portal, as well as the immensity of the creative transformation!

Known for his mariachi-inspired easy listening sound, trumpeter Herb Alpert is one of the most successful instrumental performers in pop history. He is also one of the entertainment industry's canniest businessmen, having co-founded A&M Records – a label that ranks among the most prosperous artist-owned companies ever established – with partner Jerry Moss. Collection includes: The Lonely Bull (1962); South Of The Border (1964); Whipped Cream & Other Delights (1965); !!Going Places!! (1965); What Now My Love (1966); S.R.O (1966); The Beat Of The Brass (1968); Rise (1979); Fandango (1982); Bullish (1984); Keep Your Eye On Me (1987); Classics, Volume 1 (1987); Steppin' Out (Featuring Lani Hall) (2013); In The Mood (2014); Come Fly With Me (2015).

With Marimba, David Moliner presents an extraordinary album that places this unique instrument and its manifold colors and sounds at its core. Moliner’s masterful arrangements and two original works composed specifically for the instrument take listeners on a sonic journey through the centuries, combining both technical skill and creative expression.

Lover, Beloved: Songs from an Evening with Carson McCullers is the ninth studio album by the American singer/songwriter Suzanne Vega. The album is based on a play "Carson McCullers Talks About Love" about the life of the writer Carson McCullers, written and performed by Vega, which premiered in 2011. Suzanne Vega wrote 8 songs in collaboration with Duncan Sheik and 2 with Michael Jefry Stevens.