The 1970 film version of Richard Wagner’s opera Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg is based on a staging by the director Leopold Lindtberg, for which Herbert Kirchhoff designed the set and Rudolf Heinrich the costumes. Leopold Ludwig conducts the Chorus of the Hamburg State Opera and the Philharmonic Hamburg State Orchestra. A quick glance at the cast list of this film production of Die Meistersinger reveals the surprising fact that the vocal protagonists – all stars of international reputation – were almost all associated with the Hamburg State Opera ensemble. This production fascinates by its appealing classical staging, the brilliance of the whole cast and the great camera shots, which are only could be realised in a studio production like this and with the result, that the audience finds itself placed amidst the scene.

Housed in a limited edition, vintage promo sleeve. Never before released studio tracks and live recordings!
Sahara is a mid-70's act that produced two albums, but prior to that they'd worked and released another as Subject ESQ. The music is rather typical early 70s proto-prog with elements of Jethro Tull (for the flute-guitar interplay), early Yes, and the occasional saxophone riffs remind of early Van der Graaf Generator. There are some spacier and/or symphonic parts that recall Nektar, Genesis (around "Trespass"), and maybe early Eloy. With the arrival of ex-Out Of Focus Hennes Henring on keyboards, the band continued under the new name Sahara after this album. Sunrise has been a minor classic , especially for its sidelong epic title track. Their second album, "For All The Clowns", is straighter with an overdose of progressive influences, notably Focus / Yes and Caravan and a potpourri styles.

For his 2001 All-Star Band outing – his fourth captured on album – Ringo Starr is joined by fellow old-timers like bassist Greg Lake, Ian Hunter on guitars, Sheila E., Howard Jones, and Supertramp's Roger Hodgson (who contributes three songs, with the rest relegated to a single track apiece)…

Antonio Pappano conducts Rome’s Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in two works from the earlier phase of Richard Strauss’s career: a comparative rarity, the mercurial, virtuosic Burleske for piano and orchestra, with Bertrand Chamayou as soloist, and the epic autobiographical tone poem Ein Heldenleben, one of the composer’s orchestral masterpieces. “Strauss always thought dramaturgically,” says Pappano. “Recording this music in Italy, the link has to be through opera, with all its theatricality, temperament, contrast and colour …You need a certain charisma in the sound, which these players achieve.”

If his first Dreams release took four years to be composed, this second one took only one year. And on this CD there are less references to several electronic music schools; his efforts are concentrated on a symphonic, progressive style (e.g., "Behind the Walls of Imagination" and "Flying Over the Rainbow"). This last one is also considered one of the best compositions already arranged and composed by him…

Victor Assis Brasil was the best Brazilian jazzman of his generation, having being praised by international critics. Brasil showed early evidence of talent for music, excelling at the harmonica and the drums. At age 12 he gave his first concert at the harmonica. In 1961, at age 16, he was presented with an alto saxophone. In 1965, while already a professional, Brasil recorded his first album, Desenhos, with highly favorable reviews, consolidating his pioneering role as a Brazilian jazz musician. His next conquests were the achievement of third place at the 1966 International Jazz Contest in Vienna, Austria, and of the Best Soloist award in the Berlin Jazz Festival, which granted him a scholarship to the Berklee School of Music (Boston, MA)…

Green Mars is the second album release from the Viriditas. Like it's predecessor Green Mars is loosely based on the events of the book of the same name by author Kim Stanley Robinson.
The music portrays events and emotions drawn from the multitude of characters in the expansive and inspiring book, from the teenage runaway Nirgal on his journey of exploration and self discovery, to the scientist Sax Russel, a diminutive introvert quietly working out a way to thwart the plans of the blundering planetary government.
Green Mars is a truly gigantic album and the result of two years of hard work from the band. Full of twists and turns, new stylistic development and throwbacks to classic prog bands that have influenced the band. Within Green Mars you will find instrumental virtuosity and thought provoking lyrics in equal measure!

Boytronic is a German music group that plays Synth-pop. It was founded in 1983 by Holger Wobker and Peter Sawatzki in Hamburg, Germany as Kapitän Sehnsucht (Captain Desire). The original Boytronic released two synthpop albums: The Working Model (1983) and The Continental (1985). The record company, claiming rights to the band name, put together a completely different line-up in 1986.

The King Diamond band was formed in 1985 by Danish vocalist King Diamond following the break-up of his previous band, Mercyful Fate. The original line-up consisted of Diamond, his former Mercyful Fate bandmates Michael Denner (guitar) and Timi Hansen (bass), and Swedes Mikkey Dee (drums) and Andy LaRoque (guitar)…

This is the most recent release (2007) from Nevada's D'Arcana.This trio play a laid back, spacey brand of psychedelia with some heavier sections here and there. They've opened for both Rush and ZZ Top locally and apparently have had a fair amount of radio airplay down there as well. The cover art was done by Ed Unitsky who's also done the same for Porcupine Tree, The Flower Kings and The Tangent among others.