Afternoon in the Garden is the first official release of Elvis Presley's afternoon concert at Madison Square Garden in June 1972. While highlights of the evening concerts were released weeks after the concert in 1972, the afternoon shows sat in the vaults until the 25th anniversary of the performance rolled around. Although the album is very similar to the previously released As Recorded at Madison Square Garden, it is nevertheless quite entertaining, capturing Elvis at the height of his extravagant, Vegas-style hits revue. It may not offer any new insights, and it may not be necessary for anyone but hardcore fans, but the record is undeniably fun.

Cellist Truls Mørk’s profound sensitivity to musical style is once again evident as he and Les Violons du Roy, under their director Bernard Labadie, bring modern instruments and 18th century sensibilities to the cello concertos of Carl Philip Emmanuel Bach (third son of Johann Sebastian), in performances that give us ‘the best of both worlds’.

The vast majority of Brazilian-born pianist Arnaldo Cohen's discography is devoted to the music of Franz Liszt. There is good reason for this; his technique and approach to the instrument seem especially suited for the demands Liszt makes of pianists, from extreme subtlety and introspection to the bravura, ostentatious displays of power and virtuosity. Cohen delivers all of this with remarkable clarity.

Unlike either its predecessor Alone in the Universe or 2001's Zoom, From out of Nowhere didn't appear after a prolonged period of silence from Jeff Lynne's ELO. It arrived in November of 2019, nearly exactly four years after Alone in the Universe, a rapid turnaround that recalls Lynne's work schedule as a bandleader and producer in the 1970s and '80s. That's not the only way From out of Nowhere conjures memories of the past. From the spaceship hovering on its record cover to the song title "Sci-Fi Woman" stirring up the ghost of "Evil Woman," the album is designed to sound and feel like an Electric Light Orchestra album from the late 1970s.

Singer Asmik Grigorian has chosen to record both versions of Richard Strauss's ultimate masterpiece, composed in 1948: the version with orchestra and the much rarer version with piano. Why? “Because “one” is never enough for me :)" writes Asmik. "My main interest in recording both versions was that they each require different colors - even if they are the same piece. Mikko Franck is one of the best conductors working today, and makes everything simple, like all the truly special things on this planet are. Markus Hinterhäuser is just a magician in everything he does. Making music with them makes me feel that I am not alone.”

The Vampires were a quintet of anonymous Indian expats living in South Africa's Durban port town, and Vampires Underground was their second LP. Recorded and released in 1971 in South Africa, the album is a beguiling yet wholly hypnotic mutation of chunky fuzzed-out garage rock riffage, swinging grooves that fuse together British jazz and US southern soul, and… lots of flute. In fact, the flautist is really going off as the band knuckles down behind him or her through covers of Dan Penn & Spooner Oldham, Herbie Mann, Wilson Pickett, Francis Lai, Deep Purple, Glen Campbell, and even Led Zeppelin - it's a wildly eclectic mix of tunes, but the Vampires rip them up with impressive enthusiasm. It's a real trip to hear these influences get blended together seemingly in real time, with the group sounding slightly awkward, yet simultaneously deft and skilled…

Energized by the surprising popularity of Perfect Man, Rage sought to capitalize on their good streak, with 1989's Secrets in a Weird World. And to their credit, the German trio remained spot on from a stylistic standpoint, rehashing the melodic thrash formula that seemed to best suit their talents. Unfortunately, vocalist/bassist Peter "Peavey" Wagner neglected to bring any decent songs with him. Maybe his creative juices had been sapped by the sheer volume of material committed to this album's heralded predecessor, but whatever the reason, semimemorable moments like the great riff behind "Light Into the Darkness" or forceful thrashers "Time Waits for No One" and "Invisible Horizons" are few and far between here. Instead, the listener is castigated by overwhelmingly mediocre fare such as "Make My Day," "The Inner Search," and "Talk to Grandpa" (excuse me?)…

This album contains 57 tracks/3 hours and 13 minutes of masterpieces by Georges Cziffra. Brahms: Hungarian Dances (arranged by Cziffra), Schumann: Carnival, Toccata, Symphonic Etudes, Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 8 "Pathetique", No. 21 "Waldstein", No. 23 "Appassionata", and more. Recorded 1956-1983.

One of today’s most sought-after conductors, acclaimed for his charismatic leadership and inspirational performances in both symphonic and operatic repertoire, Sir Antonio Pappano is Chief Conductor Designate of the London Symphony Orchestra (assuming the full title from the 2024/2025 season) and has been Music Director of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden since 2002. He is Music Director Emeritus of the Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome, having served as Music Director from 2005-2023. Nurtured as a pianist, repetiteur and assistant conductor at many of the most important opera houses of Europe and North America, including at the Lyric Opera of Chicago and several seasons at the Bayreuth Festival as musical assistant to Daniel Barenboim, Pappano was appointed Music Director of Oslo’s Den Norske Opera in 1990, and from 1992-2002 served as Music Director of the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels. From 1997-1999 he was Principal Guest Conductor of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.

Dive into the serene world of Roland Voss (alias Lemongrass) with “Lotus,” an exquisite blend of Lo-Fi, Chillout, and Chill Beats. 10 tracks that are perfect for creating an ambiance of peace and concentration. This album promises to be a cherished addition to your music collection, evoking the tranquil beauty of Japanese landscapes, the serene atmosphere of the natural parks from Tokyo to Okinawa, as well as the rich tapestry of Japanese culture.