Stradella composed this oratorio while in Rome on a commission from Queen Cristina in 1673.The only records of performances of the work are from 1688 and 1693 at the court of Francesco d'Este in Modena.The oratorio would seem to refer to the dancing-girl at Antioch in Syria who was converted to the Christian faith by bishop of Edessa, after which she led the life of a hermit in a cave on the Mount of Olives. Rather than offering a biography of the girl, the librettist presents Pelagia's inner conflict as she vacillates between enjoying the delights of the world and abandoning them for the good of her soul.The oratorio results in a score that is more lyrical than dramatic, but very moving and lovely, with long and winding phrases of great length which encourage a calm and singing rendition.

It may seem an unlikely thing to say about a German chamber ensemble, yet the Melos Quartet of Stuttgart are more suave, more feline, than the Quartetto Italiano in the opening movement of Mozart's E flat Quartet. The former have, too, the advantage of a modern recording with a more exact stereo placing of each instrument, whereas the Philips disc is close on ten years old.

'Lamento' is a stunning collection of rarely-heard music by the Bach family. Magdelena Kozena brings these long-forgotten treasures to life with her trademark artistry and acclaimed style, accompanied by Musica Antiqua Koln and Reinhard Goebel. "A voice that has already melted some notably stony hearts… one of the class vocal acts of the early 21st century." - The Times (London)

Even without its original leader, the Count Basie Orchestra is today one of the finest jazz big bands in existence. Frank Foster has kept the instantly recognizable sound while welcoming younger soloists and infusing the band's repertoire with new charts. This strong live program is typical of the Basie band in the '90s, performing older tunes (such as "Corner Pocket" and "Shiny Stockings") that alternate with newer and no less swinging originals, all of which leaves room for the orchestra's many promising soloists.

When The Omega Syndicate burst onto the scene in 2004 with their exhilarating debut “Analogue Waves” they quickly made quite an impression and many friends into the bargain. In a UK scene often accused of being lacklustre and amateurish, The Omega Syndicate have flown in the face of any such criticism with their exciting and dynamic fresh sounding take on the traditional Berlin School sound. Although they are creating long tracks with synths, sequencers and Mellotrons, what they produce is wholly original and while it can be said firmly and squarely to be “Berlin School”, it doesn’t always sound like a clone of Schulze or Tangerine Dream.

Il tempo per preordinare è scaduto! L'evento durante il quale Jovanotti presenterà il suo nuovo album ed il nuovo tour, si terrà a Milano il 27 gennaio 2025 nel tardo pomeriggio. Per accedere all'experience fai riferimento alle istruzioni fornite da Ticketone.

The album, which Ambrose calls a “self-portrait,” features improvisational vocalist Kokayi, pianist Sam Harris, Chiquitamagic on synthesizer, drummer Justin Brown, and the Mivos Quartet (violinist Olivia Deprato and Maya Bennardo, violist Victor Lowrie Tafoya, cellist Tyler Borden). Akinmusire also says, “In many respects this entire work is inspired by and is an homage to the work of the composer Julius Eastman and his organic music concept. “This album is about the fears and struggles I personally face, as well as those many Black men endure: colorism, erasure, and the question of who gets to speak for my community, and why,” Akinmusire explains. “There’s also the constant negotiation of what happens when I don’t conform to certain expectations or when I choose to reject those imposed on me. These are the complexities I navigate daily.“When I made this album, I was thinking about others who face these same struggles,” he continues. “I’m always considering who I represent—on all levels, in all the roles I play within my various communities. It’s about understanding the weight of those roles and the responsibility that comes with them.”

Venomous Tex-Mex R&B and early rock n' roll from San Antonio's West Side scene. From 1961-67, Bexar county kingmaker Abe Epstein cut every teen combo to grace the Patio Andaluz stage, launching the careers of Doug Sahm, The Royal Jesters, Sonny Ace, The Dreamliners, and hundreds more throughout the decade. Spread across two luxurious slabs of vinyl, The Cobra Label compiles 28 neurotoxic sides from Epstein's first bite in the biz.

Right from the start and with an almost imperceptible smile Al Di Meola deftly conjured up the most amazing runs and gorgeous melodies. Concentration rather than tension, and devotion rather than routine are tangible in his playing. Masterful virtuosity combined with perfect feeling for emotions. Al Di Meola assembled a thoroughly excellent group of musicians for this review of the highlights of a career spanning almost three decades - a fantastic combination of romantic chamber music, traditional Latin American music and the freedom of jazz, constantly switching between off-the-cuff improvisation and intricate set-pieces. Time and again the musicians manage to vary familiar pieces with surprising rhythm changes and brilliant soundscapes.

Fragile is the fourth studio album by the English progressive rock band Yes, released in November 1971 by Atlantic Records. After touring in support of their previous album, The Yes Album (1971), the band entered rehearsals in London in preparation for their next studio album. Early into the sessions, keyboardist Tony Kaye was fired over his reluctance to utilize more electronic synthesizers. He was quickly replaced with Rick Wakeman of the Strawbs, whose experience with various instruments helped expand the group's sound with the addition of the electric piano and harpsichord, Mellotron, and Minimoog synthesiser.

The eleventh and final release in The Orlando Consort's comprehensive Machaut survey easily maintains the standards of its predecessors. The closing couplet of the final track?'Their singing will be sublime/ Harmoniously will they render him praise'?might well serve as a motto for the Orlandos' achievement, not only in this album but throughout an illustrious career.

One of the brightest young luminaries in roots music today, Sierra Ferrell brings a dose of beautifully strange magic to everything she touches. On her new album Trail Of Flowers, brought to life with producer Eddie Spear (Zach Bryan, Brandi Carlile, Chris Stapleton) and additional production by Gary Paczosa (Alison Krauss, Dwight Yoakam, Gillian Welch) she expands her sound while deepening the urgency of her songs, often revealing a wealth of wisdom within her wildly imaginative storytelling.

Joachim Kühn, one of the world's best-known musical personalities from Germany, presents his debut on Intakt Records with the double album Échappée and delivers us a stellar moment in the art of solo piano. Kühn has been one of the most outstanding musicians from contemporary jazz since the mid-1960s and has been captivating listeners for decades with his soulful piano sound and a ravenous drive for freedom. Échappée bears impressive witness to this relentlessness. "This is a summation under the banner of the provisional; these melodies condensed into moments reflect the experiences of a rich life. With this recording, made shortly before his eightieth birthday, the pianist set out to offer the best he was capable of: Joachim Kühn, that exceptional talent, setting his bar higher than ever" writes Bert Noglik in the liner notes and adds: "With Échappée he has created an ‘essential album’, and he has bared all: his craft, his love and his passion." A masterwork.

1978's Northwinds, David Coverdale's second solo album after the demise of Deep Purple, is a powerful dose of blues- and R&B-influenced hard rock. This album – the final new release on Purple Records – is also a huge leap forward in quality from the previous year's White Snake, a tentative and generally cautious record. As with White Snake, Northwinds was produced by Deep Purple bassist Roger Glover and is anchored by guitarist Micky Moody and keyboardist Tim Hinckley. Bassist Alan Spenner and drummer Tony Newman comprise the rhythm section. "Keeping on Giving Me Love" is loose and funky and a blowout jam wraps it up.

Ballads is the second compilation album by Richard Marx. This disc features ten of Marx's ballads including one live and one previously released non-single track.