Your basket is empty

Categories:
Results 1 to 18 out of a total of 18
From
HI-RES$33.87
CD$26.97

Lully: Thésée

Les Talens Lyriques

Opera - Released October 13, 2023 | Aparté

Hi-Res Booklet
Christophe Rousset and his Les Talens Lyriques continue their exploration of the operas of Jean-Baptiste Lully for the Aparte label with 1675's Thésée ("Theseus"), the composer's third "tragédie en musique" with librettist by Philippe Quinault. Commissioned by King Louis XIV, the libretto recounts some early-life exploits of the titular character from Ovid's Metamorphoses. It was immensely popular for more than a century before finding itself in less demand than later, more compact versions of Quinault's text, which were set by composers such as Handel (Teseo, 1712). What is there for a king and his court not to like when the Prologue declares the king a god and sings the praises of king and kingdom? Rousset has his Les Talens Lyriques in fine form, and the ensemble plays crisply and concisely throughout. Rousset, conducting from the harpsichord, keeps the action moving in this colossal and dramatic work. The soloists, especially mezzo-soprano Karine Deshayes as Médée ("Medea") and tenor Mathias Vidal as the titular Thésée, display clear expertise in the realm of early French opera. This work is a major vehicle for mezzos in the role of the jealous sorceress Médée, and Deshayes is splendid. The Prologue has some awkward, almost hesitant singing from the chorus, but as the work progresses, the Chœur de chambre de Namur becomes stronger and, in the end, proves to be an asset to the whole (consider their turn as the inhabitants of the underworld with Deshayes on "Sortez, ombres, sortez de la nuit éternelle" from Act Two). This is a worthy addition of a lesser-known opera to the growing Lully collection from Les Talens Lyriques.© Keith Finke /TiVo

Inédits 1968-1998

Julien Clerc

French Music - Released January 18, 2019 | Parlophone (France)

Download not available

Le 4 Octobre

Julien Clerc

Pop - Released December 1, 1997 | Parlophone (France)

Download not available
From
CD$47.46

Lully: Thesee (Boston Early Music Festival)

Stephen Stubbs

Classical - Released January 1, 2007 | CPO

Jean-Baptiste Lully, born Giovanni Battista Lulli in Florence in 1632, moved to France early in his career. By the time he turned 30, he had been named music master to the royal family and elevated to the nobility. Italian opera, particularly the works of Cavalli, had become hugely popular in France, and Lully took up the task of creating a tradition of native French opera. In 1775, in collaboration with librettist Philippe Quinault, Lully produced Thésée, a "tragédie en musique," which marked a turning point in the synthesis of music, dramaturgy, and dance, and became the model for French opera for nearly a century, until the reforms of Gluck. CPO's splendid new recording of the opera finally gives listeners the opportunity to hear what made the opera so historic. Thésée's plot is complex, but not incomprehensible or ridiculous -- the characters are distinctly drawn, motivated by simple hopes and fears with which any audience could easily identify. Lully's music aptly underlines the dramatic situations, and while he doesn't use anything as specific as leitmotivs, the various characters are associated with particular styles of music. His recitatives are naturalistically set and are more like arioso than secco recitative, and they flow easily into the set pieces. The music is strongly expressive, full of variety, and the orchestration is colorfully inventive. The performance by the orchestra and chorus of the Boston Early Music Festival, led by Paul O'Dette and Stephen Stubbs, is above reproach, bringing the music and drama fully to life. The soloists are uniformly jaw-droppingly accomplished, which is quite an achievement in an opera with over a dozen important roles. Each soloist sings with gorgeous tone, powerful, dramatic characterization, and complete assurance in the subtleties of period ornamentation. The sound quality is ideal -- natural sounding and also absolutely clean, with excellent balance. CPO's Thésée is easily one of the finest Baroque operas on disc; serious opera lovers deserve to treat themselves to this historic and revelatory recording. © TiVo
From
HI-RES$22.79
CD$19.59

Live à Paris 2022

Feu! Chatterton

Alternative & Indie - Released November 25, 2022 | Universal Music Division Virgin Music Distribution Deal

Hi-Res

Fans, je vous aime

Julien Clerc

French Music - Released November 18, 2016 | Parlophone (France)

Download not available

Les 100 + Belles Chansons

Charles Aznavour

French Music - Released January 1, 2013 | Universal Music Division Barclay

Download not available
From
CD$27.09

Palais des Congrès 97/98

Charles Aznavour

French Music - Released January 1, 1999 | Capitol Records

VersuS - CHAPITRE II

Vitaa

French Music - Released October 1, 2020 | Universal Music Division Capitol Music France

Download not available

VersuS - CHAPITRE II

Vitaa

French Music - Released October 1, 2020 | Universal Music Division Capitol Music France

Download not available
From
CD$0.98

Reverence

Peter Lainson

Country - Released September 30, 2022 | Florecilla Records

From
CD$9.19

Gypsy Swing Guitar

Rodolphe Raffalli

Jazz - Released November 18, 2003 | Frémeaux & associés

From
CD$12.09

Worrisome Heart

Melody Gardot

Vocal Jazz - Released January 1, 2006 | Decca (UMO)

Melody Gardot's debut recording, released in 2006, came two years after she suffered a near fatal automobile accident, the differently able Gardot triumphing in accomplishing what many others, including her, could only dream of. This project has her singing and playing guitar and a little piano, but more so presenting this project of all original material. Gardot has an interesting personal story, but even more intriguing music that straddles the line between lounge jazz, folk, and cowgirl songs. She's part sophisticated chanteuse, college sophomore, and down-home girl next door. Her innocence, sweetness, and light are very alluring, much like the persona of tragic songbirds Eva Cassidy and Nancy LaMott. Feel empathy for Gardot, but don't patronize her -- she's the real deal much more that many of her over-hyped peers. "Quiet Fire" is definitely her signature tune, as it speaks volumes of where her soul is at, in a jazz/blues mode, yearning for true love. The title track follows a similar tack, a slow, sweet, sentimental slinky blues that will melt your heart. A finger-snapping "Goodnite" leaves you wanting that night to continue, but also exudes a hope that permeates the entire recording. She might be a bit down on men during the nonplussed "All That I Need Is Love," but her subdued optimism glows cool. "Sweet Memory" might possibly parallel Feist or perhaps KT Tunstall in a rural country mode, while "Gone" is clearly folkish, and the slow "Some Lessons" expresses a contemporary Nashville precept. The laid-back music behind Gardot is basically acoustic, incorporating hip jazz instrumentation, especially the trumpet of Patrick Hughes and occasional organ, Wurlitzer, or Fender Rhodes from Joel Bryant, but with twists including violin, lap steel, and Dobro. The concise nature of this recording and these tunes perfectly reflects the realization that life is precious, every moment counts, and satisfaction is fleeting. Likely to be placed in the Norah Jones/Nellie McKay/Madeleine Peyroux pseudo jazz/pop sweepstakes, Gardot offers something decidedly more authentic and genuine. She's one-upped them all out of the gate.© Michael G. Nastos /TiVo
From
HI-RES$14.39
CD$10.79

A Moment of Now

Viktoria Tolstoy

Jazz - Released October 25, 2013 | ACT Music

Hi-Res Booklet
From
HI-RES$18.09
CD$15.69

Higher Ground

Barbra Streisand

Lounge - Released October 28, 1997 | Columbia

Hi-Res
As Barbra Streisand's first studio album of mainstream pop material in nine years, Higher Ground is something of an oddity. Instead of devoting herself to Broadway standards or a set of radio-oriented pop tunes, Streisand has crafted a record that she intended as a tribute to the power of music as prayer. It's an ambitious project, but for the most part it works, achieving a surprising grace. Higher Ground comprises both traditional religious songs and new material (even "Tell Him," an overblown duet with Celine Dion, vaguely touches on that theme), with grandiose arrangements by Marvin Hamlisch. Although Streisand and Hamlisch still favor sweeping strings and bold statements -- so much so that many of the songs sound remarkably similar to each other, in terms of dynamics and arrangements -- the album retains its power thanks to her subtle interpretations of melody and lyrics. The end result might not quite match her latter-day masterpieces, but it's another strong addition to her catalog.© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
From
CD$10.24

Revenge of Cthulhu

Floki

New Age - Released December 6, 2023 | Bel1aRecords

From
CD$0.95

River

JohnnyHoke

Alternative & Indie - Released January 13, 2023 | Hell Division