Analysis I Walter

Was this Australian pianist another William Kapell? In both cases these young musicians blazed all too briefly across the musical firmament before dying far too soon (in Mewton-Wood’s case, tragically, by his own hand). Both left us tantalisingly few recordings which show what they had achieved in what should have been the early years of their careers – and which hint at what might have been. This CD is issued to mark the fiftieth anniversary of Mewton-Wood’s death, in December 1953. Unlike Kapell, Noel Mewton-Wood was never really taken up by a major record company (something which he found very frustrating) and the three performances which appear here were all made for the small Concert Hall label. All credit to that label for recording him in less familiar repertoire....

This delightful disc, performed by one of the most admired sopranos of today, accompanied by her long-time collaborator, pays homage to an important musical tradition and part of performance history, and to four great sopranos from the past.

Various Artists - Bluesin' By The Bayou: Ain't Broke, Ain't Hungry (2017) {Ace Records CDCHD 1506}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 271 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 171 Mb
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© 2017 Ace Records | CDCHD 1506
Blues / South Louisiana Blues / Traditional Blues

28 slices of down’n’dirty blues from the Deep South – including eight previously unheard tracks and takes. The “By The Bayou” series leaps to Volume 18 with a return to the blues of South Louisiana, bringing you rare or previously unissued tracks from stars of the genre such as Lightnin’ Slim, Lazy Lester and Slim Harpo, plus a host of little-known or completely unknown performers. We also have two artists who you would never think performed in the downhome style – Barbara Lynn and Cookie (aka Huey Thierry) – but who sound right at home, with an unknown harmonica player setting the tone on Barbara’s track whilst Cupcakes guitarist Marshall Laday supports Cookie with some mean blues pickin’. In fact there are several tracks here that will have air-guitar virtuosos reaching for their imaginary axes.

The "100 Years of Italian Opera" series released by Opera Rara is unique in the annals of opera recordings. However, this installment is especially exciting as it documents the evolution of Italian opera during the 1820's, the decade when romanticism truly began to come into its own on the operatic stage. Opera Rara has lovingly compiled a variety of arcana written by composers famous and forgotten. Included is everything from overtures to arias, duets, ensembles, and entire scenes.