Ann E. Davis

Ann Murray is one of the leading mezzo-sopranos on the international scene. (She is not related to the famous Canadian popular music singer with a similar name.) The Irish-born singer was educated at the Royal Manchester College of Music, where she studied with Frederic Cox. She bases her career in London, where she sings regularly at the English National Opera and the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. With the former she has sung Charlotte, Rosina, Beatrice, Xerxes, and Ariodante.

Hector Berlioz, France’s greatest Romantic composer, exemplifies the spirit of his age – yet his genius was also ahead of its time. Reflecting his colourful life, his music is astonishing for its originality and ambition, and for orchestration of groundbreaking brilliance. This, the first-ever complete Berlioz edition, comprises carefully selected recordings and even includes works completely new to the catalogue. The accompanying booklet, lavishly illustrated, contains a fascinating commentary from Berlioz biographer David Cairns, whose words bring the composer’s music still more vividly to life.

2009 five CD set. 101 Dinner Party Songs is the perfect collection for those intimate parties with family and friends. Featuring a wide array of genres and artists, there's something for almost everybody on this four disc set. Includes cuts from Julie London, UB40, Ann Peebles, Johnny Mercer, Bobby Womack, Eva Cassidy, Willie Nelson, Richard Thompson, The Beach Boys, Sigur Ros and many others. EMI.