Craig Calhoun, et Al., Classical Sociological Theory

For approaching a century and a half in France – across the reigns of Louis XIV, XV and XVI – the Palace of Versailles played host, both indoors and outdoors, for an extraordinary sequence of dramatic musical performances. Un Opéra pour trois rois, conducted by György Vashegyi, represents the legacy of that time, a specially constructed operatic entertainment drawn from works by composers from Lully to Gluck, commissioned – and even, on occasion, performed – by kings, their queens and inamoratas.

Poulenc - Complete Chamber Music, Vol.4 - Alexandre Tharaud et al. (2000) {Naxos 8.553614}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 215 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 141 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 97 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 2000 Naxos / HNH International | 8.553614
Classical / Early Modern / Early 20th Century / Chamber Music

Naxos’ first-rate edition of Poulenc’s complete chamber music continues with this very fine collection of shorter pieces and song cycles for voice and small ensemble. Baritone Franck Leguérinel turns in a smashing performance of Le Bal masqué from its manic opening Air de bravoure to the hysterical falsetto antics in the closing Caprice. He’s equally fine in Le Bestiaire, but the cruel vocal line and harmonic acerbities of the Max Jacob songs prove less congenial, though he’s no less stylistically assured.

Poulenc - Complete Chamber Music, Vol.5 - Alexandre Tharaud et al. (2000) {Naxos 8.553615}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 256 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 172 Mb
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© 2000 Naxos / HNH International | 8.553615
Classical / Early Modern / Early 20th Century / Chamber Music

The narrators are two gifted children, the pianist Alezandre Tharaud, whose acute playing has sparked the series. Set for narrator and small ensemble and originally improvised to please the composer's three-year old cousin, the tale of Babar the Elephant receives a charming performance from Alexandre Tharaud and friends with child narrators on this fifth instalment of Naxos's chamber-music series.

Trichur Ramachandran & Charumati Ramachandran et al - The Nauka Charitram - Tygaraja's Krishna Opera (2003) {Navras NRCD 01772}
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© 2003 Sony BMG India / Navras Records UK | NRCD 0177 2
Indian Music / Carnatic / Raga / Indian Classical Vocal / Indian Classical / World

"Nauka Charitram aka The Boat Performance" was the first ever Opera kind of composition set in Carnatic Classical music written by Saint Thyagaraja in 18th century. IMO, It's very difficult to explain this kind of music. So, I would advice you to go through the scans that I included to read the superb sleeve notes written by Christian Ledoux. 'Trichur Ramchandran', One of the greatest legends of Carnatic Classical music has performed this auspicious performance along with his wife 'Charumathi Ramachandran' and many revered Carnatic Musicians were superbly accompanied in this rare piece of Carnatic Opera. Heartily Recommended.

Poulenc - Complete Chamber Music, Vol.1 - Alexandre Tharaud et al. (2000) {Naxos 8.553611}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 208 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 134 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 67 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 2000 Naxos / HNH International | 8.553611
Classical / Early Modern / Early 20th Century / Chamber Music

This excellent first volume in what promises to be a two-disc collection of Poulenc's complete chamber music offers performances that compare favorably with the best available. All of the musicians are superb, but several deserve special mention. Alexandre Tharaud plays Poulenc's piano parts with great flair, wit, and a true feeling for the music's manic shifts from raucous high spirits to nostalgia and melancholy. Since all of these works feature the piano, the importance of his contribution can't be overestimated.

Poulenc - Complete Chamber Music, Vol.2 - Alexandre Tharaud et al. (2000) {Naxos 8.553612}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 205 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 132 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 60 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 2000 Naxos / HNH International | 8.553612
Classical / Early Modern / Early 20th Century / Chamber Music

Francis Poulenc reportedly felt uncomfortable writing for piano and strings and had harsh things to say about both the violin and cello sonatas, remarks duly parroted by critics and biographers ever since. And yet the fact remains that they are his most ambitious, lengthiest, and emotionally complex chamber works. As so often happens in these circumstances, it’s much easier to regurgitate received opinion than it is to actually listen to the music and take it on its own terms.

Poulenc - Complete Chamber Music, Vol.3 - Alexandre Tharaud et al. (2000) {Naxos 8.553613}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 194 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 145 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 67 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 2000 Naxos / HNH International | 8.553613
Classical / Early Modern / Early 20th Century / Chamber Music

Naxos' triumphant march through Poulenc's complete chamber music continues with this latest release containing, among a host of smaller items, a smashing performance of the magnificent Sonata for Two Pianos, one of the composer's greatest large works in any medium. Alexandre Tharaud and Francis Chaplin play beautifully…hypnotically seductive in the slow introduction and third movement, while the faster music has the right rhythmic skittishness and crisp articulation. The other outstanding performance here is the Sonata for horn, trumpet, and trombone. This awkward but charming piece has seldom sounded better balanced and more natural (not to mention in tune), and it's very well recorded in a warm acoustic. The other pieces are trifles, but no less enjoyable for that. Another winner.

Arraymusic Ensemble - New World (1993) {Artifact ART-006} (Terry Riley, Michael J. Baker, James Tenney et al.)
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© 1993 Artifact Music | ART-006
Classical / Contemporary Classical / Avant-Garde / Postminimalism

Another excellent compilation of acoustic works by this Canadian ensemble. What the critics say: "Toronto's Arraymusic is one of North America's more astonishing founts of new music… it leans towards postminimalism with a dissonant edge." - Kyle Gayle, The Village Voice. "when the music does seep in, it's like acid-spiked punch." - Andrew Sun, Now Magazine. "Music from Mars gliding effortlessly into Turkish wedding music or a Himalayan blues." - Robert Everett-Green, The Globe and Mail.