Disney Goes Classical

It is no wonder that Lorin Maazel's recording of L'Enfant et les Sortileges won the Grand Prix International du Disque prize in 1961. It well deserves it. Every detail is taken into perfection. This is art for art. The same goes with the other works presented in this two disc set. This set is vital for the fans of Ravel's opera music, and a great way for beginners in classical music to get to know these works by the great French composer.

…In this production, Clorinda (Marta Taddei) and Tisbe (Laura Zannini) weren't overplayed for cheap laughs, as is usually the case. Mezzo-soprano, Kathleen Kuhlmann kept her mugging to a minimum and was in mellow voice throughout. However, it was the men who really stole the show, especially Alberto Rinaldi as Dandini, the valet-disguised-as-a-prince, who was made up as a dead-ringer for Charles I of England. Rossini's original staging may have been an imaginary Italianate kingdom, but this production takes place in dashing, Cavalier England. The scene where Dandini, disguised as Prince Ramiro, prances into Don Magnifico's run-down castle, complete with horse, hounds, and courtiers, and sings of himself as a bee among the flowers (i.e. the ugly stepsisters) is a comic masterpiece. I had to own the DVD just for this aria ("They look just like their father!") By E. A. Lovitt

Versus is a long-gestating audio document of the collaboration between Detroit techno luminary Carl Craig, pianist Francesco Tristano, and French orchestra Les Siècles, conducted by François-Xavier Roth. All the aforementioned musicians (along with Germany's Moritz von Oswald, who serves as "spiritual advisor" for this recording) premiered Versus on-stage in 2008, reportedly to five standing ovations. Instead of taking the easy way out and just releasing a recording of the concert, Craig and company spent nearly a decade working on this album, taking full advantage of the capabilities of the recording studio. The orchestrations are rich and expressive yet intricate and fine-tuned, and they provide a hefty kick when necessary…

Versus is a long-gestating audio document of the collaboration between Detroit techno luminary Carl Craig, pianist Francesco Tristano, and French orchestra Les Siècles, conducted by François-Xavier Roth. All the aforementioned musicians (along with Germany's Moritz von Oswald, who serves as "spiritual advisor" for this recording) premiered Versus on-stage in 2008, reportedly to five standing ovations. Instead of taking the easy way out and just releasing a recording of the concert, Craig and company spent nearly a decade working on this album, taking full advantage of the capabilities of the recording studio. The orchestrations are rich and expressive yet intricate and fine-tuned, and they provide a hefty kick when necessary…

The only recording Ella Fitzgerald made as a duo with a pianist is re-created with this new and exciting duo. Very intimate, moving, grooving, a feast of the senses, this tribute CD to Ella Fitzgerald will make you remember the Great American Songbook!