Kevin Sean

This recording has plenty to recommend it, despite the star power of its competition. The Aradia Ensemble–17 string players, 11 wind and brass players and four continuo players–are a lively, more-than-proficient group of period instrumentalists who, under Kevin Mallon, play the heck out of Handel's colorful, ever-changing score, and can be compared with the finest ensembles around. The obbligato oboist, harpsichordist, and sopranino recorder virtuoso (in Almirena's gorgeous first act "bird" aria) are superb. Mallon doesn't go for fierce string attacks, but every bit of his leadership has spring and energy. He and his cast are particularly careful with the recitatives, which are dramatically put forth. The cast is uniformly good.

Premiered at New York’s Metropolitan Opera in 2022 – with Joyce DiDonato, Renée Fleming and Kelli O’Hara as its stars – Kevin Puts’s The Hours was praised by The New York Times as “sincere and persuasive … fervent … and soaringly lyrical”. The opera returns to the Met’s schedule in May 2024. Based on both the award-winning 2002 film directed by Stephen Daldry and the original novel by Michael Cunningham, The Hours interweaves characters and events from three different periods of the 20th century. Joyce DiDonato, who takes the pivotal role of writer Virginia Woolf, says that: “Even though it deals with death head-on, the piece is life-affirming and tells a timeless story. The characters’ struggles are shared universally, and by highlighting them through the different personalities and periods, hopefully everybody can find a part of themselves in the story.”

In 1973, or thereabouts, Nico, Mike Oldfield, Mike Ratledge (from the Soft Machine), Michael Giles (ex-King Crimson), Geoff Richardson (from Caravan) and many others lined up to help Kevin Ayers have his final stab at greatness, THE CONFESSIONS OF DR DREAM, which was released in 1974…

Kevin Ayers - Joy Of A Toy +5 (1969) {2014 Remaster Japan Mini LP SHM-CD Edition WPCR-15524}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 447 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 168 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 278 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1969, 2014 Parlophone / Warner Music Japan | WPCR-15524
Rock / Art Rock / British Psychedelia / Canterbury Scene

Cardboard sleeve reissue from Kevin Ayers features remastering in 2014 and the high-fidelity SHM-CD format (compatible with standard CD players). The cover faithfully replicates the original UK LP artwork. Includes an obi featuring design of original Japanese limited edition's LP. Comes with a description and lyrics. Part of eight-album Kevin Ayers cardboard sleeve reissue series features the albums, "Joy Of A Toy +5," "Shooting At The Moon +6," "Whatevershebrings Wesing +10," "Bananamour +7," "Odd Ditties +3," "Yes We Have No Mananas. So Get Your Mananas Today +9," "Rainbow Takeaway +7," and "That's What You Get Babe +4." Bonus tracks.

Jamais une telle enquête n'avait été réalisée à ce jour. Les auteurs Frédéric- Albert Lévy, Kevin Bertrand Collette et Tony Crawley, tous passionnés depuis des années de la série des films du célèbre agent, nous entraînent à l'intérieur de l'univers de James Bond. Ils nous font découvrir de quelle façon chaque comédien a été choisi, ce qu'il a apporté à la série : réalisme, fantaisie, comédie. Nous sommes aussi invités dans les coulisses des tournages et, au passage, nous récupérons des anecdotes et des confidences. …