Metaphor

The cast in this performance, recorded live on November 18, 2004, is as excellent as the names would indicate: Patrizia Ciofi, Roberto Saccà and Dmitri Hvorostovsky.
Hvorostovsky, who has been singing Germont since 2002, continues to surpass himself in this role every time one hears him. Though difficult to imagine Hvorostovsky as an elder man, he nonetheless gives credence to the role of Germont through his straightforward, yet elegant style of singing and acting. Hvorostvsky’s subtle coloring of his voice, his innate sense of drama and musicianship give him the edge over any other baritone available–be he younger or older. In Act II, when Germont confronts Violetta, Hvorostovsky is vocally stern without being offensive to his son’s mistress, and later in the scene when Germont lets his guard down, the singer is able to project a comforting fatherly image to the woman who is “the ruin” of Alfredo and his family… Daniel Pardo

The Chris Duarte Group plays some of the toughest blues-based guitar music to be heard today, with a sound that balances vitality and rawness with Chris's astonishing and deeply spiritual playing. Love Is Greater Than Me explores soaring post-Hendrix rock ("Baddness," Watch Out"), blues ("All Night," "How Long") and the intriguing Eastern modal sound of "Metaphor," offered in contrasting electric and acoustic versions. Chris Duarte is esteemed in guitar circles (he placed fourth in a Guitar World poll - behind B.B. King, Eric Clapton and Buddy Guy!) and this is a cool hard-rocking album.

ZoeRecords

If you have not yet had the pleasure of encountering the music of the Tōru Takemitsu (1930-1996), this CD, part of Deutsche Grammophon's 20/21 series, is an excellent place to start. It contains seven pieces from the last part of the Japanese composer's career, ranging from Dream/Window (1985), a representation of the city of Kyoto, to the supremely haunting Archipelago S. (1993).

Raymond Tuttle (classical.net)

Violinist Michelle Makarski's versatility, technique, and intuitive grasp of multiple traditions place her in alignment with the most accomplished of late 20th and early 21st century violinists, including Paul Zukofsky, Gidon Kremer, and Irvine Arditti. Released in 2000, her album Elogio per Un'ombra is an extraordinary achievement which defines both her artistry and the expanded philosophy of musical presentation that has come to characterize Manfred Eicher's ECM label since the introduction of its New Series and the inclusion of diverse works dating from different centuries.

..Ware's music is not exclusive, and he is emphatic that it should not be mistaken for a representation of rage, excitement, fear, or any uncontrollable emotion. It could be thought of as a metaphor for the process of moving toward a philosophy of balance, and with a variety of saxophone techniques and ensemble-arrangement dynamics, Ware achieves his metaphor, expresses that basic thrust underneath it.