Philips 412 214 2

Antonio Vivaldi - La Stravaganza - I Musici, Federico Agostini (1991) {2CD Philips 426 280 -2}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 569 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 258 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (png) -> 88 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1991 Philips Classics | 426 280 -2
Classical / Baroque / Concertos / Violin

La stravaganza was Vivaldi's second published set of concertos and was issued sometime between 1712 and 1715. In a characteristically interesting and informative note Michael Talbot explains that La stravaganza or ''Extravagance'' should be understood as wandering outside the boundaries of convention in respect both of melody and harmony. Unlike the earlier L'estro armonico (Op. 3), La stravaganza contains only concertos for solo violin though occasionally, as for example in the seventh concerto Vivaldi brings additional instruments to the fore. Perhaps the set is a little uneven in quality but the finest things here should fire the imagination and arouse the passions of most listeners.

Shostakovich - The War Symphonies (2001) {Gergiev - 5CD Box Set Philips 470 841-2}
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© 2001 Philips | 470 841-2
Classical / Symphony / 20th Century

While this set of Shostakovich's Fourth through Ninth symphonies is billed as his "War" symphonies, these six works could be more aptly identified as his "Terror and War" symphonies. After all, the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth were composed in the years before the "Great Patriotic War" during the period called the "Great Terror," that period of Soviet history in which Stalin attempted to liquidate everyone he ever remotely suspected of having an unkind thought about him. Still, these six symphonies do form a cogent group of works that describe with extremely painful exactitude the horror of living through one of the most horrific decades in twentieth century history, qualities that Russian conductor Valery Gergiev captures with excruciating effectiveness.

Caetano Veloso e Gilberto Gil - Tropicalia 2 (1993) {PolyGram-Philips 518 178-2}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 260 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 100 Mb
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© 1993 PolyGram / Philips | 518 178-2
Música popular brasileira / MPB / Tropicalia / Brazilian Traditions / Brazilian Pop / World Music

Between harsh criticism (due to the retro opportunistic use of Tropicália), and sectarian defense, Tropicália 2 yielded a Caetano Veloso/Gilberto Gil tour through E.U.A. and Europe one year after this release. The reference to Tropicália was used as a safe-conduct for the duo's incursions in electronics, axé music (the contemporary and pragmatic sound of Bahia) and other commercial exploitation – since under Tropicália everything goes (or used to go, some 30 years ago). The album opens with "Haiti," a dry percussive electronic pattern over which Caetano and Gil speak verses dealing with racism; "Cinema Novo" is a beautiful samba, whose lyrics "explain" and greet the Brazilian cinema movement which gained the world. "Nossa Gente" brings the percussive sounds of axé music together with funk brass attacks.

John Lewis - The Bridge Game, Vol 2 (1986) {Philips 825 698-2}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 196 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 123 Mb
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© 1986 Philips / Nippon Phonogram | 825 698-2
Classical / Jazz / Third Stream / Baroque / Piano

… hear Bach performed on modern piano – if you are one of those calcified troglodytes who proclaims that you 'don't like the sound of the harpsichord' – then you might consider this recording of the Preludes and Fugues by John Lewis, the classically-trained pianist of the Modern Jazz Quartet. It has the virtue of integrity; that is, it treats the piano as a piano, and not a harpsichord wannabe. Bach's compositions do NOT employ the full resources of the modern grand piano, for the obvious reason that those resources were not available on even a double-manual harpsichord. But the harpsichord had resources that the modern piano has lost.

Caetano Veloso - Cores, Nomes (1982) {Philips 838 464-2 rel 1989}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 256 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 105 Mb
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© 1982, 1989 Philips / PolyGram Brasil | 838 464-2
Jazz / Brazilian Jazz / Música popular brasileira / Brazilian Traditions / Brazilian Pop

An album of pure, crystalline beauty. Very peaceful, though there are some up-tempo tracks like Ele Me Deu Um Beijo Na Boca (a very curious one with interesting lyrics) and Sina, with a reggae flavour. But what I liked best are the slow romantic songs. Queixa, Coqueiro de Itapoa, Sete Mil Vezes, Sonhos - all of them have their very special depth of sentiment, very unique charm… but the best one is definitely Trem das Cores.

Joe Zawinul - Stories of the Danube (1996) {Philips 454 143-2}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 304 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 152 Mb
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© 1996 Philips | 454 143-2
Classical / Jazz/ World Jazz

Billed as Joe Zawinul's First Symphony, this large-scale classical work may seem like a radical departure to the composer/keyboardist's jazz and pop fans, but it is really a logical expression of Zawinul's indestructible European roots. Moreover, it is not as alien to his jazz work as one might suppose; at times, one can hear trademark Zawinul ostinato lines in fleshed-out, orchestrated form, and rhythms and tunes of his jazz-rock days ("Doctor Honoris Causa," "Pharoah's Dance" "Unknown Soldier") turn up like old friends crashing a black-tie ceremony.

Various Artists - Compact Jazz: More of Best of Dixieland (1954-64) {Philips 838 347-2 rel 1989}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 436 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 165 Mb
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© 1954-64, 1989 Philips / PolyGram Int. | 838 347-2
Jazz / Dixieland / Big Band / New Orleans Jazz / Traditional Jazz

Dixieland, sometimes referred to as hot jazz or traditional jazz, is a style of jazz based on the music that developed in New Orleans at the start of the 20th century.

Richard Wagner - Der Ring Des Nibelungen
Chor und Orchester der Bayreuther Festspiele / Karl Böhm
14xCD | EAC+LOG+CUE | FLAC: 3,84 GB | Artwork | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: Philips # 446 057-2 | Country/Year: Germany 1967, 2006
Genre: Classical | Style: Opera, Romantic

"Musikalisch dichte, klanglich prächtig ausbalancierte und das Primat der Sänger wahrende Aufnahme, deren Schönheit aus der Gesamtwirkung resultiert…Im Gesamteindruck setzt diese Aufnahme große Wagner-Tradition mit großer Bestimmtheit und Überzeugungskraft fort." ~Hermes Opernlexikon