Cathy Swain Bates

Founded in 1719 as the first opera company in the English-speaking world, the Royal Academy of Music commissioned and premiered some of the finest 18th-century operas, including Handel's Giulio Cesare. On this exciting album, renowned American countertenor Lawrence Zazzo is joined by La Nuova Musica and David Bates for a snapshot of the Academy's hits circa 1725 featuring arias by Handel, Ariosti and Bononcini.

GRAMMY Award winners Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer perform songs from their award winning film and DVD of the musical theater piece, "ALL WIGGED OUT." The show is a comedy musical about Marcy's experience with cancer including 10 original songs and two covers by close friends of the duo. In this studio album, they are joined by the cast band, Janet Cramer on drums and Stacy McMichael on bass. There are extended versions of songs from the show, plenty of humor and harmony.

David Bates leads La Nuova Musica in 'Sacrifices', a programme of intensely dramatic oratorios from the mid Baroque. Three poignant tales of denail and sacrifice: St Peter's denial of Christ; Abraham's [narrowly averted] sacrifice of his son Isaac; and the Old Testament story of Jepthe, the hero commander who, before leading the Israelites into battle against the Ammonites, vows to God that if he is victorious, he will sacrifice the first living thing he meets upon his return.