Belshazzar (HWV 61) is an oratorio by George Frideric Handel. The libretto was by Charles Jennens, and Handel abridged it considerably. Jennens' libretto was based on the Biblical account of the fall of Babylon at the hands of Cyrus the Great and the subsequent freeing of the Jewish nation, as found in the Book of Daniel.
The old model for creating a hit classical recording – big-name soloist plus big-name conductor in major repertory work – is not so common anymore, but this live Brahms recording from the Staatskapelle Berlin under Venezuela's Gustavo Dudamel, with Argentine-Israeli-Palestinian-Spanish pianist Daniel Barenboim as soloist, shows that there's life in the concept yet. One could point to the virtues of pianist and conductor separately: it's a rare septuagenarian who can combine power and clear articulation of detail the way Barenboim does, and Dudamel builds a vast sweep in, especially, the Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15. But it's the way that the two work together that really makes news. Chalk it up to shared South American heritage or to whatever the listener wants, but the way the orchestra and piano define separate spheres and work them together is extraordinary. Again, it is in the Piano Concerto No. 1 and its Beethovenian drama that their mutual understanding is most evident, but there is a sense of great variety powerfully unified throughout.
Limited edition 100 CD box set on the premiere classical label Deutsch Grammophon. Subtitled from Gregorian Chant to Gorecki. For some it will be the ultimate reference tool. For others a big place to start on something they always wanted to know about. Either way, the idea is to present a comprehensive history of Classical Music from its origins to the present day, covering all periods, including all major composers.
The most prestigious classic collection.
This collection contains 100 numbered CD containing various works of classic authors of the 16th century to the 20th century. It offers an exclusive window on classical music, for addressing styles and eras.
Different Light were formed in Malta at the end of 1994 by Trevor Tabone, Mark Agius Cesareo, Richie Rizzo and Trevor Catania. Loads of gigs were played throughout 1995 and an early version of 'In the Grey' was recorded for a compilation album. 'All About Yourself', the band's first album, was recorded in April 1996 and released in June of the same year. The band spent the rest of the year touring Malta to promote the album. Mark Agius Cesareo left the band in early 1997 and was replaced by Jeremy DeMaria. The band supported 'Fish' (ex Marillion) in a festival n Malta in September 1998. A mini-album (EP) called 'A Kind of Consolation' was released at the end of 1999 with David Cassar Torreggiani on guitars. At this point, Different Light split up and so ended the first chapter…
Florida death metal gods Obituary breathed new life (no pun intended) into the genre when they broke onto the scene in 1989 with their groundbreaking debut, Slowly We Rot. Donald Tardy's breakneck technical drumming and John Tardy's guttural, slithering vocals combined with brutally fast guitars for a sound not quite ever equaled in the death metal world before or since. The Complete Roadrunner Collection 1989-2005 gathers together Obituary's first six studio albums, including their stellar debut, 1992's landmark The End Complete, 1997's Back from the Dead, and more.