Diana Klarl

Very little is known about António Pereira da Costa (c. 1697–1770), though the exceptional quality of his only surviving compositions – 12 Concerti grossi – earns him pride of place. He held the post of Chapel Master of the Cathedral of Funchal, the highest musical position in the Portuguese island of Madeira. Pereira da Costa's Concerti are the only set of Concerti grossi of Portuguese provenance identified to date. They were largely inspired by Corelli’s, but frequently reveal an unmistakable “Iberian” flavour. These works embody the charm and freshness of a truly exquisite “tropical Baroque”. Ensemble Bonne Corde presents the first recording of these pieces, which are a milestone in Portuguese eighteenth century instrumental music.

The Very Best of Diana Krall collects a nice cross-section of tracks the pianist/vocalist recorded beginning with her 1996 breakthrough album, All for You, and moving through to her 2006 effort From This Moment On. These are largely urbane and stylish recordings that range from her intimate and swinging trio work with guitarist Russell Malone and bassist Christian McBride to her lush orchestral and big-band numbers. While this is primarily a compilation for fans of the sophisticated, jazz standards-oriented Krall, Verve does earn some kudos for including at least one cut from her deeply personal and subsequently not as popular effort The Girl in the Other Room. Also featured are cuts from her stellar 2002 concert album Live in Paris. If you're a fan of straight-ahead jazz with a heavy dash of romance and haven't checked out Krall's work, The Very Best is superb place to start.

Even though she is a celebrated operatic star with many brilliant coloratura roles in her repertoire, Diana Damrau is also a versatile performer in many other styles of vocal music, including concert arias, art songs, pop standards, and songs from musicals and movies. Because she embraces such a wide range of material with affection and technical ease, she is able to move gracefully between the worlds of Viennese operetta, Broadway show tunes, and music from Disney films, with only the slightest indications from her well-supported vocal production and crisp diction that she is much better known for her performances of Mozart, Donizetti, Verdi, and Strauss.