January

30 January – 3 February
C’EST MAGNIFIQUE
Roberto Alagna sings Luis Mariano
Paris Symphony Orchestra; Yvan Cassar, conductor
Deutsche Grammophon 4775569

Best-selling and well-loved opera tenor, Roberto Alagna releases a wonderful collection of popular post-war French hits made famous by Luis Mariano. C’est Magnifique will have listeners singing along, marvelling at the power and vocal agility of the impressive Alagna. Highlights on the album include Mexico, C’est Magnifique and Cole Porter’s I Love Paris.

With the expert direction of the Paris Symphony Orchestra, conductor-composer Yvan Cassar infuses the original character of the songs with a modern edge and more swing with the occasional wink to gypsy jazz. Alagna is joined by several incredibly talented French stars including Elie Semoun and Arielle Dombasle.

The album is available on Deutsche Grammophon through Universal Music.

23 – 27 January
ANDREW SCHULTZ – ORCHESTRAL WORKS
Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra
Richard Mills, conductor
Jennifer Pike, violin
ABC Classics 476 4519

Opening a door on an orchestra playing is, to Australian composer Andrew Schultz, a step into a magical realm. A world in which fantastic and endless possibilities are at work just as much as in the enchanted forests of fairy tales. This landmark Australian recording, performed by the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and conducted by Richard Mills, begins with a commissioned work by Symphony Australia for the TSO. Endling op 72 describes the feeling of immense regret and sorrow about all that has been lost from the face of the earth. The theme of nature and the spirit of imagination continues in Violin Concerto op 55, featuring internationally-renowned English violinist Jennifer Pike.

Stories – abstract or simple, familiar or unknown – are told in Once Upon A Time…op 70. Dreams unfold and are crushed, the tragic and the bizarre are juxtaposed, and the heroic and the desolate stand together. And all of this in a language that is ineffable and mysterious yet absolutely powerful and direct. The story is different for every pair of ears that hears this album.