Just Classics 2: The Gold Collection, featuring WASO, Sara MacLiver and Fiona Campbell
Following the success of the first Just Classics CD release, ABC Classics has again brought together fine Australian talent to record this brand-new collection of delightful music to soothe, inspire and intrigue! Alongside traditional classical favourites, there is a delicious sprinkling of rarities - musical gems which never fail to attract listener enquiries: 'What is that lovely piece?'
Available at ABC Shops $29.95.
Transcendent Love - The Passions of Wagner and Strauss
West Australian Symphony Orchestra
Making her debut with ABC Classics is superstar soprano Lisa Gasteen. This CD contains some of the most ardent songs of love and desire ever composed by the great Romantics Wagner and Strauss, as well as instrumental interludes, including Strauss' elegiac masterpiece, Metamorphosen and Wagner's perennial favourite, the Prelude to Tristan and Isolde.
Acknowledged as the finest Australian dramatic soprano of her generation, Gasteen is in her element in these stirring music dramas. With acclaimed conductor Simone Young at the helm of the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, this Wagner and Strauss is a state-of-the-art aural extravaganza - and destined to become a classic.
Available at ABC Shops $29.95.
Prue and the Maestro: Eoin Cameron & Prue Ashurst present classical favourites
Popular Perth ABC local radio host Eoin Cameron, along with his regular guest classical music guru and conductor Prue Ashurst, present a collection of famous pieces which have been featured on the show. Every Friday Prue and Eoin display their love of classical music with their segment which discusses inspiring repertoire and now you can listen anytime with this new CD.
Available at ABC Shops $29.95.
Mozart Horn Concertos
Lin Jiang is recognised as the finest Australian horn player of the new generation, and his exceptional skill is reflected on this outstanding new CD. Featuring all Mozart’s glorious horn concertos, this album is conducted by Lin’s mentor, the legendary Barry Tuckwell AC OBE, with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra. Working with Barry on his debut album was the icing on the cake for Lin, who said: “I can’t think of anything more perfect than being conducted by Barry on my first CD with some of the best horn repertoire ever written. Barry’s generosity and musical mentorship has always inspired me to extend myself even further.”
Available at ABC Shops $29.95.
Augie March
In February 2007 Australian band Augie March performed two special concerts with WASO at Kings Park. The nights were a tremendous success, and were recorded and broadcast nationally by Triple J radio.
The setlist included tracks from the band’s three albums. The orchestral arrangements brought a whole new dimension to what was already a diverse and dynamic back catalogue, ranging from the sparse, hypnotic O Song to the wild west rollicking of This Train Will Be Taking No Prisoners. Of course, the biggest response was for the glorious, rousing renditions of the band’s breakthrough hit One Crowded Hour.
The band has now released some of the recordings as part of a Limited Edition of the latest (platinum) album, Moo, You Bloody Choir. That album has won the prestigious Australian Music Prize, in addition to garnering 6 Aria nominations including Album Of The Year, and Single Of The Year. That single, One Crowded Hour was voted in #1 on Triple J’s Hottest 100 of 2006, and Song of The Year at the APRA Awards by 33,000 Australian songwriters.
Available at all good music retailers.
Kate Ceberano
In November of 2005, Kate Ceberano performed 2 concerts at the Perth Concert Hall with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra. Armed with the orchestrations of conductor Sean O'Boyle, Kate performed an eclectic collection of songs. This amazing album Kate Ceberano Live features a tasteful melding of Kate’s own works, with some beautifully caressed covers including Unchained Melody, The Drugs Don’t Work, and a haunting interpretation of the Joe Cocker classic Song for You. A talent like Kate Ceberano’s does not come along every day, and the marriage of her enchantment with the purest of our nation’s musical talent is a union not to be missed, and long to be remembered.
Available at ABC Shops. CD $29.95 & DVD $24.95.
La Bohème
In 2004 the West Australian Ballet was written into the history books as the first ballet company to perform one of the great love stories of all time, La Bohème. A world premiere especially created for the company, this stunning three act story is based on the world-famous and much-loved operatic drama by Giacomo Puccini. To mark this achievement ABC Classics released a recording of Kevin Hocking’s adaptation with performances by the West Australian Symphony Orchestra and conductor Dobbs Franks. The gloriously romantic and emotionally charged new adaptation of La Bohème will undoubtedly touch the hearts of those who experience it through this sumptuous recording.
Available at ABC Shops $36.95