"Earbox" - John Adams
Classical, review by Patrick Giles
"Earbox" collects the intricate grace and visionary minimalism of John Adams. (12/09/99) Chant d'Amour: Melodies Francaises - Cecilia Bartoli
Classical, review by Andrew O'Hehir
Unmitigated Gaul: Cecilia Bartoli tackles French art songs. (12/13/96)

Verdi Per Due - Roberto Alagna, Angela Gheorghiu, Berlin Philharmonic, conducted by Claudio Abbado
Classical
Their second recording of duets proves unequivocally that the art of opera's golden couple is as remarkable as their life.
(11/18/98)

Die Vögel - Walter Braunfels
Classical, review by Paul Festa
A forgotten composer's forgotten opera to refresh your cultural wardobe. (3/21/97)

Classics for moderns
Classical, review by Tim Riley
Ten new classical music recordings that even a novice will want to own (7/15/96)

Han-Na Chang, cello
Classical, review by Tim Riley
The masterful debut CD from cello whiz-kid Han-Na Chang (11/18/96)

The Story of Babar, Rapsodie Negre, Six Songs By Poulenc - Hugues Cuénod
Classical
For those afraid that the Three Tenors may never retire, it is salutary to hear this 95 year-old Swiss tenor still going strong (03/23/99)

"Phaethon" by Christopher Rouse - Christoph Eschenbach conducting the Houston Symphony
Classical, review by Douglas McLennan
Composer Christopher Rouse has lost a number of friends to death in recent years, and he has tried to translate his grief into his music -- he dedicated the second movement of this symphony to the late composer Stephen Albert, and "Phaethon" to the Challenger astronauts who died. (05/22/97)

Star Crossed Lovers - Placido Domingo, Rene Fleming
Classical
One of the classical "theme" CDs increasing in popularity documents a mutilmedia event featuring romantic duets (03/09/99)

Complete Lute Works, Vols. 1-5 - John Dowland
Classical, review by Paul Festa
Odette's reserve, while perhaps appropriate to stereotypes of the English character, may leave some listeners wondering if this quiet little instrument might not be capable of a little bit more oomph
(01/27/98)

I Want Magic - Renee Fleming with James Levine and the Metropolitan Opera
Classical
A superb soprano gives voice to this collection of American opera arias, including one from Andre Previn's recent "A Streetcar Named Desire
(09/30/98)

Dracula - Music by Philip Glass, performed by the Kronos Quartet
Classical, review by Stacey Kors
With a new score for the original "Dracula," Philip Glass and the Kronos Quartet allow the children of the night to sing once again.
(09/07/99)

Glenn Gould Plays Bach (Original Jacket Collection) - Glenn Gould
Classical, review by Patrick Giles
The stunning Glenn Gould on Bach boxed set of reissues captures the rare instant when performer, composer and instrument meet in perfection. (04/04/00)

Rapunzel - Lou Harrison
Classical, review by Brett Campbell
Composer Lou Harrison said he chose the text of poet William Morris' reinterpretation of "Rapunzel" in part as a vehicle to help him work through his own emotional upheavals. And this music, with its simple yet powerful lyricism, reflects his attempt to soothe inner demons. (05/15/97)

Waltzes, Nocturnes And Mazurkas - Byron Janis Plays Chopin
Classical, review by Douglas McLennan
After a 34-year hiatus, pianist Byron Janis returns to recording and proves that while every pianist plays Chopin, there are still few who express him so eloquently. (06/03/97)

Bohemian Rhapsodies - Leila Josefowicz with the Academy of St. Martin in The Fields, Sir Nevill Marriner
Classical, review by Jack Skelley
Leila Josefowicz, a lovely 19-year-old, is part of the recent crop of cover-girl violinists. Reaction to her latest Philips album, "Bohemian Rhapsodies," is mixed, but perhaps she deserves the success she's getting.(08/14/97)

Le Cinema - Gidon Kremer
Classical
From the most musically adventurous classical violinist around, a tribute to movie music that features international composers (03/16/99)

Dracula - Music by Philip Glass, performed by the Kronos Quartet
Classical, review by Stacey Kors
With a new score for the original "Dracula," Philip Glass and the Kronos Quartet allow the children of the night to sing once again.
(09/07/99)

"Armide" - Christoph Willibald Gluck
Pop/Rock, review by Patrick Giles
Gluck gave Armide a new life to save opera in the 18th century. The grand sorceress still bewitches. (01/05/00)

3 Russian Fairy Tales - Natalia Makarova
Classical, review by Paul Festa
A ballerina speaks: Revelatory narration brings Stravinsky to life (01/10/97)

Silent Pool - Marian McPartland with Strings
Classical, review by Andrew Gilbert
Masterpiece by a forever-young pianist (01/09/97)

Exotic Dances from the Opera "Stravinsky" - The Minnesota Orchestra
Classical, review by Paul Festa
A "Firebird" so lascivious you want to get to know the violinist better (12/23/96)

Tenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition -Jon Nakamatsu, Gold Medalist
Classical review by Douglas McLennan
Imagine the shock in classical music circles last summer when the last contestant left onstage at the Cliburn Competition was a young American who had never been to music school -- at last, here's a performer who understands music of our time from his heart rather than his head (11/10/97)

Joan of Arc Mass/Symphony No. 1 - Paul Paray
Classical, review by Paul Festa
Paul Paray's music can be enjoyed for its own sake; but it might also remind you how much you appreciate Brahms, and Franck, and for that matter, Emily Dickinson. (10/22/97)

"Tabula Rasa" - Arvo Pärt
Classical, review by Patrick Giles
In the mid-'80s, people with AIDS lived and died to Arvo Pärt's "Tabula Rasa." A new recording reprises music "like the motion of angels' wings." (11/16/99)

Hans Pfitzner's "Palestrina" - Performed by The Royal Opera
Classical, review by Douglas McLennan
The late composer Hans Pfitzner has always served as the ideal relief pitcher for summer music festivals, but his music was the main attraction at this year's Lincoln Center Festival, where the Royal Opera performed the much-hyped "Palestrina." (07/30/97)

A Streetcar Named Desire - Composed and conducted by André Previn and performed by the San Francisco Opera Orchestra
Classical
This postmodern "Streetcar" fails Tennesse Williams' play because its music lacks cohesion.
(01/06/99)

George Gershwin: The 100th Birthday Celebration - San Francisco Symphony, conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas
Classical
Despite the musicians' brilliant navigation, choices of arrangement and the omission of "Rhapsody in Blue" doesn't leave Gershwin fans with much to celebrate. (10/14/98)

City Life - Steve Reich
Classical, review by Matthew Daines
Collaborating with conductor Paul Hillier, New York composer Steve Reich embodies both the old and new of his best minimalist works on the colorful "City Life." (04/14/97)

New York Legends: Recitals With Principals From The New York Philharmonic - Joseph Alessi, Principal Trombone
Classical, review by Matthew Daines
'Bone up: NY Philharmonic's trombone master shines. (3/5/97)

Bach Goldberg Variations - Andras Schiff
Classical
Schiff plays Bach on piano with much of the expressiveness we heard in Glenn Gould, with comparable virtuosity and yet none of the eccentricity.
(11/18/98)

Quartets for Four Solo Voices - Franz Schubert
Classical, review by Michael Ullman
The vocal quartet was one of the most popular musical genres in Schubert's Germany, and no one but Schubert could have written the gracefully flowing melodies so beautifully rendered here by the New York Vocal Arts Ensemble. (04/30/97)

Bruckner: Symphony No. 9 -Stanislaw Skrowaczewski
Classical review by Paul Festa
At the very least, Bruckner's is an Old Testament god, full of fire and brimstone and willing to use it along with a brass section armed with Wagner tubas. This music uses religion the way a Puritan preacher does: to scare the pants off you (11/19/97)

Helicopter String Quartet - Karlheinz Stockhausen
Classical, review by Andy Battaglia
Stockhausen's "Helicopter String Quartet" gives a whole new meaning to in-flight recording. (02/04/00)

Stravinsky in Moscow - Igor Stravinsky conducting the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra and The USSR Symphony Orchestra
Classical, review by Michael Ullman
Because these rare Russian performances were as much political as musical events, Stravinsky didn't say a word about the musical experience. Nonetheless, the concerts were important, if for no other reason than because after this visit, his music began to be played in his homeland once again. (08/20/97)

Sergei Rachmaninov (1873-1943) - Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano
Classical, review by Paul Fiesta
These performances are technically flawless, lyrical and full of dramatic tension -- and would have been nearly revelatory 50 years ago
(03/25/98)

Michael Tilson Thomas
Classical, review by Douglas McLennan
If classical music is going to survive in the modern culture it has to appeal to new audiences, and Michael Tilson Thomas has demonstrated some encouraging success with that challenge. His Mahler, Copland and Prokofiev discs have all been on Billboard's Best Seller list, and the Prokofiev won a Grammy this year for best orchestral performance. (07/02/97)

Alma Brasileira: Music of Villa-Lobos - Michael Tilson Thomas
Classical, review by Michael Ullman
Michael Tilson Thomas' shining interpretation of Villa-Lobos (2/26/96)

Pavarotti and Friends for War Child - Various Artists
Classical, review by Paul Festa
Pavarotti crushes Clapton, battles Minnelli to draw. (12/02/96)