The Christmas easy-listening album by Paul Mauriat and His Orchestra, originally released in 1967, with bonus tracks released in 1971, 1977 and 1978 on the Philips label, together on one CD and remastered from the original analogue stereo tapes for Vocalion's trademark crystal-clear sound.

Last production staged by Patrice Chéreau, this Elektra will remain as the main and most striking lyrical event of these last years in Aix-en-Provence. This production is leaded by three amazing singers: the German soprano Evelyn Herlitzius gave a tremendous, never-to-be-forgotten account of the title role, Waltraud Meier portrays a human and chilling Clytemnestra and Adrianne Pieczonka is a fantastic Chrysothemis. Everyone's loneliness and intimate struggles are Patrice Chéreau's favorites theatrical themes. With Esa-Pekka Salonen conducting the Orchestre de Paris, this production of Elektra becomes an unforgettable experience.

Impressed by the Handel works that he heard in London, Haydn felt the need to compose oratorios. First came Die Schöpfung (‘The Creation’), which met with resounding success; then Baron Gottfried van Swieten proposed to Haydn an arrangement of James Thomson’s poem ‘The Seasons’. Initially, Haydn was little attracted by the text, which deviates from the classic oratorio based on a religious text, but subsequently let himself be convinced. The result, for three soloists, chorus and orchestra, is a vast pictorial fresco of Nature that describes landscapes and the feelings that they arouse. For the first time, Philippe Herreweghe gives us his own vision of an oratorium by Haydn.

The oratorio "Der Kampf der Buße und Bekehrung" (the struggle for penance and conversion) is among Johann Michael Haydn's lesser-known works. The Purcell Choir together with the Orfeo Orchestra, under the direction of György Vashegyi now present a recording of the second and only surviving part of this three-part oratorio. It is impressive, especially for its unusual scoring: All of the the five solo roles are allotted to sopranos. The artistic mixture of majestic passages, surprising turns, Baroque rhetorical figures and virtuoso arias makes clear why later composers (e.g., Mozart, Schubert or Bruckner) repeatedly took Johann Michael Haydn's music as their model.

A superstar of opera, Jonas Kaufmann is somewhat less renowned for his interpretations of art songs, though this 2014 Sony release of Franz Schubert's Winterreise is his second disc in the genre, following his 2009 recording of Die schöne Müllerin for Decca. Even though it's more recognizable in the context of his Wagner and Verdi roles, Kaufmann's fluid and strongly supported tenor voice is well-suited to Schubert's arching lines and lyrical expressions, and its warm tone and rich timbres convey a variety of moods and emotions with minimal effort and no strain.

An album of Mozart overtures, operatic and concert arias, from Die Zauberflote and Le Nozze di Figaro, amongst others. Soprano Karina Gauvin's recordings on ATMA and other labels and other other discs have won numerous prizes, including a Juno, a Felix and several Opus prizes and Grammy nominations. Bernard Labadie founded Les Violons du Roy and La Chapelle de Quebec in 1984 and 1985 respectively, and continues to direct their regular seasons in Quebec City and Montreal and on tours worldwide.

The J. S. Bach Foundation is performing the complete vocal works of Johann Sebastian Bach over the course of around 25 years. Each month, one of Bachs over 200 cantatas is performed in the town of Trogen, in Switzerlands idyllic canton of Appenzell. Bach Kantaten N°12 contains three cantatas: «Wachet! Betet! Betet! Wachet», Cantata BWV 70; «Süßer Trost, mein Jesus kömmt», Cantata BWV 151 and «Allein zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ», Cantata BWV 33.

The young Austrian soprano Miriam Feuersinger presents her debut CD accompanied by the Capricornus Consort Basel with a selection of several cantatas by the Kapellmeister at the Darmstadt court. With the agreeable timbre of her easily appealing voice, she succeeds wonderfully in recreating the appropriate tone of Graupner's sensuous cantata style. As with those of Bach, the cantatas of Graupner aim to stir the listener, but without sacrificing intellectual elegance or even the composure fitting for a predominantly courtly community. Unlike the confidently catchy Telemann, Graupner prefers a refined and subtle elaboration that audibly reckons with skilful interpreters and always seeks to move the listener. Despite all these advantages, the discographical exploration of Graupner's over 1400 cantatas has only just begun.

Johann Philipp Förtsch is one of the most remarkable German composers of the 17th century. About halfway through his life his career as a professional musician came to an end and he started to devote his life to the medical profession. Also notable is that his sacred compositions are more dramatic in character than was common in his time.
Förtsch was born in Wertheim am Main where his father was mayor. He studied medicine, law and philosophy in Jena and then in Erfurt. He did not plan to become a professional musician but must have enjoyed a good musical education.

The return of the definitive Krautrock band, Amon Düül II, who proudly present their first CD & vinyl release in nearly 20 years, a bold new album of extra trippy, progressive, spacey, Düüliriousness! This special project features founding members John Weinzierl (guitar), Chris Karrer (guitar, violin) and Renate Knaup (vocals) plus longtime members Lothar Meid (bass) and Daniel Fischelscher (drums), With one of the most fanatical followings in all of rock music as well as a world renowned reputation as perhaps the most influential experimental band, this release is sure to get the music community talking.