Zbigniew Preisner - Requiem for my friend [1998]
EAC Rip | FLAC, IMG+CUE, LOG | 250MB | Covers, Booklet | TIFF (LWZ) 300ppi | 45 MB
Classic/Vocal | 1998 | Label: Erato | Catalog Number: 3984-24196-2 | RAR 10% Rec. | RS.com; Filesonic.com

Requiem for My Friend: (Zbigniew Preisner) In the mid-1990's, Polish composer Zbigniew Preisner was working on a collaboration with his close associate, director Krzysztof Kieslowski, and screenwriter Krzysztof Piesiewicz that would have produced the kind of massive operatic concert at the Acropolis in Athens, Greece that Vangelis and others had strived to create through the years. Their collaboration was quite fruitful, yielding the films and scores for the Colours Trilogy (Blue, White, and Red) as well as Dekalog and The Double Life of Veronique…

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Callas Live Recordings - Rehearsal in Dallas 1957 - CD 3 of 11
Classical | 1 CD | FLAC CUE LOG | NO COVER NO BOOK | 218 MB
EMI B000069V79 | Release Date: 2002

Here's something a little different: Callas not in recital, but getting ready for one. We follow the established pattern: the roles are Verdi's Violetta, Donizetti's Elvira (I puritani) and Anna Bolena, Lady Macbeth, and Konstanze. This disc is more interesting as a glimpse into the workshop than as the presentation of a finished product: there are lots of stops and starts, and sometimes Callas doesn't sing out with her full voice, or she takes a high note or passage an octave down. Nicola Rescigno conducts the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. The sound is more recessed than on the previous two discs, but still acceptable.

Borodin: Chamber Music - Vol 2 - The Moscow String Quartet
Classical | CD | FLAC+LOG+ CUE | NO BOOKS | COVER | 288 MB
Harmonia Mundi RUS 288142| Release Date: 1997 | Recorded 1995/1996

Alexander Porfiryevich Borodin (Russian: Александр Порфирьевич Бородин) (12 November [O.S. 31 October] 1833 – 27 February [O.S. 15 February] 1887) was a Russian Romantic composer of Georgian-Russian parentage who made his living as a notable chemist. He was a member of the group of composers called The Five (or "The Mighty Handful"), who were dedicated to producing a specifically Russian kind of art music. He is best known for his symphonies, his two string quartets, and his opera Prince Igor. Music from Prince Igor and his string quartets was later adapted for the musical Kismet.

Callas Live Recordings - Live in Rome 1952 and San Remo 1954 - CD 1 of 11
Classical | 1 CD | FLAC CUE LOG | NO COVER NO BOOK | 266 MB
EMI B000069V7Q | Release Date: 2002

From early in her career, it was striking how Callas juxtaposed coloratura heroines, traditionally sung in previous decades by twittering sopranos such as Lily Pons, with heftier roles that Pons and her ilk would not have touched in a million years. The Rome recital (with Rome's Orchestra della RAI and conductor Oliviero de Fabritiis) is a fine example of this: Verdi's Lady Macbeth and Abigaille are followed by Donizetti's Lucia and Delibes' Lakmé, and it doesn't seem ridiculous or misguided at all. Granted, Delibes' Indian priestess does not give Callas much to sink her teeth into, dramatically speaking, but the coloratura is impressive. (Truth to tell, though, other singers jumped those hurdles better than she did.) Even with the conductor's excessively leisurely tempos, Callas creates a malevolent Lady Macbeth. She would be even better in this role later on – see below. The San Remo material (Orchestra della RIA conducted by Alfredo Simonetto) offers similar juxtapositions: Mozart's Konstanze ("Martern aller Arten" is sung in Italian as "Tutte le torture") and Meyerbeer's Dinorah are put in their places by Rossini's fearsome Armida! In between, Charpentier's dreamy Louise ("Depuis le jour") displays the soprano's skills as a lyric soprano as well. All of this is most impressive. The voice is in excellent condition throughout this CD, and the sound has held up very well over the decades.