Die Welt Gehört Dir stands as an energetic and iconic year 2000 release from German pop-dance artist Jasmina Wagner, widely known by her stage name Blümchen. Released on Edel Records, this fifty-seven-minute album showcases her signature blend of late-90s Eurodance, high-octane Hi-NRG beats, Euro-house rhythms, and catchy techno-pop melodies. Featuring infectious electronic synthesizer riffs, driving kick drums, and bright vocal performances, the album captures the euphoric essence of European club culture at the turn of the millennium. Standout tracks include the uplifting title song Die Welt Gehört Mir, the hit single Ist Deine Liebe Echt, electronic pop cuts like Sehnsucht@Herz.De, and a high-energy German-language cover of The Bangles' classic hit Walk Like an Egyptian (Geh'n Wie Ein Ägypter). Sourced from original high-fidelity lossless transfers complete with EAC sector logging verification, track cue sheets, and full retail artwork scans, this release remains an essential centerpiece for Eurodance purists, 2000s dance-pop enthusiasts, and German electronic music archives.

The casting of the radiant Helen Donath as Gretel, the theatrical Christa Ludwig as the witch, the vibrant Anna Moffo as Hansel, and the noble but lovable Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau as the father would have been sufficient to secure this recording's fame as the best version of "Hansel and Gretel" ever committed to disc. However, to cast Lucia Popp as the Dew Fairy and Arleen Auger as the Sandman was a master stroke. And, the excellent Charlotte Berthold is an added bonus as the mother. Leading this array of vocal riches, Kurt Eichhorn produces a reading that accentuates the detail and color of the score more than any other, drawing out the richness of the orchestration with astonishing success.

The stars of this recording of Der Freischütz are conductor Joseph Keilberth, the Chorus of Deutschen Oper Berlin, and the Berlin Philharmonic. The chorus sings with wonderfully full, warm tone and high spirits, creating vivid characterizations of the hunters, peasants, bridesmaids, and spirits that populate the opera. The Berlin Philharmonic performs with complete assurance and stylishness, beautifully capturing the atmosphere of the opera's widely diverse scenes, and Keilberth keeps the dramatic tension high. The leads are more than adequate, but not stellar. Rudolf Schock is a bland Max, and his voice lacks the sheen and resonance to give him a real heroic presence.

On December 3, 1721, Johann Sebastian Bach, the court Kapellmeister in Köthen, married the court singer Anna Magdalena Wilcke. After a year of grief and setbacks, Bach was once again able to look to the future with hope, along with his four children from his first marriage. Anna Magdalena must have been a very talented singer; through her marriage, she was now elevated to the rank of Mrs. Kapellmeister. However, upon moving to Leipzig, she was no longer permitted to perform in public as a woman. Nevertheless, there are a number of soprano parts that Johann Sebastian may have composed specifically for her vocal abilities. Foremost among these is the wedding cantata "Weichet nur, betrübte Schatten".

This is the latest and, they tell us, the last of EMI’s Simon Rattle Edition, gathering together the conductor’s complete forays into certain composers and repertoire. As with any such project the sets hitherto released have contained both treasures and duds. Even though not everything here is perfect, this set sends the series out on a high with his complete Vienna recording of the Beethoven symphonies.

Battlement (1979). "Battlement" is a legendary record featuring unfamous German musicians, working and playing with a sense of perfection in the wake of Genesis. The vocals, sung by Frenchman Frédéric Joos turn out to be (Very) close to Peter Gabriel's. Neuschwanstein creates music with the same complexity, intensity and power as their famous elders used to do. The songs are totally original and innovative though, with some King Crimson-esque skid. A pure jewel!
Alice In Wonderland [Recorded 1976]. "Alice In Wonderland" is a 40 minutes-long piece of work, obviously based on the famous book by Lewis Carroll. It confirms Neuschwanstein's significant importance in German rock history: the band succeeded, from the beginning, in creating a fluid and refined music, intense and suggestive, typical of the creative enthusiasm of the early Seventies…

The acclaimed Pygmalion chorus takes center stage in this new recording of the St John Passion, their vivid presence and impeccable articulation shaping the work’s dramatic and emotional contours. Under Raphaël Pichon’s precise yet flexible direction, the ensemble and a distinguished cast of soloists deliver a performance marked by musical integrity and expressive depth. The recording stands out for its clarity of gesture and compelling dramatic realization, capturing both the intensity and the spiritual resonance of the Passion with remarkable precision and artistic commitment.

Fur Ein 3/4 Stundchen (1974). Long Hair proudly presents one of the most sought after German albums of the early seventies, now for the first time officially re-released on CD: Tortilla Flat's 'Für Ein 3/4 Stündchen', originally recorded in winter 1974 and released as a private pressing. The instrumental album is very flute and electric piano driven, with very exciting guitar playing accompanied by rocking drumming with slightly jazzy influences and nimble bass lines, very tight! Many mention Supersister as a comparison, Kraan's first album, Brainstorm or Mel Collins' Circus (Crack In The Cosmic Egg), but all this is not really true. In fact the music is very unique, not typical Krautrock, but psychedelic, complex but very tuneful, with slight jazzrock influences and a little bit of British Canterbury sound. Many flute soloing, exciting great fuzzing guitar soloing and an impressing electric piano sound with that special teutonic Krautrock feel…

One of Germany’s best-loved classical performers joins forces with a legendary close- harmony group for a winter-themed album to bring warmth to the dark months of the year: Albrecht Mayer & The King’s Singers. The pairing of probably the world’s most famous and accomplished oboist, Albrecht Mayer with the UK’s celebrated vocal ensemble is a heavenly musical partnership, and the interplay of colours, melodies and harmonies between these performers enchant and delight with Baroque, classical and seasonal favourites. The album has a Yuletide theme with tracks such as ‘Let It Snow’, ‘Jingle Bells’ and ‘Baby It’s Cold Outside’.

Viva Hits 8 stands as a comprehensive snapshot of the late 1990s and early 2000s European pop music landscape, capturing the diverse soundscape that dominated commercial radio and music television during this vibrant era. Released by EMI Electrola in 2000, this compilation album spans across forty tracks over two discs, bringing together an eclectic range of genres including mainstream pop, euro-dance, euro-house, rock, and hip-hop. The collection highlights monumental hits from global superstars alongside influential European chart-toppers, presenting a energetic journey through the millennium transition's most memorable melodies. Disc one balances infectious dance beats from acts like Vengaboys and Gigi D'Agostino with iconic pop ballads and upbeat singles from the Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, Tom Jones, and Westlife, while also incorporating urban and rock textures from Kelis, Freundeskreis, and HIM. Disc two expands on this lively formula with high-energy Euro-house rhythms, rap tracks, and German pop highlights, featuring standout cuts from Aqua, S Club 7, Paffendorf, Dynamite Deluxe, and Die Toten Hosen. Rich in nostalgic charm, polished production values, and unforgettable hooks, Viva Hits 8 serves as a definitive time capsule for enthusiasts of millennial pop culture and Euro-dance music.