Brahms / D'Accord / Haba Quartett - Johannes Brahms: Sonate fur Zwei Klaviere Op 34B Klavierquintett - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Jeji pastorkyna (Her Stepdaughter; commonly known as Jenufa) is an opera in three acts by Leos Janacek to a Czech libretto by the composer, based on the play Jeji pastorkyna by Gabriela Preissova. Jenufa is based on a play by the Czech writer Gabriela Preissova´. Set a Moravian village, it follows the travails of two half-brothers, steva and Laca, and the woman with whom they are both in love, Jenufa. Jenufa loves steva in return, and is secretly pregnant with his child. But, after the jealous Laca slashes her face, steva abandons her, repelled by the disfigurement. Things only get worse for Jenufa in the second act. Laca, who now hopes to marry her instead, finds out about the child and is furious. In a desperate attempt to help, Jenufa's stepmother kills the baby - but tells them both it died naturally. Her plan appears to work and the pair agree to marry, but the child's body is discovered, forcing Jenufa's stepmother to confess. The opera ends with a remarkable reconciliatory duet between Laca and Jenufa. Here Janacek's music gleams, luminous and hopeful after such sustained darkness.

Brahms / Manderling Qt / Randerlu - Piano Quintette [COMPACT DISCS] date 06/06/1998

Liverpool-based four piece; Courting returns with sophomore album, New Last Name. The new album is unrestrained and chaotic, and at the same time more focused and detail-oriented than anything Courting have done before. InchWe'd spent our last album campaign giving ourselves a fresh slate,Inch explains vocalist Sean Murphy-O'Neill. InchThat whole record to me in hindsight felt like we had a chance to get rid of any misconceptions about us and present ourselves as an interesting band. On New Last Name, we're moving past that, we just want to make something really special.Inch Brimming with nuance and pop culture references, the band strikes up a track list ranging from funk-pop guitars in InchWe Look Good TogetherInch through to the baroque strings in InchFlexInch or even the country-tinged stylings of InchBabysInch. It would be an understatement to call New Last Name adventurous.