Frederic Chopin: Waltzes (Jean-Marc Luisada)
Apple Lossless (XLD) | Cue + Log | Deutsche Grammophon 431 779-2 | 1 CD, 191 MB
Classical | Cover, no scans | Rapidshare

Though Luisada is by no means old, his playing takes us back to another age.
Arthur Rubinstein boasted that he changed the way Chopin was perceived, making him more masculine and straightforward than romantic players like de Pachmann and Paderewski did. Rubinstein's Chopin was in fact a reflection of his own more literal time – a time that also produced Backhaus and Toscanini – as well as Rubinstein's own love for the classiciam of Brahms which, under the influence of Joachim, pre-dated the Polish expatriate's love for Chopin.
Rubinstein clearly felt uncomfortable with the feminine, salon qualities that cannot be divorced from Chopin's sensibility. Descriptions of the composer's own playing make it clear that he was improvisatory, ethereal in his dynamics and that he reveled in rubato; Chopin was even accused of not being able to play in time. These qualities are rarely evident in modern players, who imagine they present a "greater" Chopin by robbing him of his true personality.
Luisada is not a modern player. His Chopin evokes memories of some of the greatest interpreters of earlier ages – especially de Pachmann and Maryla Jonas (whose rare recordings are available from Pearl). Luisada's rubato will seem willful and wayward to those raised to believe Rubinstein was the last word on Chopin, but it will delight those who would like to hear something closer to the first word.

–Amazon.com [5-star] review

Leif Ove Andsens: Horizons - A Pesonal collection of Piano Encores – works by Sibelius, Skrabin, Mendelssohn, R. Strauss, Bach,
Mompou, Chopin, Debussy, Liszt, Shostakovich, Albeniz, Grieg, Smetana, Ibert etc.
Classical | 1 CD | EAC Rip | 173 Mb | FLAC+LOG+Cue | Complete scans 300 dpi| 2 RS links
Publisher: EMI Classics

Editorial Reviews - Amazon.com
A great player can give meaning and substance even to lightweight miniatures… Andsnes' brilliant, captivating performance will induce smiles of admiration and pleasure as well as a new respect for this versatile and colorful repertoire. – Edith Eisler

Monika - Avatar
EAC rip | Flac (Image) | Cue Sheet | Log | Full Artwork | 333 Mb
Year: 2008 | Label: Archangel Music | Genre: Pop/Rock | Greek Composers | Language: English

Just at the age of 21, Μonika presents one of the best albums of the year! Influenced by M. Xatzidakis to P.J. Harvey, 'Avatar' is an extremely personal and emotional album..

This 1997 album presents material from the Simon-composed Broadway musical The Capeman, chronicling the life of convicted Puerto Rican street hoodlum Salvador Agrón. The production starred Marc Anthony and Ruben Blades, whose performances are featured here.