Aho’s opera Insect Life may have been rejected at first but that didn’t stop him dabbling in the genre. Rejoicing of the Deep Waters is based on his opera, Before We All Have Drowned, which has since been performed in Helsinki and Lūbeck. And even though it was written for the city of Lahti’s 90th anniversary it’s certainly not celebratory in tone. In fact the work begins ……

Dan Morgan @ musicweb-international.com

In this selection of Sonatas the artists reveal Schumann’s development as a composer; this recording includes the third Sonata which was neglected for a century after Schumann’s death, only premiering in 1956. Named Instrumentalist of the Year in 2005 by Musical America, Christian Telzlaff has long been considered a top international violinist. His recording of the Mendelssohn and Schumann violin concertos released with Ondine in 2011 (ODE11952) received the Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik (German Records Critics Association).

The Riverdogs is a rock band, founded in Los Angeles in 1989. Following an introduction to guitarist Vivian Campbell, formerly of Sweet Savage, Dio, and Whitesnake, Campbell agreed to produce Riverdogs' first demo. Vivian was so impressed by their talent, he joined the band for their debut-album, released on Epic Records in 1990, winning a prestigious Edison Award in The Netherlands. Soon after, drummer Marc Danzeisen joined the band to complete the line-up.

Compilation album with instrumental interpretations of major themes of Spanish composer Isaac Albéniz by soloists as Austrian pianist Beatriz Klien, Austrian guitarist and lutenist Konrad Ragossnig, Venezuelan guitarist Alirio Diaz and Greek pianist Rena Kyriakou. Together they offer a repertoire of twelve songs, which return the substance and the freshness of the compositions of the great Albéniz.

Among the great orchestras of the world specializing in music for ballroom and competition dancing figure the Gala Big Band, founded in 1983 by pianist, composer, arranger and German director Günter Maier Noris (Unterfranken, 1935-2007). During his career Günter performed 2,500 live performances in some 15 countries. This album is dedicated to dance music and offers twelve subjects taken from classical music pieces and versioned in several standard and Latin rhythms.

In 1979 Tiziana Ghiglioni was introduced to jazz during a summer clinic held by Giorgio Gaslini in Diano Marina, Italy. After studying vocal technique with Gabriella Ravazzi, she was invited by Italian jazz label Dischi della Quercia to record her first album - Lonely Woman. Her 1992 recording "Sonb" (Splasc Records) was voted second best by Musica Jazz.

Deep Purple was the first band to note that heavy metal and classical music share a certain deluded grandeur and attempted to combine the two. While what resulted–specifically, their Concerto for Group and Orchestra–was pretty fearful stuff, it did, for better or for worse, pave the way for a generation of classically influenced heavy-rock bands: King Crimson, Yes, and Queen, among others…

Enzo Pietropaoli (born in 1955) is an Italian jazz bassist. Pietropaoli has performed or recorded with, among others, Chet Baker, Lester Bowie, Woody Shaw, Kenny Wheeler, Franco Ambrosetti, Bob Berg, Johnny Griffin, Michael Brecker, Lee Konitz, Archie Shepp, Phil Woods, Curtis Fuller, Toots Thielemans, Richard Galliano, Gianni Coscia, John Taylor, Rita Marcotulli, Cedar Walton, John Abercrombie, John Scofield, Joe Pass, Pat Metheny, Ginger Baker, Han Bennink, Billy Cobham, Kenny Clarke, Maria Pia De Vito, Norma Wynstone, Gianmaria Testa.

Melbourne symphonic metal band Vanishing Point return after seven years to release Distant is the Sun. Drenched in power metal and with a crystal clear production, the band seem intent on releasing their finest product to date, however the overall feel of the album is a slight let down, with some songs morphing into others to create a sameness in the end result. That’s not to say the die hard symphonic metal heads will not adore this album: it’s heavy, it’s melodic and it contains some strong song writing.

Elmore James Jr., son of the great Elmore James, is an accomplished and masterful Chicago blues singer, slide guitarist, and former rock & roll drummer. Second CD for Wolf Records, titled Old School Lover, is one of the best traditional Chicago blues albums of 2012. Includes six new songs and six traditional tunes in the Chicago blues style. Features Eddie Taylor Jr., Ed Williams, and Illinois Slim.

Against the Law is the fifth release, and fourth full-length album, from the Christian metal band Stryper, released on August 21, 1990 (see 1990 in music). Three singles/video were released for this album including "Shining Star", "Two Time Woman" and "Lady".This album marked a radical change in the musical and visual direction of the band. Gone were the yellow and black spandex outfits, the bold evangelical lyrics and the familiar yellow-and-black band logo with Isaiah 53:5. In their place were leather outfits, and lyrics more focused on rock n' roll and relationships, although arguably from a Christian worldview.

European release of this classic heavy rock album with four bonus tracks! A beautiful combination of Black Sabbath and The Beatles.