Cuba’s foremost pianist has developed a brand new repertoire. Boasting a new line-up for his band, The Afro-Cuban Messengers, and a guest appearance from legendary saxophonist Branford Marsalis on three tracks, ‘Border-Free’ takes us through an eclectic range of pieces. Chucho Valdés will be performing shows across Australia in June this year, and will be headlining this year’s Melbourne International Jazz Festival at Hamer Hall on 8 June, and stopping over at the Sydney Opera House on 12 June and QPAC in Brisbane on 13 June. The album is currently on high-rotation on ABC Classic FM programs Jazz Up Late and JazzTrack, the album has also received much praise from ABC Radio National’s Inside Sleeve with Robbie Buck, The Weekend Planet with Doug Spencer and ABC Jazz Digital Radio (sponsors of Chucho Valdés’ Melbourne show). His dazzling virtuosity as a pianist, his prodigious talents as a composer and his ingenious arrangements unite to create a music that enthralls. Alongside new sources of inspiration (the music of the North American Indians and of the Arab-Andalusian culture), the album is infused with the verve of Valdés’ early trailblazing Cuban Jazz ensemble Irakere, his nostalgia for Cuban big bands, the punch of hard bop, the magical rhythms of the Yoruba drums, and of course, the spiritual lyricism which is the mark of all great jazz.

Recorded in Abbey Road Studios this is a memorable album of Carl Davis conducting Classical Festival Favourites. At four in the afternoon a single blast of cannon fire signals the opening of the gates of many a stately home in summer and thousands of picnickers pour into grounds, set up camp and prepare to listen to preordained set of classical hits. This is a re-issue of an album first issued 1992, celebrating the years that Carl Davis conducted Summer Concerts it is a unique collection of popular works presented in unfamiliar but stunning arrangements. Finlandia is recorded adding a new choral arrangement with a fervently patriotic American text. The 1812 Overture recorded with a choral arrangement using Tsarist text. Pomp and Circumstance March No 1 sung with its 'Land of Hope and Glory' text. Also includes: Copland Fanfare for the Common Man, J Strauss II The Blue Danube, Sibelius Finlandia, Sousa The Stars and Stripes Forever, Verdi Nabucco - Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves, J Strauss II Thunder and Lightning Polka, Tchaikovsky 1812 Overture, Handel Messiah - Hallelujah Chorus Pomp and Circumstance March No.1

A superb collection of famous arias and duets from Opera Australia is presented here for you to enjoy. With world-class singers, two Australian orchestras and brilliant conductors adeptly guiding the creation of magnificent music from some of the very best opera scores, you can be transported to vibrant moments of passion, joy and tragedy: from the floating stage of La Traviata to the glittering nightclub of Cafe Momus in La Boheme to the imperial court of Turandot, the stunning costumes and stage sets make for the finest moments in these operas. Includes: Verdi’s La Traviata (Emma Matthews, Gianluca Terranova, Margaret Plummer, Brian Castles-Onion, conductor); Delibes’s Lakme (Emma Matthews, Dominica Matthews, Emmanuel Joel-Hornak, conductor); Puccini’s La Boheme (Ji-Min Park, Takesha Meshe Kizart, Jose Carbo, Taryn Fiebig, Adrian Tamburini, Shao-Chia Lu, conductor); Mozart’s Don Giovanni (Teddy Tahu Rhodes, Taryn Fiebig, Mark Wigglesworth, conductor); Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro (Teddy Tahu Rhodes, Taryn Fiebig, Peter Coleman-Wright, Rachelle Durkin, Sian Pendry, Patrick Summers, conductor); Richard Strauss’s Der Rosenkavalier (Catherine Carby, Emma Pearson, Andrew Litton, conductor); Puccini’s Turandot (Rosario La Spina, Andrea Licata, conductor); and Opera Australia Chorus, Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra, Orchestra Victoria. Subtitles in English, French, German, Spanish and Italian.

Experience alluring samba, bossa nova and more by a young generation of rising stars and new discoveries.Women Of Brazil features artists Miriam Aida, Nossa Alma Canta, Flavia Coelho, Graca Cunha, Juliana Kehl, Maguinha, Luisa Maita, Miriam Maria, Mart’nalia, Aline Morales, Clara Moreno and more. Reinvigorating the classic sounds of samba and bossa nova - from Carmen Miranda’s playful intensity in the 1940s and 1950s to Astrud Gilberto’s sultry alto in the 1960s to today’s multi-talented young generation - these voices of Brazil have long shaped popular songs worldwide.

The new album from the Tokyo String Quartet is released just in time for their final Australian tour in May/June this year. Stopping over at: Sydney (27 May, 8 June), Melbourne (28 & 30 May), Hobart (3 June), Brisbane (5 June), Perth (10 June) and Adelaide (12 June). Tokyo String Quartet are regarded as one of the supreme chamber ensembles of the world, captivating audiences and critics alike since it was founded 45 years ago. The quartet’s recordings of Brahms, Debussy, Dvorak, Haydn, Mozart, Ravel and Schubert have earned such honours as the Grand Prix du Disque Montreux, Best Chamber Music Recording Of The Year from STERO REVIEW and GRAMOPHONE magazines, as well as seven GRAMMY nominations.