CD-Charts Position 1
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From Greece With Love

by: Agnes Baltsa

Release Date July 12, 2004
This disc from Agnes Baltsa (Greek opera-singer) containing the most beautiful Greek songs is a real treat. It's recorded in the -80s when she was around 40 and in her prime. The songs are written by famous Greek composers like Theodorakis, Hadjidakis and Tsitsanis. The only thing wrong is that the cd only contains 11 songs. I wish it had at least 11 more.... But fortunately, my cd-player has a "repeat-button".......(Which I might add, is soon worn-out..)

For people unfamiliar with either Greek music or opera, this is the place to start. To me it seems that Greek music often is a matter of strong likes/dislikes, as is opera. You either love it or you hate it. After listening to this disc you will definitely want to seek out more recordings ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
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The Road Home

by: Rose Tremain

Release Date June 12, 2008
Hey guys , I read the book but from my own experience in learning a foreign language i found it a bit too strange for Lev to learn english
so quickly as he learned . I mean , at first he couldnt even speak but after a short time he was fluent in the language already ?

CD-Charts Position 3
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The Beauty and the Sea

by: Mor Karbasi

Release Date March 31, 2008
Much of this music was heard first at a time when all known languages of the travelled world could be heard in the bazar of Cordoba. There is nothing museum-like about this record though. The feel of the music is more like gitano flamenco.
The stunning 6th track will have your heart mis a beat. The 10th track have the violin and flute turn oriental, and you are spellbound. And this is only Mor Karbasis first release. Expectations are skyhigh now.

CD-Charts Position 4
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Terra

by: Mariza

Release Date June 30, 2008

It's taken me a while to fully appreciate this album. At first I found it slightly dull melodically, and lacking a ballad with the same emotive power of her much-loved 'O gente da minha terra'. But it's grown on me, and those songs that have the sad beauty typical of fado music have thoroughly eclipsed the few that don't do it for me. Ten successful tracks out of 14 is pretty good value for money, I reckon.

Technically, it's perfect: Mariza's voice is as pitch-perfect, controlled and expressive as ever, the musicianship and production are superb, and it's more diverse than her previous albums, with some jazzy, laidback trumpet and piano, occasional flamenco influence, and a Cape Verde-style song (featuring Tito Paris, who sounds uncannily ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 5
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Wives And Daughters [1999]

starring: Judith Coke

Release Date August 20, 2001
Impeccable acting. Speech and deportment faultless. How nice to be able to hear every word spoken, unlike some recent Austen adaptations, e.g. Kate Beckinsale and Keira Knightley, both of whom were far too 21st century slovenly.

CD-Charts Position 6
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Mano Suave

by: Yasmin Levy

Release Date October 22, 2007
This is an area of music I am not familiar with but have come to respect and admire. The romantic nature of the disc and the deeply felt singing combined to provide a delightful listen.

This is more of a one-off disc: on the whole I prefer something a bit more energetic. But for a contemplative mood and a quiet listen this fits the bill.

CD-Charts Position 7
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Wildwood: A Journey Through Trees

by: Roger Deakin

Release Date June 26, 2008
This is one of those books you can just dip in and out of every time you're feeling a little stressed with urban life. Each chapter is devoted to a different aspect of the world of wood and trees. Deakin, a true English eccentric, owned woodlands in Suffolk and loved and nurtured them like his children.

In this book he travels the world from the new forests of Hampshire to the Australian outback in search of new woodland experiences and other people as obsessed by wood as he is. The pace is gentle, his love of nature and his ability to write with fluid beauty about it is a joy and even though I am a townie through and through I found myself longing to wander through the woods with him.

Sadly, this is never to be, so the book is as close as I'm ever likely ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 8
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Ana Hina - Natacha Atlas

by: Natacha Atlas & the Mazeeka Ensemble

Release Date May 26, 2008
Although a very singular work, "Ana Hina" calls to mind a number of unique (and very different) albums including Bim Sherman's re-recording of a number of his old songs in the acoustic reggae-meets- Bollywood "Miracle" album, Joanna Newsom's "Ys" in which the baroque ornateness of Van Dyke Parkes met Steve Albini's minimalism with wonderful results and, thirdly, the Greek singer Savina Yannatou's Primevera en Salonico disc "Sumiglia" which showcases songs from Greece, Corsica, Italy, Sicily, Galicia, Palestine, Albania, Bulgaria, Armenia, Moldavia and the Ukraine. Like Yannatou, Atlas celebrates the differences between various musical traditions while highlighting their commonality.

"Ana Hina" is, however, also very different from these recordings as Atlas and Ensemble re-record ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
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Moliere [2007]

directed by: Laurent Tirard

Release Date November 12, 2007
We were enthralled with the outstanding acting and beautiful filming of this amusing yet penetrating movie.

Has inspired us to search Amazon to see some plays by Moliere to revive our school production memories!!!!

Interesting we could only find the Royal Shakespeare production of "Tartuffe" was available from the USA at a very inflated price!!!!!!

CD-Charts Position 10
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Handel - Giulio Cesare (Mortensen, Concerto Copenhagen) [2007]

starring: Christopher Robson, Inger Dam-Jensen, Andreas Scholl, Tuva Semmingsen, John Lundgren
directed by: Thomas Grimm

Release Date September 03, 2007
This is a marvelous performance of Handel's most celebrated opera. Scholl is a superb Cesare. The vocal beauty and dramatic impact are held in perfect harmony. This is a dream of an opera with a nigh on perfect cast.