John
ADAMS
(b. 1947) Short
Ride in a Fast Machine (1986) Transcribed by Lawrence T. Odorn Grand
Pianola Music (1982) David LANG
(b. 1957) Are You Experienced? (1990)
Under Orpheus (1989-94) David Lang (narrator) Hendrik Jan Renes
(tuba) Ellen Carver, Sepp Grotenhuis (pianos) Lindsay Wagstaff, Kym
Amps, Ruth Holton (sopranos) 
Netherlands Wind Ensemble conducted by Stephen Mosko Recorded Muziekcentrum
Vredenberg, Utrecht 9-11 November 1994 and St. Judes Church, London
12 February 1995 DDD
CHANDOS CHAN 9363 [75:43] [CT]
The
recording and performances of all four of these minimalist inspired
works are as fine as we are ever likely to hear. A highly recommended
disc. see Full Review
Tomaso
ALBINONI (1671-1751)
Adagio
[8:45] J.S. BACH (1685-1750) Ei
wie schmekt der Coffee [4:29] Cantata 144 – Genugsamkeit (arr. D.Golightly)
[3:26] G. CACCINI (1545-1618) Amarilli
mia bella (arr. N.Ingman) J.S. BACH (1685-1750)
Magnificat – Quia respexit [2:28] Cantata 21 – Seufzer tranen Kummer
(arr. D.Golightly) [3:45]
Inessa GALANTE (soprano) Orchestra of Latvian National Opera/Aleksandrs
Vilumanis London Musici/Mark Stephenson Rec Riga Recording Studio, Latvia
1995, St Silas Church, Kentish Town 1999
CAMPION RECORDS RRSP 8001 [26.08] [AT]
There
is nothing here for a specialist collector, but it will tickle the ear
of Auntie May. … see Full Review
Sir
Malcolm ARNOLD
(born 1921) The Collection A
Grand, Grand Overture, Opus 57 Carnival of Animals, Opus 72 Concerto
for 2 Pianos (3 Hands), Opus 104 Serenade, Opus 26 Larch Trees, Opus
3 English Dances, Opus 27 (arr for brass band) English Dances, Opus
33 (arr for brass band) Scottish Dances, Opus 59 (arr for brass band)
Little Suite No. 1 for Brass Band, Opus 80 Cornish Dances, Opus 91 (arr
for brass band) Little Suite No. 2 for Brass Band, Opus 93 The Padstow
Lifeboat, Opus 94 Fantasy for Brass Band, Opus 114 Overture, Beckus
the Dandipratt, Opus 5 Anniversary Overture, Opus 99 Guitar Concerto,
Opus 67 Rec RCA 1959 (Guitar Concerto), RCA & Conifer 1992-97
(remainder) RCA-BMG
74321 88392-2 [2CDs: 75.36; 76.04] [TB]
A
good collection but might have been better still. ... see Full
Review
AVISON
Concerti
from Opus 9. Concerti: 1 in G; 9 in C minor; 7 in E flat; 8 in B flat;
4 in G minor; 6 in E minor The Georgian Consort (DDD)
DIVINE ART 2-4108 [45.29] (mid price) [DW]
This
group produces a rather unusual intimate sound. The playing is extremely
good and the recording presents no problems. ... see
Full Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
- Italian Concerto - Virtuoso Harpsichord Music by J. S. Bach [75 min.]
1. Toccata in D major BWV 912, 2-3. Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue in
D minor BWV 903, 4-14. Aria variata in the Italian manner BWV 989, 15-17.
Italian Concerto in F major BWV 971, 18. Aria from the Clavierbühlein
for Anna Magdalena Bach BWV 988, 19. Prelude in C minor BWV 999, 20-21.
Prelude and Fughetta in G major BWV 902, 22. Fantasia in C minor BWV
906 Terence Charlston,
harpsichord - Rec: November 1999.
DEUX-ELLES DXL 1017 [75.00] [KM]
This
fine recording of some of Bach’s lesser known works - and the masterpiece
Italian Concerto - stands out for its excellent sound and performance.
A must-have recording.
… see Full Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Cantatas vol. 15 Cantata No.40, "Darzu ist erschienen der Sohn
Gottes", BWV 40 - Cantata No.60, "O Ewigkeit, du Donnerwort", BWV 60
- Cantata No.70, "Wachet! betet! betet! wachet!", BWV 70
Cantata No.90, "Es reißet euch ein schrecklich Ende", BWV 90 -
Yukari Nonoshita, soprano - Robin Blaze, countertenor - Gerd Türk,
tenor - Peter Kooij, bass
Bach Collegium Japan, Masaaki Suzuki - Rec: September 2000, Kobe Shoin
Women’s University, Japan.
BIS CD-1111 [67.35] [KM]
Masaaki
Suzuki delivers yet another distinguished and enjoyable volume with
a perfect balance between musicians and singers. … see Full
Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750)
Orchestral Suites - Concertos (7 CDs)
Bath Festival Orchestra
Menuhin Festival Orchestra Pro Arte Orchestra Yehudi Menuhin/Boris Ord
directors Rec: 1956 to 1973, various locations.
EMI CZS 5 74439 2 [7CDs approx. 8 hours.] Superbudget [KM]
Fine
set. Menuhin’s relatively small forces and exuberant energy make most
of these works essential recordings. Grab it up - you won’t regret it.
… see Full Review
Leopold
STOKOWSKI J
S BACH (1685-1750) Symphonic
Transcriptions by Leopold Stokowski Toccata
and Fugue in D minor BWV 565, Ein feste Burg, Mein Jesu BWV 487, Little
Fugue in G minor BWV 578, Komm susser Tod BWV 478, Air on the G string
- Orchestral Suite No 3 BWV 1068, Preludio in E Violin Partita BWV 1006,
Arioso - Cantata 156, Prelude in E flat minor, Andante Sostenuto Violin
Sonata BWV 1003, Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor BWV 582, The All-American
Youth Orchestra
Leopold Stokowski conductor Recorded 1940-41
CALA 0527 [70.49] [JW]
No
matter how well you think you know Stokowski's Bach transcriptions this
is still a disc to treasure. see Full
Review
Johann Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750) The
Art of Fugue BWV 1080
Gustav Leonhardt, harpsichord Rec: May 1953, Vienna.
VANGUARD OVC 2011/12 [86.56] [KM]
Leonhardt
here, at age 25, showed his courage and audacity, yet his performance
was not up to his ideas. He recognized this by re-recording the work.
… see Full Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH
(1685 - 1750) Goldberg
Variations, BWV 988
Gustav Leonhardt, harpsichord Rec: June 1953, Konzerthaus, Vienna.
VANGUARD OVC 2004 [54.19] [KM]
This
recording has historical interest, since it was the first Goldberg Variations
on harpsichord of the "modern era", yet Leonhardt is far from
his prime, and the sound of the harpsichord is relatively disappointing.
see Full Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
English
Suites Nos. 1-6, French Suites Nos. 1-6
Alan Curtis (harpsichord) Rec July 1979, Kunst und Gewerbe, Hamburg
APEX 0927 40808 2 (Suites
1 & 2) [58.55] APEX
0927 40814 2 (Suites 3 & 4) [57.21]
APEX 0927 40813 2 (Suites 5 & 6) [69.04] [TB]
All
praise to Alan Curtis, since his interpretations really do bring out
the potential of the music....see Full Review
J.
S. BACH (1685-1750)
Violin
Concerto BWV 1042 Concerto for Two Violins BWV 1043 Violin Concerto
BWV 1041 Piano Concerto No 1 BWV 1052
Adolf Busch, violin and director Eugene Istomin, piano Frances Magnes,
violin Busch Chamber Players Recorded New York 1942-1945
PEARL GEMM CD 9298 [72.47] [JW]
A
remarkable collection. Recorded in New York these 1940s performances
never received proper currency in Britain … see
Full Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Arleen Augér
sings Bach Mein gläubiges Herze BWV 68 Bete aber auch
dabei BWV 115 Ich esse mit Freuden mein weniges Brot BWV 84
Tief gebückt und voller Reue BWV 199 Wie zittern und
wanken BWV 105 Höchster Tröster, Heilger Geist BWV
183 Ich bin herrlich, ich bin schön BWV 49 Meinem
Hirten bleib ich treu BWV 92 Auch mit gedämpften, schwachen
Stimmen BWV 36 Komm in mein Herzenshaus BWV 80 Ich wünschte
mir den Tod, den Tod BWV 57 Die Seele ruht in Jesu Händen
BWV 127 Wie freudig ist mein Herz BWV 199
Arleen Augér, soprano Bach-Collegium Stuttgart, Helmut Rilling,
Württembergisches Kammerorchester Heilbronn Rec: 1983.
HAENSSLER CD 94.035 [67.20] [KM]
An
excellent disc, one that shows how much Arleen Augér was at home
with Bach’s cantatas. The selection of arias she recorded with Helmut
Rilling is very good. See Full review
Johann
Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750) Prelude
and Fugue in D major, BWV850
Prelude and Fugue in F sharp major, BWV857 Prelude and Fugue in B minor,
BWV869 Italian Concerto in F major, BWV971
Youri Egorov (piano) Rec 1993, Studio Gravison
PAVANE ADW 7029 2 [37.07] [TB]
A
pity that the brevity and spectacularly poor production standards of
this CD undermine it as a competitive commercial proposition. … see
Full Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750) Fantasia
in C minor, BWV 906 Fifteen Two-Part Inventions, BWV 772-786 Fifteen
Three-Part Sinfonias, BWV 787-801 Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue, BWV
903 Angela Hewitt,
piano Rec: January 1994, Beethovensaal, Hanover, Germany..
HYPERION CDA66746 [63.09] [KM]
You
would be hard pressed to find a better piano recording of the Inventions
and Sinfonias, and with the two Fantasias thrown in, this set is as
close to perfect as they come. … see
Full Listing
Johann
Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750) Bach
Cantatas Cantata No. 179, "Siehe zu, dass deine Gottesfurcht," BWV
179, Cantata No. 199, "Mein Herze schwimmt im Blut," BWV 199, Cantata
No. 113, "Herr Jesu Christ, du höchstes Gut," BWV 113, Magdalena
Kozená, soprano William Towers, alto Mark Padmore, tenor Stephan
Loges, bass Monteverdi Choir
English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner Rec: 2000, St. David's
Cathedral, Dyfed, Wales. 
BBC OPUS ARTE OA 0816D [127.00] [KM]
This
DVD is as good as it gets. Hearing and seeing Magdalena Kozená
is a great pleasure, and the rest of the music is extraordinary as well.
… see Full Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750) Cantatas BWV
21: Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis BWV 38: Aus tiefer Not screi ich
zu dir BWV 51: Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen BWV 56: Ich will den Kreuzstab
gerne tragen BWV 76: Die Himmel erzählen die Ehre Gottes BWV 79:
Gott der Herr ist Sonn und Schild BWV 80: Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott
BWV 82: Ich habe genug BWV 93: Wer nor den lieben Gott laut walten BWV
106: Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit BWV 137: Lobe den Herren, den
mächtgen König der Ehren BWV 140: Wachet auf, ruft uns die
Stimme BWV 149: Man singet mit Freuden vom Sieg
Arleen Auger, Nancy Amini, Eva Caspo (sopranos), Gabriele Schrekenbach,
Julia Hamari, Helen Watts, Karen Hagermann, Ann Murray, Mechtild Georg,
Hanna Schwarz (altos), Adalbert Kraus, Lutz-Michael Harder, Douglas
Robinson, Aldo Baldin (tenors), Philippe Huttenlocher, Walter Heldwein,
Sigmund Nimsgern, Wolfgang Schöne, Norman Anderson, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
(basses) Gächinger Kantorei Stuttgart, Indiana University Chamber
Singers Bach-Collegium Stuttgart, Würtemberg Chamber Orchestra
Helmuth Rilling HÄNSSLER
CLASSIC 94028 [4CDs: 73.13, 76.25, 78.19, 69.25] Superbudget [TB]
If
you want to get to know this wonderful music - and the Bach cantatas
are music's greatest treasure-trove - Rilling is a safe and reliable
guide. … see Full Review
Johann
Sebastian BACH
(1685-1750) Glorious
Bach - DVD Cantata BWV 61
Cantata BWV 147, Magnificat in D Major BWV 243, Christine Schäfer,
soprano Anna Korondi, soprano Bernarda Fink, alto Ian Bostridge, tenor
Christopher Maltman, baritone Concentus Musicus
Vienna, Nikolaus Harnoncourt Arnold Scheonberg Choir, Erwin Ortner Rec:
2000, Kloster Melk Benedictine Monastery, Austria.
TDK DV-ADCNH
[82 min.] [KM]
This
is a wonderful DVD, with three fine sacred works by Bach, featuring
excellent musicians, choir and soloists. see Full
Review.
Carl Philipp Emanuel BACH
Sonatas and Rondos 1-3 Sonata
in g minor 14’15" 4 Rondo in A major 4’36"
5-7 Sonata in c minor 10’18" 8-10 Sonata in D major 4’50"
11-13 Sonata in f sharp minor 12’36" 14 Rondo in d minor 4’36"
15-17 Sonata in G major 7’56" 18 Rondo in c minor 4’41"
19-21 Sonata in e minor 6’57" 22 Andante con tenerezza 6’43"
Recorded in Teldec-Studio, Berlin in October 1998.
Mikhail Pletnev - Piano
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 459 614-2 [78.27] [PW]
A
constant succession of drama, thought and beauty recorded with pearl
drop beauty of sound and the clarity of Waterford crystal. … see
Full Review
BACH
FAMILY MOTETS
Johann
Christian BACH (1642 – 1703) 1.
Lieber Herr Gott Johann Bach (1604
– 73) 2. Unser Leben ist ein Shatten Johann
Michael BACH (1648 – 94) 3. Herr, du lässest mich
erfahren 4. Nun hab’ich überwunden Johann
Christoph BACH 5. Es ist nun aus 6. Der Gerechte, ob er
gleich 7. Ich lasse dich nicht 8. Fürchte dich nicht Johann
Michael BACH 9. Sei lieber Tag willkommen Johann
Ludwig BACH (1677 – 1731) 10. Unserer Trübsal 11.
Das ist meine Freude
Choir of Clare College Cambridge/Timothy Brown. Liz Kenny (theorbo),
Helen Gough (bass violin), Karl Dexter (organ) Recorded St.Bartholomews,
Orford 1995 REGIS RRC
1045 [53:52] [GPJ]
Singing
‘well-mannered’, not bloodless, and instrumental support, though inconspicuous,
always stylish. A fine issue. … see Full
Review
Samuel
BARBER (1910-1981)
Violin
Concerto, Op. 14 (1941) Souvenirs Ballet Suite, Op. 28, (1952) Serenade
for Strings, Op. 1 (1928) Music for a Scene from Shelley, Op. 7 (1935).
James Buswell (violin),
Royal Scottish National Orchestra Marin Alsop recorded 27/1/01 (Violin
Concerto), 11-12/5/00 (Souvenirs), 3-4/5/00 (remainder) in the Henry
Wood Hall, Glasgow. DDD
NAXOS 8.559044 [64.20] [JP]
I
am happy to recommend this disc wholeheartedly except for the minor
niggle about the tone of the violin in the concerto. see Full
Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Violin
Concerto in D major, Opus 61 Felix MENDELSSOHN
(1809-1847) Violin Concerto in E minor, Opus 64 - Monica Huggett
(violin) Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Sir Charles Mackerras. Rec 24-25 Nov 1992, Henry Wood Hall, Southwark
(Beethoven), 20-21 Oct 1992, Blackheath Concert Halls (Mendelssohn)
CLASSICS FOR PLEASURE
CFP 5 74878 2 [66.16] [TB]
Although
one would hesitate to recommend this as a first choice recording, the
performances do have many insights and abundant interest. … see Full
Review
Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827) Symphony
No.5 in c minor op.67 (1804-8)
Symphony No.6 in F op.68 "Pastoral" (1808) Overtures
Coriolan, Egmont, Prometheus, Leonore III, Consecration of The House
Pro Musica Symphony,
Vienna/Jascha Horenstein
(Mono recordings made between 1953 and 1958)
VOX LEGENDS VOX2 7808 2 CDs [122.55] Superbudget
A
fine collection of performances showing Horenstein’s Beethoven credentials
very well indeed. Full of insights and interest and well worth investigating.
… see Full Review
LEOPOLD STOKOWSKI
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Symphony No 6 Pastoral Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Sinfonia Concertante in E-flat major K297b Marcel Tabuteau, oboe
Bernard Portnoy, clarinet Sol Schoenbach, bassoon Mason Jones, horn
Philadelphia Orchestra (Mozart) New York City Symphony Orchestra (Beethoven)
Cond: Stokowski
Recorded 1940 (Mozart) 1945 (Beethoven)
CALA CACD 0523 [76.22] [JW]
Here’s
one in the eye for those who think Stokowski was an inferior conductor
of Mozart and Beethoven. … see Full Review
Maksym
BEREZOVSKY (c1745-1777)
Ukrainian Sacred Music Volume 1 Liturgy,
Eucharistic Verses, Choral Concert – Let the Lord enthrone
Vidrodzhennya Chamber Choir Mstyslav Yurchenko, Choirmaster Recorded
Refectory Church of Kyiv 2000
CLAUDIO CB 4730-2 [63.39] [JW]
A
revealing disc. A pity there are no texts. … see Full
Review
Charles Auguste de BÉRIOT
(1802-1870) Concerto
No. 1 in D Major, Op.16 Military Allegro moderato - Concerto
No. 8 in D Major, Op.99 Allegro maestoso - Andantino Rondo - Concerto
No. 9 in A Minor, Op.104 Allegro maestoso - Adagio Rondo: Allegretto
moderato - Takako Nishizaki (violin) RTBF
Orchestra/Alfred Walter - Rec. Maison de la Radio, Brussels, 1986
MARCO POLO 8.220440 [50.05] [RW]
The
recording is well balanced with the violin forwardly placed to maximise
the gifted playing and good tone of the instrument. The orchestra's
support with warm ambience is delightful. … see Full
Review
Leonard
BERNSTEIN (1918-1990)
Jeremiah
(Symphony No 1) * The Age of Anxiety (Symphony No 2) + Divertimento
Michelle DeYoung (mezzo-soprano)
* James Tocco (piano) + BBC Symphony Orchestra Leonard Slatkin conductor
Recorded Colosseum, Watford October 2000
CHANDOS CHAN 9889 [79.13] [JW]
This
disc in excellent sound is a worthy alternative to the composer’s own.
… see Full Listing
Sir
Arthur BLISS
(1891-1975)
Morning Heroes, Investiture Antiphonal Fanfare, Prayer of St Francis
of Assisi, Brian Blessed (orator) East London Chorus, Harlow Chorus,
Hertfordshire Chorus
London Philharmonic Orchestra Michael Kibblewhite Rec 17-17 Nov 1991
& 26 Jan 1992, All Hallows Church, Gospel Oak, London
CALA CACD 1010 [64.40] [TB]
A
distinguished disc, which does credit to all concerned. see Full
Review
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) String Sextets:
No. 1 in B flat, op. 18, no. 2 in G, op. 36
Yehudi Menuhin, Robert Masters (violin), Cecil Aronowitz, Ernst Wallfisch
(viola), Maurice Gendron, Derek Simpson (violoncellos) - Recorded Sep.
1963, Dec. 1964, No. 1 Studio, Abbey Road, London
EMI CLASSICS CDE 5 74957 2 [75.02] [CH]
The
quite wonderful playing of no. 1, in particular, makes this an essential
disc. … see Full Review
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833 – 1897) Symphony
No. 2 in D Major, Op. 73 Symphony No. 4 in E Minor, Op. 98
Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam – Willem Mengelberg recorded 4/4/40
and 30/11/38, in the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, Holland. ADD
NAXOS Historical 8.110158 [77.38] [JP]
Both
of the Brahms symphonies recorded here are exciting in the extreme,
with a warmth to the playing which transcends the recording quality.
… see Full Review
Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Symphony
No 2 in D major, Op.73* [37.07] Symphony No 4 in E minor, Op. 98** [40.32]
Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam conducted
by Willem Mengelberg Recorded in the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam on *April
4, 1940 and ** November 30, 1938
NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110158 [JQ]
A
disc that will not only be attractive to seasoned collectors of historic
recordings but which should encourage others to dip their toes in the
water: they will not regret doing so. see
Full Review
Johannes
BRAHMS
(1833-1897) Cello
Sonata in E minor, Opus 38 Cello Sonata in F major, Opus 99 Robert
SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Fantasiestücke, Opus 73 Arto Noras
(cello) Juhani Lagerspetz
(piano) Rec April 1996, Järvenpää Hall, Finland
APEX 09274 05982 [66.16] [TB]
Noras
and Lagerspetz respond sensitively- their performances deeply felt.
Interpretations highly enjoyable. see Full Review
Leo
BROUWER
Music for Guitar Vol. 2 El
Decamerón Negro, Preludios, Epigramáticos, Canticum, La
Espiral eternal, Parabola, Tarantos, Variations on a Theme of Django
Reinhardt, Paisaje cubano con tristeza
Elena Papandreou – Guitar
NAXOS 8.554553 [73:13][AD]
While
it is doubtful this music will have a wide appeal, for enthusiasts of
Leo Brouwer I would say this CD is invaluable. … see Full
Review
Anton
BRUCKNER
(1824-1896) Symphony No.3 in D minor
(Edition of 1877 with additions from 1889)
Philharmonia Orchestra/Lovro Von Matacic (Recorded at a Promenade Concert,
Royal Albert Hall, London, 23rd July 1983)
BBC Legends BBCL 4079-2 [59.26] [TD]
A
real gem from the archives giving us a fine performance of a problematic
work in excellent sound. … see Full Review
Anton BRUCKNER (1824-1896)
Symphony No.4 in E Flat "Romantic"
(1874) (Nowak edition)
Hallé Orchestra/Zdenek Mácal (Recorded in the Free Trade
Hall, Manchester, April 1984.) Classics
for Pleasure 5 74942 2 [67.58] [TD]
Bruckner
with a Manchester accent and none the worse for that. … see Full
Review
SERGIU
CELIBIDACHE AND BRUCKNER’S MASS IN F MINOR: A
FILM BY JAN SCHMIDT-GARRE Margaret
Price (sop) Doris Soffel (alto) Peter Straka (tenor) Matthias Holle
(bass) Hans Sotin (bass) Münchner Philharmoniker
conductor Sergiu Celibidache
Recorded 1993 in Munich and St Florian.
ARTHAUS DVD
100 250, 60 min, region code 0. [MB]
Of
interest only to people who have a fascination with the art of music
making – or Celibidache himself. … see Full
Review
Ferruccio
BUSONI (1866-1924)
Piano Music, Vol. 2 J.
S. Bach
(transcribed Busoni): Chaconne for solo violin, B24, Etude en forme
de variations, op. 17, K206, Variations on "Kommt ein Vogel geflogen",
K222, Theme and Variations in C, K. 6, Inno Variations, K16, Variations
and Fugue on Chopin’s Prelude in C minor, op. 22, K.213
Wolf Harden (pianoforte) Recorded 21-22.12.2000, St. Martin’s Church,
East Woodhay, Hampshire (UK)
NAXOS 8.555699 [68.55] [CH}
An
interesting disc of early and very-early works in dedicated performances
and rich sound, well worth having at the Naxos price. ...see
Full Listing
[Part 1
New] [Part 2 A-B] [Part
3 C-L]
[Part 4 M-R] [Part
5 S-Y] [Part 6 Misc]
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