LATEST ADDITIONS

This week, XM Satellite Radio launches <I>Classical Confidential</I>, a series of hour-long artist profiles. Modeled after XM's <I>Artist Confidential</I> series, in which listeners can get to know high-profile artists "up close and personal," per XM, the new show's first installment features an hour with Sony BMG's favorite male violinist, the sweet-toned, extremely gifted Joshua Bell. Subsequent shows will feature the magnificent mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli and conductor Leonard Slatkin.

<i>If it’s not the Avian flu, it’s the maple syrup.</i><br>
&#151Nina Myers, Esquire magazine<br>
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But it’s not the cats that are killing me. It’s the commute.

On our way home last night, at your request, we found shelter from the relentless rain near a bit of dancing fire. White candles melted into soft wings and waves and fingertips, beckoning us closer. We sat at the fun table beneath so many beaded chandeliers, and ordered the best drinks in all of Manhattan&#151pineapple coconut mojitos and razzle dazzles&#151which were far too strong, but perfect, nontheless. The older woman in the strange hat offered us one of her piggyback dates&#151stuffed with almonds and wrapped in bacon, sprinkled with Cabrales bleu cheese&#151but we, of course, declined, and decided instead to order some of our own.

Wes sends his "Hola!" from Barcelona:

Last week's "Vote" results indicate that readers clearly favor better-sounding recordings. But would a poorly recorded work prevent you from buying it, regardless of the performance or artist?

"I can't make out the words."