Nonesuch Records releases the Metropolitan Opera’s performance of John Adams’ Nixon in China, with the composer conducting, on Blu-ray and DVD together in one package on November 19, 2012; pre-order now. The Met’s production, staged by Peter Sellars, stars James Maddalena as Richard Nixon, a role he created at the opera’s world premiere 25 years ago and has since performed at international leading opera houses. Nixon in China was recorded and broadcast live in movie theaters around the world as part of The Met: Live in HD on February 12, 2011—10 days after the opera received its Met premiere.

Jonny Greenwood’s soundtrack to Paul Thomas Anderson’s new film The Master is out now on vinyl, featuring 12 tracks pressed on 140-gram vinyl plus the full album on CD. Following the album's CD release in September, The New Yorker called the score "rich and inventive" and Rolling Stone said the film's "visual poetry is matched by Jonny Greenwood's haunting, hypnotic score."

The Black Keys launched their Australian tour at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre Sunday night. The tour continues with two nights at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, followed by shows in Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide, and two nights in Melbourne. The Black Keys head to New Zealand next for tour stops in Auckland and Wellington. Their new digital EP, Tour Rehearsal Tapes, is now available in the Nonesuch Store as MP3 and FLAC. The Independent says the tracks "underscore the explosive musical energy between guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney."

Nonesuch Records releases Punch Brothers’ five-song EP, Ahoy!, on November 13, 2012. Recorded during the Nashville sessions for their critically acclaimed 2012 album Who’s Feeling Young Now?, these tracks also were produced by Jacquire King. The EP includes songs by Josh Ritter, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, Punch Brothers, and Mclusky, along with one traditional tune, arranged by Punch Brothers. Pre-orders include an instant download of the track “Another New World,” which you can preview here; a limited number of CDs will be signed by the band.

London-based singer/songwriter Lianne La Havas returns to the US next month for three headlining shows: in the DC area, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. La Havas also makes her debut performance on the Late Show with David Letterman on November 8 and on Conan November 14. Nonesuch has just released an iTunes-exclusive live EP, featuring La Havas' performance at London’s iTunes Festival last month, with five songs from her set opening for Alicia Keys.

Tour Rehearsal Tapes, a new digital EP from The Black Keys, is out today on Nonesuch Records. Available exclusively on iTunes for the first two weeks, the EP features six songs recorded live in the studio during December 2011. The EP comes as the duo’s acclaimed 2011 full-length album, El Camino, is officially certified RIAA Platinum in the US. It is also Platinum in Ireland and UK; double Platinum in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand; and Gold in Belgium and France. The band’s 2010 breakthrough album, Brothers, is also certified RIAA Platinum.

Natalie Merchant has teamed up with award-winning children's book illustrator Barbara McClintock for a new picture book based on Leave Your Sleep, Merchant's album of classic children's poetry adapted to music. Frances Foster Books will publish this beautiful hard cover, 48-page, full-color book including a CD with 19 songs, available November 13, 2012. It is now available to pre-order in the Nonesuch Store. Watch a video preview of the book here.

Nonesuch released composer Jonny Greenwood’s soundtrack to Paul Thomas Anderson’s new film The Master in the US on September 11 to critical acclaim, with The New Yorker calling the score "rich and inventive" and Rolling Stone saying the film's "visual poetry is matched by Jonny Greenwood's haunting, hypnotic score." Nonesuch will release the album on vinyl on October 22. The LP includes 12 tracks pressed on 140-gram vinyl plus the full album on CD. It is now available to pre-order in the Nonesuch Store.

The Art of Instrumentation: Homage to Glenn Gould, by violinist Gidon Kremer and his Kremerata Baltica chamber orchestra, is out today, September 25, 2012, which would have been Gould’s 80th birthday. The album comprises 11 pieces and arrangements by contemporary composers that quote from or are inspired by works, mostly by Bach, that Gould famously recorded during his career; two Arnold Schoenberg pieces also are drawn upon in one piece. Says the CBC: "The result is a haunting, highly personal homage from one great musician to another and a deeply affecting tribute to Gould's enduring genius."

The Brad Mehldau Trio’s new album, Where Do You Start, a companion disc to this spring’s critically acclaimed Ode, is out now. The new album, featuring interpretations of ten tunes by other composers plus one Mehldau original, earns four stars from the Guardian, Independent on Sunday, Times of London, and Daily Telegraph, and five stars from the Financial Times, which says the Trio gives "an adventurous sheen to modern jazz." NPR's Fresh Air says: "The pianist builds his improvisation like a master storyteller." The BBC finds Mehldau "entering a new prime phase in his career."

Randy Newman’s new song, “I’m Dreaming,” is available as a free download here, where you can also watch the accompanying video. With lyrics from the viewpoint of a voter who casts his ballot solely based on skin color, the song draws attention to something Newman has noticed and written about for 40 years: racism in America. (The complete lyrics are here as well.) While the song, which Newman performs solo at the piano, is free, anyone wishing to contribute is encouraged to donate to the United Negro College Fund.

Jonny Greenwood’s soundtrack to Paul Thomas Anderson’s new film The Master is out today in North America, with a worldwide release to follow. The soundtrack comprises 11 compositions by Greenwood along with four recordings from the movie’s era. Rolling Stone, which gives the film four stars, says its "visual poetry is matched by Jonny Greenwood's haunting, hypnotic score." The New Yorker calls the score “rich and inventive.” Consequence of Sound says Greenwood "has delivered a score that’s both haunting and beautiful."