Product Description

The Best Classical Album in the World…Ever! is a spectacular collection of classical favourites on 4 CDs--a must have for any classical novice. Features Dame Kiri, Nigel Kennedy, Maria Callas, Luciano Pavarotti, Lesley Garret, Vanessa Mae, Placido Domingo to name but a few.

Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Pachelbel: Canon In D
2. J. S. Bach: Air �On The G String� (Hamlet Cigars)
3. Albinoni: Adagio In G Minor (Gallipoli)
4. J. S. Bach:Goldberg Variations (Silence Of The Lambs)
5. Vaughan Williams: The Lark Ascending
6. Armstrong: Weather Storm
7. Beethoven: �Pastoral� Symphony � Shepherds� Hymn After The Storm
8. Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No.2 In C Minor � Ii Adagio Sostenuto (Brief Encounter)
9. Vaughan Williams: Fantasia On �Greensleeves�
10. Delibes: Flower Duet (Lakm�) (British Airways)
11. Beethoven: �Moonlight� Sonata (Immortal Beloved)
12. Mozart: Flute & Harp Concerto In C � Ii. Andantino
13. Bruch: Violin Concerto No.1 In G Minor � Ii. Adagio
14. Satie: Gymnop�die No.1 (What Lies Beneath)
15. Vivaldi: Winter (The Four Seasons) � Ii. Largo
16. Mozart: Clarinet Concerto In A � Ii. Adagio (Out Of Africa)
17. Elgar: Nimrod (Elizabeth)

Disc 2:

1. Zimmer/Gerrard/Badelt: Gladiator Suite (Gladiator)
2. Vaughan Williams: Fantasia On A Theme By Thomas Tallis (Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World)
3. Armstrong/De Vries/Hooper: Balcony Scene (Romeo And Juliet) (Original Soundtrack Version)
4. Shore: The Fellowship (The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring)
5. Horner: My Heart Will Go On (Titanic)
6. Williams: Schindler�s List Theme
7. Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 21 In C � Ii. Andante (Elvira Madigan)
8. Johann Strauss Ii: On The Beautiful Blue Danube (2001: A Space Odyssey)
9. Barry: You Only Live Twice Main Theme
10. Nyman: The Heart Asks Pleasure First / The Promise (The Piano) (Original Soundtrack Version)
11. Puccini: O Mio Babbino Caro (Gianni Schicchi) (A Room With A View)
12. Williams: Fawkes The Phoenix (Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets)
13. Newman: Any Other Name (American Beauty)
14. Myers: Cavatina (The Deer Hunter)
15. Morricone: Cinema Paradiso Love Theme) (Original Soundtrack Version)
16. Petit: Jean De Florette Theme (Original Soundtrack Version) (Stella Artois Tv Advert)
17. Morricone: Gabriel�s Oboe (The Mission) (Original Soundtrack Version)
18. Mahler: Symphony No.5 In C Sharp Minor � Iv. Adagietto (Death In Venice)
19. T�rrega: Etude (The Killing Fields) (Original Soundtrack Version)
20. Eno: An Ending (Ascent) (Traffic) (Original Soundtrack Version)

Disc 3:

1. Handel: Hallelujah Chorus (Messiah)
2. Allegri: Miserere Mei, Deus (Chariots Of Fire)
3. Barber: Adagio For Strings (Platoon)
4. Handel: Zadok The Priest (P&O Cruises Tv Advert)
5. Mozart: Lacrimosa (Requiem) (Amadeus)
6. Bach�Gounod: Ave Maria
7. Jenkins: Agnus Dei (The Armed Man: A Mass For Peace)
8. Elgar: Cello Concerto In E Minor � I. Adagio�Moderato
9. Prizeman: Voca Me
10. Lloyd Webber: Pie Jesu (Requiem)
11. Tavener: The Lamb (Orange Tv Advert)
12. Dowland: Lachrimae Antiquae (Flow My Teares)
13. Handel: Lascia Ch�io Pianga (Rinaldo)
14. Mozart: Ave Verum Corpus (Lorenzo�s Oil)
15. Rutter: Requiem Aeternam (Requiem)
16. Parry: Jerusalem
17. Faur�: In Paradisum (Requiem) (The Thin Red Line)
18. Mccartney: Celebration (Standing Stone)

Disc 4:

1. Orff: O Fortuna (Carmina Burana) (The Omen)
2. J. S. Bach: Toccata & Fugue In D Minor
3. Jenkins: Adiemus (Delta Airlines Tv Advert)
4. Vivaldi: Spring (The Four Seasons) � I. Allegro
5. J. S. Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No.3 In G � I. Allegro Moderato
6. Beethoven: Symphony No.5 In C Minor � I. Allegro Con Brio (The Longest Day)
7. Mozart: Horn Concerto No.4 In E Flat � Iii. Rondo
8. Grieg: Piano Concerto In A Minor � I. Allegro Molto Moderato
9. Bizet: Temple Duet (The Pearl Fishers) (Gallipoli)
10. Gershwin: Rhapsody In Blue (Manhattan)
11. Holst: Jupiter (The Planets)
12. Prokofiev: Montagues And Capulets (Romeo & Juliet) (Chanel �L��go�ste� Tv Advert)
13. Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No.1 In B Flat Minor � I. Allegro Non Troppo
14. Wagner: The Ride Of The Valkyries (Die Walk�re) (Apocalypse Now)
15. Ravel: Bolero (10)
16. Elgar: Pomp And Circumstance March No.1 (Land Of Hope And Glory) (Last Night Of The Bbc Proms)
17. Beethoven: Ode To Joy (Die Hard)
18. Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #42396 in Music
• Released on: 2004-11-08
• Number of discs: 4
• Format: Box set
• Dimensions: .44 pounds

Customer Reviews

Fine selection, but you may get better value elsewhere
There are many classical music samplers on the market, some better than others. Since Classic FM started running its various charts, the record industry has been able to cherry pick the most popular tunes!

There is a lot on offer on these four CD's, but ask yourself what you hope to get. There are, as I say, a lot of samplers on the market, and this is one of the more expensive box sets. You may feel this package may not offer you the best value for money - (see my review of "The Essential Classics Collection" - ASIN: B000038I67).

Here, well, you do get a broad, eclectic range of the more popular classics. Of course, what you get is a selection of the highlights from classic works - one of Pachabel's best loved melodies, one of Orff's more dramatic moments, and these CD's seem to contain quite a lot of Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart.

This sampler is largely restricted to the more melodic tunes. I do like to have some background music playing when I'm reading or writing, and this collection provides an adequate supply. The four CD's, here, will give you a lot of very enjoyable music which you can have playing while you relax or concentrate on some task.

But if, like me, you're trying to learn a bit more about classical music, if you're prepared to experiment and listen a bit more widely, the real joy of a selection like this is that it should give you the confidence to delve deeper. There is so much pretension in the music world, if you have little musical knowledge to begin with, it can be a bit daunting trying to explore the mysteries of the classics.

My advice is to ignore all the hype and all the flowery language. Allow yourself to sit back and listen to these tracks, then take yourself out and listen to the longer, full versions of your favourites. Let your ear be your guide - maybe have a listen to Radio 3 instead of Classic FM (the BBC plays a much broader range and you're not constantly interrupted by adverts)!

This is an entertaining selection ... but there are better value options on the market (i.e., ones which offer more tracks for less money), and you may feel it is worthwhile looking to see which tracks the respective selections offer.

Open the wine, wind up the volume
A fantastic selection of all the tunes you've ever said "Oh.. that's the tune from the ....advert, isn't it? What's it called?" about.

OK that's a very trite comment, but you get my point. Pure enjoyment, without the intervention of the tracks in a single classical album which you have to pretend to appreciate if you're not to look like a Philistine.

An absolute belter..an education, and a gateway to composers you'd never heard of, (neither had I).

New to classical? Start here...
Of course, if you really want to hear the best classical music ever you'd need to get a set lasting a couple of weeks, at least. This is a fair effort mind, with four discs lasting over five hours; and it does a decent job of gathering together most classical pieces that have found a way into mainstream culture over the last twenty years, and splitting the sides into categories is helpful for the casual listener (Relaxing/Uplifting/Cinema/Spectacular). This collection is clearly aimed at anyone who knows 'Air on the G String' as 'the Hamlet Cigars tune' or Handel's 'Hallelujah Chorus' as 'the Messiah Theme', but there's nothing wrong with that. Also, including pieces by modern artists like Michael Nyman, Ennio Morricone and Brian Eno proves that this music has a relevant place outside of the museum.