Strauss: Capriccio

Strauss: Capriccio

On this CD:

  1. Capriccio, opera, Op. 85 (TrV 279)
    Composed by Richard Strauss
    Performed by London Philharmonia Orchestra
    with Wolfgang Sawallisch, David Winnard, Karl Schmitt-Walter, Edgar Fleet, Dermot Troy, John Hauxvell, Hans Hotter, Anna Moffo, Edward Darling, Christa Ludwig, Rudolf Christ, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Ian Humphries, Eberhard Wachter, Geoffrey Walls, Leslie Fyson, Dennis Wicks, Nicolai Gedda, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
After the first performance, in 1942, of Strauss's opera Capriccio--a "Conversation Piece for Music in One Act"--the teary-eyed composer remarked wistfully, "I can do no better." From the enchanting overture, in which the opera's material is condensed into a string sextet, this famous London 1958 performance with the all-star cast--Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Christa Ludwig, Eberhard Wachter--is completely engaging. Strauss refused offers to follow up Capriccio with another opera: "I can only make one testament." Wolfgang Sawallisch conducts the Philharmonia Orchestra. --Joshua Cody

Strauss: Capriccio,Eberhard Wächter,Richard Strauss,Wolfgang Sawallisch,Philharmonia Orchestra of London,Elisabeth Schwarzkopf,Nicolai Gedda,Anna Moffo,Christa Ludwig,David Winnard,Dennis Wicks,Dermot Troy,Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau,Edgar Fleet,Edward Darling,Geoffrey Walls,Hans Hotter,Ian Humphries,John Hauxvell,Karl Schmitt-Walter,Leslie Fyson,Rudolf Christ,Angel Records,Classical,German/Austrian Romantic Opera,Opera,Opera / Operetta / Oratorio


Baby Einstein: Traveling Melodies
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Selection is not good
  • Baby Einstein: Traveling Melodies
  • Saved My Sanity
  • A Very Pleasant CD for Little Ones in the Car
Baby Einstein: Traveling Melodies

Manufacturer: Buena Vista
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0009AJK3O
Release Date: 2005-05-10

Tracks:

  1. Orchestra Tune-Up
  2. Bartered Bride Overture
  3. Symphony 5, 1st Movement
  4. The Four Seasons, Autumn, RV293, 1st Movement
  5. Divertimento In F, K.138, 1st Movement
  6. March Militaire
  7. Symphony 5, 4th Movement
  8. Annen Polka
  9. Capriccio Espagnol, Alborada
  10. Trish-Trash Polka
  11. Concerto In C, RV537, 3rd Movement
  12. Capriccio Espagnol, Fandango
  13. The Four Seasons, Spring, RV269, 1st Movement
  14. Serenade For Strings, Waltz
  15. The Bartered Bride, Polka
  16. Symphony 100, 'Military' 2nd Movement
  17. Piano Sonata 15, Op.28, 4th Movement
  18. Waltz In G Flat Op.70, No.1
  19. Symphony 101, 'Clock' 2nd Movement
  20. 6 Children Pieces, Op.72, 2nd Movement
  21. Lullaby

Customer Reviews:

2 out of 5 stars Selection is not good.......2006-07-27

This tape is short and the melodies are not engaging for kids. It was waste of money.

5 out of 5 stars Baby Einstein: Traveling Melodies .......2006-02-23

Hello everyone,
This CD is great!
My son has ADD & when we are out & he gets Anxious I put this CD in his portibale CD player.
It seems to help him calm down & better cope with things.
I think that every parent should have this CD that has a special needs child.
Thanks so much for putting it online for people to buy.
Thanks Again,
A Greatfull Mom

5 out of 5 stars Saved My Sanity.......2005-11-03

My husband and I are musicians so I inwardly groaned when we were given this CD as a gift--I'd rather play the originals rather than some synthesized kiddie version. However, on a recent road trip we got desperate when our colicky son would not stop screaming. We popped this in the CD player and it calmed him down immediately. I swear, it's like aural crack for babies. We now play it at bedtime to help calm him down and it still works. You may not love this CD, but your baby will.

4 out of 5 stars A Very Pleasant CD for Little Ones in the Car.......2005-11-01

I picked this up for driving around music and was very pleasantly surprised. Quite enjoyable (and my son seems to like it too!) and perfect for exactly what it says--traveling around. Easy listening and could possibly make your child smarter, great!
Masters of Classical Music (Box Set)
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • masters of classical music
  • A good basic collection
  • An excellent introduction to classical music
  • Very Beautiful!!!!!1
  • Still Stuck on Beethoven
Masters of Classical Music (Box Set)

Manufacturer: Delta
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  5. Classical Music for People Who Hate Classical Music

ASIN: B000001VU5
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

  1. Eine kleine Nachtmusik: Allegro - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
  2. Piano Concerto In A Major, K 488: Adagio - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
  3. Flute Concerto In D Major, K 314: Allegro - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
  4. Symphony No. 40 in G minor: Molto allegro - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
  5. Clarinet Concerto KV 622: Adagio - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
  6. Serenade, K 375: Menuetto - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
  7. Turkish March - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
  8. Violin Concerto, K 216: Allegro - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
  9. Divertimento, K 334: Menuetto - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
  10. Horn Concerto, K 447: Allegro - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
  11. Cassation, K 99: Allegro - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus

Tracks:

  1. Overture No. 4 In Major: Rejouissance - J.S.Bach
  2. Overture No. 3 In D Major: Air - J.S.Bach
  3. Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 In F Major: I. Allegro - J.S.Bach
  4. Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring - J.S.Bach
  5. Overture No. 2 In B Minor: Menuet & Badinerie - J.S.Bach
  6. Prelude In C Major - J.S.Bach
  7. Toccata And Fugue In D Minor - J.S.Bach
  8. Prelude In C Minor - J.S.Bach
  9. Overture No. 1 In C Major: Passepied - J.S.Bach
  10. Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 In F Major: II. Adagio - J.S.Bach
  11. Kommst du nun, Jesu vom Himmel herunter, Chorale - J.S.Bach
  12. Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 In G Major: II. Allegro - J.S.Bach
  13. Violin Concerto In E Major: I. Adagio - J.S.Bach
  14. St. Matthew Passion: Finale Chorus: 'Wir setzen uns mit Tranen nieder' - J.S.Bach

Tracks:

  1. Symphony No. 5: Allegro con brio - Ludwig Van Beethoven
  2. Fur Elise - Ludwig Van Beethoven
  3. Violin Romance No. 2 - Ludwig Van Beethoven
  4. 'Moonlight' Sonata: Adagio sostenuto - Ludwig Van Beethoven
  5. Minuet - Ludwig Van Beethoven
  6. Symphony No. 8 In F Major: Allegretto scherzando - Ludwig Van Beethoven
  7. Coriolan: Overture - Ludwig Van Beethoven
  8. Piano Concerto No. 2: Adagio - Ludwig Van Beethoven
  9. Symphony No. 5 In C Minor: Allegro - Ludwig Van Beethoven
  10. Egmont: Overture - Ludwig Van Beethoven

Tracks:

  1. Die Fledermaus: Die Fledermaus (Excerpts) - Johann Strauss
  2. Wine, Woman And Song - Johann Strauss
  3. Tritsch Tratsch Polka - Johann Strauss
  4. The Blue Danube - Johann Strauss
  5. The Gypsy Baron: Introduction - Johann Strauss
  6. Annen Polka - Johann Strauss
  7. Vienna Blood - Johann Strauss
  8. The Gypsy Baron: Einzugsmarsch - Johann Strauss

Tracks:

  1. Tannhauser: Overture - MASTERS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC
  2. Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg: Dance Of The Prentices - MASTERS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC
  3. Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg: Prelude Act 3 - MASTERS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC
  4. Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg: Aufzug der Meistersinger - MASTERS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC
  5. Der fliegende Hollander: Overture - MASTERS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC
  6. Lohengrin: Prelude - MASTERS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC
  7. Tristan und Isolde: Prelude And Liebestod - MASTERS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC
  8. Tannhauser: Arrival Of The Guests At Wartburg - MASTERS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC

Tracks:

  1. Piano Concerto No. 1: Allegro non troppo - Peter Tchaikovsky
  2. String Serenade: Waltz - Peter Tchaikovsky
  3. Violin Concerto: Andante - Peter Tchaikovsky
  4. The Sleeping Beauty: Introduction - Peter Tchaikovsky
  5. The Sleeping Beauty: Pas d'action - Adagio - Peter Tchaikovsky
  6. The Sleeping Beauty: Waltz - Peter Tchaikovsky
  7. Capriccio italien Op. 45 - Peter Tchaikovsky
  8. Swan Lake: Ballet Suite: Scene No. 10 - Peter Tchaikovsky
  9. Swan Lake: Ballet Suite: Waltz - Peter Tchaikovsky
  10. Eugene Onegin: Polonaise - Peter Tchaikovsky

Tracks:

  1. The 4 Seasons: Concerto No. 1 In E Major: Spring - VIVALDI, Antonio
  2. Siciliano - VIVALDI, Antonio
  3. Concerto In D Minor:: (Allegro Assai) Cologne Concerto - VIVALDI, Antonio
  4. The 4 Seasons: Concerto No. 2 In G Minor: Summer - VIVALDI, Antonio
  5. Oboe Sonata In B Flat Major, RV 34: Adagio - Allegro - Largo - Allegro - VIVALDI, Antonio
  6. The 4 Seasons: Concerto No. 3 In F Major: Autumn - VIVALDI, Antonio
  7. Oboe Concerto: Allegro non tasto - Largo - Allegro non molto - VIVALDI, Antonio
  8. Concerto In D Minor: (Largo e spiccato) Cologne Concerto - VIVALDI, Antonio
  9. The 4 Seasons: Concerto No. 4 In F Minor: Winter - VIVALDI, Antonio

Tracks:

  1. Scherzo No 1 In B Minor, Op. 20 - Frederic Chopin_
  2. Three Nocturnes, Op. 9: No 3 In B Major - Frederic Chopin_
  3. Twelve Etudes, Op. 10: No 5 In G Flat Major - Frederic Chopin_
  4. Twelve Etudes, Op. 25: No 10 In B Minor - Frederic Chopin_
  5. 24 Preludes, Op. 28: No. 13 In F Sharp Major - Frederic Chopin_
  6. 24 Preludes, Op. 28: No. 14 In E Flat Minor - Frederic Chopin_
  7. 24 Preludes, Op. 28: No. 15 In D Flat Major 'Raindrops' - Frederic Chopin_
  8. 24 Preludes, Op. 28: No. 16 In B Flat Minor - Frederic Chopin_
  9. 24 Preludes, Op. 28: No. 17 In A Flat Major - Frederic Chopin_
  10. 24 Preludes, Op. 28: No. 18 In F Minor - Frederic Chopin_
  11. Scherzo No. 2 In B Flat Minor, Op. 31 - Frederic Chopin_
  12. Waltz In E Flat Major, Op. 18 - Frederic Chopin_
  13. Nocturne In C Sharp Minor, Op. Posth. - Frederic Chopin_
  14. Four Mazurkas, Op. 24: No. 3 In A Flat Major - Frederic Chopin_
  15. Four Mazurkas, Op. 24: No. 4 In B Flat Minor - Frederic Chopin_

Tracks:

  1. Ave Maria - Franz Schubert
  2. Impromptu In E Flat Major - Franz Schubert
  3. Standchen - Franz Schubert
  4. Trout Quintet: Tema con variazioni - Franz Schubert
  5. 'Rosamunde': Entr'acte No. 1 - Franz Schubert
  6. Moment Musical In A Flat Major - Franz Schubert
  7. 'Rosamunde': Entr'acte No. 2 - Franz Schubert
  8. Moment Musical No. 3 In F Minor - Franz Schubert
  9. 'Rosamunde': Ballet Music No.2 - Franz Schubert
  10. Symphony No. 8 In B Minor 'Unfinished': Allegro moderato - Franz Schubert

Tracks:

  1. Nabucco: Overture - Verdi, Giuseppe
  2. Nabucco: Va pensiero, sull'ali dorate - Verdi, Giuseppe
  3. Aida: Prelude - Verdi, Giuseppe
  4. II Trovatore: Verdi! le fosche notturne (Gypsies' Chorus) - Verdi, Giuseppe
  5. II Trovatore: Or co' daddi, ma fra poco (Soldiers' Chorus) - Verdi, Giuseppe
  6. Aroldo: Overture - Verdi, Giuseppe
  7. La Traviata: Prelude - Verdi, Giuseppe
  8. La Traviata: Noi siamo zingarelle - Verdi, Giuseppe
  9. La Traviata:: Libiamo ne' lieti calici - Verdi, Giuseppe
  10. La Traviata: Di Madride noi siam mattadori - Verdi, Giuseppe
  11. La forza del destino: Overture - Verdi, Giuseppe

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars masters of classical music.......2007-03-26

A nice collection for the classical listener. Great variety of composers and the music quality of the cds are very good.

5 out of 5 stars A good basic collection.......2006-11-10

With selections from numerous composers, it is an easy way to familiarize oneself with some of the most popular classical works and excerpts. A pleasant listen for the initiated too.

5 out of 5 stars An excellent introduction to classical music.......2006-10-18

This is an excellent introduction to classical music. Well performed and presented.

5 out of 5 stars Very Beautiful!!!!!1.......2006-10-05

If you are a fan of classical music then you better get this set. Not only is it very cheap, 10 Discs for about 2$ per disk. Now where are you gonna find a deal like this. I actually found mine chaper, $20.00 even and the music is outstanding. If you had a very bad day and very stressed out, just put in one of these cds, lay down, dim down the lights and just relax. It really helped me out.

5 out of 5 stars Still Stuck on Beethoven.......2006-08-22

I just recently started listening to classical music so I'm certainly not one to compare or critique the quality of this set. However, I do have a few comments...

My interest started in this genre of music because I'm researching my ancestry in Prussia and this is the music of those times. Never mind my ancestors were poor peasants who probably never got the chance to hear such wonderful music... when listening to these CDs, I'm taken back in time... to a royal court in Europe... to another place in time. The music is inspiring, relaxing, invigorating.

I have yet to listen to all the CD's in the set. I'm stuck on Beethoven! Wasn't he AWESOME!?!

I think this set is a wonderful introduction to classical music!!!!!




Instruments of the Orchestra
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Instruments of the Orchestra - Great Reference Material!
  • Beginner or Expert
  • Very Informative and Enjoyable
  • Frank's view
  • Excellent Intro for Those Not Familiar with the Orchestra
Instruments of the Orchestra
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
Hungarian National Philharmonic OrchestraHungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra | ( H ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
London Philharmonic OrchestraLondon Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
Moscow Philharmonic OrchestraMoscow Philharmonic Orchestra | ( M ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
National Philharmonic Orchestra LondonNational Philharmonic Orchestra London | ( N ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
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Similar Items:
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  5. What to Listen for in Music

ASIN: B00006O0NT
Release Date: 2002-12-03

Tracks:

  1. Overture To 'Tannhauser'
  2. Domna, Pos Vos Ay Chausida
  3. We Don't Merely Use Instruments, We Play On Them. And They Play On Us.
  4. Hungarian Dance No.7
  5. The Violin Is One Of The Most Tender And Beautiful Instruments Ever Invented.
  6. Violin Concerto In D Major (Adagio)
  7. But For A Long Time It Was Seen As The Instrument Of The Devil.
  8. The Soldier's Tale: Triumphal March Of The Devil
  9. The Manipulative Seductiveness Of The Gypsy Violin.
  10. Csardas Music
  11. The Violin And The Initiation Of Nature
  12. The Four Seasons (Spring, Mvt 1)
  13. Birds Are Again Evoked In The Second Concerto, Especially Music's Natural Favourite.
  14. The Four Seasons (Summer, Mvt 1)
  15. Like The Devil, The Violin Is A Master Of Disguise.
  16. Old Viennese Dance No.3 'Schon Rosmarin'
  17. The Menacing Sensuality Of Ravel's Tzigane: A Very Different Side Of The Violin:
  18. Tzigane
  19. Do We Now Have The True Measure Of This Instrument? Not Just Yet.
  20. Caprice No.24
  21. The Many Effects Of The String Tremolando: Brandenburg Concerto No.4 (Last Mvt)/From Joy To Fright/Quartettsatz In C Minor/The String Tremolo Practically Spells The World Agitato.
  22. Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge (No.7)
  23. Prokofiev's Tremolo In Romeo And Juliet Should Not Be Heard Just Before Bedtime.
  24. Romeo And Juliet: Act IV
  25. Vivaldi Use It To Illustrate The Shivering Of Travellers Crossing The Ice.
  26. The Four Seasons (Winter, Mvt 1)
  27. The Violin Muted
  28. Clair De Lune
  29. The Gentleness Of Muted Strings Persists Even When A Whole Orchestra Plays.
  30. Piano Concerto No.21 In C Major, K.467 (Slow Mvt)
  31. The Pizzicato Violin
  32. Pizzicato Polka
  33. In Prokofiev's Second Violin Concerto, The Accompaniment Is Pizzicato.
  34. Violin Concerto No.2 In G Minor (Slow Mvt)
  35. Varieties Of Pizzicato: Colas Breugnon (The People's Feast)/Now A Drier, Leaner, Hungrier Pizzicato. There's Not A Lot Of Comfort Here./Capriol Suite (Tordion)/The Use Of Pizzicato As 'Percussion'/Romeo And Juliet (Act I)/Mahler Used Pizzicato...
  36. The Planets (Mars - The Bringer Of War)
  37. The Technique Of Double-Stopping Enables The Violin To Play Duets With Itself./Sonata No.3 In C Major For Unaccompanied Violin (Fugue)/Now A Later Example Of The Same Technique
  38. Hungarian Dance No.4
  39. Double-Stopping Is A Standard Feature Of A Lot Of Folk Music.
  40. The Four Seasons (Autumn, Mvt 1)
  41. Now The Same Technique, But The Sound Might Have Come From Another World.
  42. Bolero
  43. Double-Stopping Can Only Approximate The Sound Of A Real Violin Duet.
  44. Cadenza To The Violin Concerto By Brahms
  45. Now Compare That With A Real Violin Duet.
  46. Forty-Four Duos (No. 1: Teasing Song)
  47. Another Duo By Bartok, Demonstrating The Violin's Rich Lower Register
  48. Forty-Four Duos (No.2: Maypole Dance)
  49. And Now What May Be The Most Beautiful Accompanied Violin Duet In History
  50. Concerto In D Minor For Two Violins (Largo)
  51. The Soul Of The Violin Is In Song; But What About This Weird Passage?
  52. Violin Concerto No.1 In D Major (Mvt 2)
  53. The Use Of Harmonies In The Orchestra Can Be Both Magical And Unsettling.
  54. Symphony No.1 'Titan' (Mvt 1, Opening)
  55. Tchaikovsky's Use Of Harmonics In The Sleeping Beauty Is Both Strange And Darling.
  56. The Sleeping Beauty (Act II, No.15: Entr'Acte)
  57. Ravel's Harmonics In Mother Goose Effect A Magical Transformation.
  58. Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Beauty And The Beast)
  59. Stravinsky's Harmonics In The Firebird Transport Us Almost Into Another World./The Firebird (Introduction)
  60. The Natural Upper Notes Of The Violins Have A Unique Emotional 'Grab'.
  61. Also Sprach Zarathustra (Of The Afterworldsmen)
  62. Still In Their Upper Register, The Violins Unleash The Energy Of A Young Colt.
  63. Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge (No. 4)
  64. Elsewhere, Britten Uses The Same High Register To Create A Very Different Mood.
  65. Four Sea Interludes (Dawn) From 'Peter Grimes'
  66. To End This Outing With The Violins, A Charming Little Elfin Dance
  67. Elfenreigen

Tracks:

  1. Introduction To The Viola
  2. Viola Concerto (Mvt 1)
  3. Khatchaturian Gets A Very Different Sound From It: Fuller, Fruitier, More Exotic.
  4. Gayane Suite No.1 (Armen's Solo)
  5. Very Nearly The Whole Of The Violin's Upper Register Is Also Available To The Viola.
  6. Passacaglia, Op.33b From 'Peter Grimes'
  7. The Viola Can Bring A Special, Rich Twanginess To Pizzicato That The Violins Lack./Don Quixote/Berlioz Drew Sounds From It That Retain Their Metallic Strangeness Even Today.
  8. Harold In Italy (Mvt 4)
  9. The Muted Viola: Intimate, Gentle, Poignant In Dvork
  10. Cypresses (No.9)
  11. The Massed Violas Of The Modern Symphony Orchestra In Mahler
  12. Symphony No.4 (Mvt 3)
  13. The 'Period' Viola In Bach
  14. Brandenburg Concerto No.6 (Last Mvt)
  15. The Cello: A Voice Of Unique Nobility
  16. Suite No.1 For Unaccompanied Cello (Prelude)
  17. Brahms And The 'Soul' Of The Cello
  18. Piano Concerto No.2 In B Flat Major (Mvt 3)
  19. Most Orchestral Composers Tend To Emphasize The Cello's Lower Register.
  20. Cantata 'Herz Und Mund Und Tat Und Leben', BWV 147 (Soprana Aria: Bereite Dir, Jesu)
  21. In The Time Of Beethoven The Cello Remained As Fundamental As Ever.
  22. Symphony No.3 'Eroica' (Finale)
  23. But The Cello Is Not Condemned To Spend Its Life In The Basement.
  24. Elfentanz, Op.39
  25. Not Only In Recital Showpieces Like That Is The Cello Is Used In Its Highest Register.
  26. The Protecting Veil (Opening)
  27. A Cello With An Identity-Crisis: The Pizzicato Flamencan
  28. Flamenco
  29. Double-Stopping In The Lower Reaches Of The Cello's Range
  30. Solo Suiet For Cello And Piano (Sardana)
  31. It's In The Middle Register That The Cello Really Comes Into Its Own.
  32. Oriental Dance, Op.2 No.2
  33. It Was To The Cellos That Beethoven Gave Two Of His Most Famous Themes./Symphony No.5 (Mvt 2)/Still More Famous Than That Theme Is This One From The Ninth Symphony.
  34. Symphony No.9 (Finale)
  35. Introduction To The Double-Bass
  36. The Carnival Of The Animals (The Elephant)
  37. But The Double-Bass Can Be Intensely Expressive And Graceful.
  38. Elegy No.1 In D Major
  39. The Range Of The Double-Bass Is The Greatest Of All The String Instruments/Allegro Di Concerto, 'Alla Mendelssohn'/And It's Also Capable Of Very Considerable Virtuosity.
  40. Capriccio Di Bravura
  41. Double-Bass Solos In Orchestral Scores Are Rare But Often Memorable./Symphony No.1 'Titan' (Mvt 3)/In His Third Symphony Mahler Makes A Very Different Use Of The Instrument./Symphony No.3 (Mvt 1)
  42. The Double-Bass Muted In Prokofiev/Lieutenant Kije Suite (Kije's Wedding)/In Another Work Prokofiev Uses The Double-Bass To Enhance The Winds./Romeo And Juliet (Act III)/And He Combines The Bass Clarinet With A Shivering Tremolo From The Double-Basses....
  43. Symphony No.5 (Mvt 3)/So Much For The Strings/On Now To The Winds

Tracks:

  1. The Antiquity And Magic Of The Flute
  2. Prelude A L'Apres-Midi D'Un Faune
  3. The Versatility And Agility Of The Flute
  4. Orchestral Suite No.2 In B Minor (Badinerie)
  5. The Flute In Fifteenth-Century Spain
  6. Sa'Dawi
  7. Other Flutes: The Bass And Alto
  8. Chamber Music No.II
  9. The Piccolo - Aptly Named
  10. La Naissance D'Osiris (Mvt 6)
  11. From A Piccolo Of The Eighteenth Century To One Of Its Descendants In The Twentieth
  12. Suite No.1 For Small Orchestra (Valse)
  13. A Variety Of Techniques
  14. Chamber Music No.II
  15. Flutter-Tonguing. But Tchaikovsky Got There Eighty Years Before.
  16. The Nutcracker (Act II, No.2: Scene)
  17. From The Transverse To The Vertical: The Baroque Recorder
  18. Recorded Suite In A Minor (Menuet II)
  19. An Unfamiliar, Early Vision Of The Instrument
  20. Naelden, Naelden
  21. The Bachian Oboe
  22. Cantata 'Ein Feste Burg Ist Unser Gott', BWV 80 (No.7: Duetto)
  23. Introduction To The Cor Anglais Or 'English Born'
  24. Symphony No.9 'From The New World' (Mvt 2)
  25. The Loneliness Of The Cor Anglais
  26. The Swan Of Tuonela
  27. The Cor Anglais Joins The French Horn In Haydn.
  28. Symphony No.22 'The Philosopher' (Opening)
  29. Introduction To The Oboe D'Amore, Beloved Of Bach - But Also Of Ravel
  30. Bolero
  31. The Clarinet Family: Boxing The Compass, From The Depths Of The Bass Clarinet.../The Egyptian (Violence)/...To The Raucous And Squealy.../Taras Bulba (The Death Of Ostap)/...To The Shrill And Complaining...
  32. Petrushka (No.8: Peasant With Bear)/...To The High Sprits Of A Playful Puppy./Symphonie Fantastique (Last Mvt)/And To The Downright Jazzy/Romeo And Juliet (Act II)
  33. As The High Clarinets Tend To Be Loud, So The Bass Tends To Be Soft:
  34. Gayane Suite No. 1 (Mvt 5)
  35. The Bass Clarinet Is Used By Most Composers Mainly As A Colouring Agent.../Petrushka (No.4: The Blackamoor)/...But It Does Occasionally Get A Whole Tune To Itself./Iberia (Almeria).
  36. The Range Of The Normal Clarinet Parts Goes Quite High...
  37. The Snow Maiden (Scene 5: Melodrama)
  38. ...And Quite Low.
  39. Peter And The Wolf (The Cat)
  40. The Clarinet As Concerto Soloist
  41. Clarinet Concerto In A Major (Rondo)
  42. But That's Not The Instrument Mozart Wrote It For; This Is:
  43. Clarinet Concerto In A Major (Rondo)
  44. Introduction To The Saxophone
  45. Hary Janos Suite (Mvt 4)
  46. The Soprano Saxophone Has Quite A Different Feel To It.
  47. L'Arlesienne Suite No.1 (Minuet)
  48. The Little Sopranino Sax Goes Even Higher.
  49. Bolero
  50. The Most Famous Use Of The Saxophone Is In An Orchestration By Ravel.
  51. Pictures At An Exhibition (The Old Castle)
  52. The Saxophone Can Be Quite Contagiously Good-Humoured.
  53. Sax-O-Phun
  54. The Puffa-Puffa Image Of The Bassoon
  55. Peter And The Wolf (Grandfather)
  56. The Bachian Bassoon, In Accompanimental Mode
  57. Cantata 'Weichet Nur, Betrubte Schatten' ('Wedding Cantata'), BWV 202 (Aria No.1)
  58. Bizet Leaves The Puffa-Puffa Image Out, Allowing The Bassoon To Sing./Carmen Suite No.1 (Les Dragons D'Alcala)
  59. And Ravel, Also In Spanish Mode, Does Likewise.
  60. Bolero
  61. The Bassoon As A Voice Of High Seriousness, Indeed Desolate Loneliness
  62. Symphony No.3 (Opening)
  63. The Eerie Bassoon In Its Highest Register
  64. The Rite Of Spring (Opening)
  65. Stravinsky Now Draws On Its Lowest Register, Lonely And Melancholy.
  66. The Firebird Suite (1919, Berceuse)
  67. The Bassoon As Concerto Soloist, Avoiding All Exaggeration
  68. Bassoon Concerto In G Minor (Finale)
  69. The Deep-Voiced Contra-Bassoon, As A Fairy-Tale Beast
  70. Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Beauty And The Beast)
  71. The French Horn Under Its Woodwind Hat
  72. Wind Quintet, Op.43 (Last Mvt)
  73. Now A More Prominent Role, In A Woodwind Quintet From An Earlier Era
  74. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Op.100 No.5 (Mvt 2)
  75. The Horn In Harmonious Blend With Strings In Another Quintet
  76. Horn Quintet, K.407 (Finale)

Tracks:

  1. The Trumpet As Virtuoso Soloist
  2. Brandenburg Concerto No.2 (Last Mvt)
  3. The Special Brillance Of Paired Trumpets
  4. Concerto In C For Two Trumpets, RV537 (Mvt 1)
  5. The Ceremonial Trumpet
  6. Fanfare For The Common Man
  7. Trumpets And Drums - An Incomparable Alliance
  8. Messiah (The Trumpet Shall Sound)
  9. The Versatility Of The Trumpet, From The Most Public To The Most Lonely
  10. Piano Concerto In F (Slow Mvt)
  11. The Trumpet As The Voice Of The City/An American In Paris/The Trumpet As Recruitment Officer/The Soldier's Tale (The March)/The Trumpet As Swaggerer
  12. Carmen Suite No.2 (Habanera)
  13. The Trumpet As The Voice Of Strength And Courage
  14. Carmet Suite No.2 (Toreador's Song)
  15. The Trumpet Muted/Petrushka (No.4: The Blackamoor)/Lieutenant Kije Suite (Opening)/The Trumpet As The Voice Of Weariness
  16. Billy The Kid
  17. The Trumpet As Character Actor
  18. Pictures At An Exhibition (No.6)
  19. The Trumpet As The Voice Of God
  20. Mass In B Minor ('Et Exspecto')
  21. The Birth Of The Trombone
  22. Aenmerckt Nu Hier
  23. The Birth Of The Brass As A Family
  24. Canzon 12 In Double Echo
  25. The Trombone In The Eighteenth Century
  26. Trombone Concerto In B Flat Major (Finale)
  27. The Tone Of The Tenor Trombone/Romance For Trombone And Organ/The Memorable Voice Of The Bass Trombone/Requiem (Mvt 2)/But The Bass Trombone Is More Than An Instrumental Bullfrog.
  28. Hosannah
  29. The Trombones Become Part Of The Orchestra.
  30. Symphony No.5 (Finale)
  31. The Wagnerian Trombone:/Overture To 'Tannhauser'
  32. The Trombone As Caricaturist
  33. Pulcinella (No.19: Vivo)
  34. The Trombone As Raspberry/Concerto For Orchestra (Intermezzo)
  35. The Horn And The Hunt
  36. Horn Concerto No.4 In E Flat, K.495 (Finale)
  37. The Challenging Horn Of The Baroque
  38. Abaris Ou Les Boreades (Menuet)
  39. The Scarcity Of First-Rate Players In Handel's Time
  40. Walter Music (Minuet 1)
  41. The Horn As Magician/The Firebird Suite (1919, Finale)
  42. Horns And The Sound Of Nobility
  43. Overture To 'Tannhauser' (Opening)
  44. The Special Sound Of The Horn In Its Higher Register
  45. Mass In B Minor ('Quoniam Tu Solus Sanctus')
  46. The Trumpet-Like Sound Of Massed Horns
  47. Symphony No.3 (Mvt 1, Opening)
  48. The Tuba - Unfairly Maligned?
  49. Symphony No.6 (Mvt 3)
  50. The Tuba Perfectly Cast By Ravel
  51. Pictures At An Exhibition (Bydlo)

Tracks:

  1. Introduction. And We Begin With A Bang.
  2. Fanfare For The Common Man/The Bass Drum On The Battlefields/Wellington's Victory, Op.91 (Opening)
  3. At The Opposite Extreme Is The Triangle.
  4. Piano Concerto No.1 In E Flat (Scherzo)
  5. Categories Of Percussion: Tuned And Untuned. The Side Drum
  6. Overture To 'La Gazza Ladra' - The Thieving Magpie (Opening)
  7. The Side Drum In An Effective But Unexpected Role/Clarinet Concerto (Mvt 1)
  8. The Tambourine. One Of The Oldest Instruments In The World
  9. Den Hoboecken Dans
  10. Even Older Is The Originally Oriental Gong.
  11. Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Laideronette)
  12. No Single Instrument Can Match The Gong In Evoking The Breaking Of Waves./Passacaglia, Op.33b From 'Peter Grimes'/But Gongs Don't Have To Be Struck To Be Effective.
  13. Gymnopedie No.2
  14. The Cymbals Are Generally Discovered Early In Life./The Sanguine Fan/And They Do More Than Clash Together Loudly. They Can Be Clashed Together Softly./Studio Example: But They Needn't Be Clashed Together At All/Studio Example: They Can Be Lightly...
  15. Other Untuned Percussion Instruments Include The Whip.: Piano Concerto In G Major (Opening)/And Here Are No Fewer Than Twenty, Cracked By Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (Act I, Scene 5)
  16. More Versatile Than The Whip Are The Wood Blocks.../Studio Example/...Which Crop Up All Over The Place In Twentieth-Century American Music.
  17. Rodeo (Hoe-Down)
  18. Related To The Wood Blocks, By Sound, Are The Castanets./Jota Aragonesa/But The Castanets Were Also Used By Monteverdi Back In The Seventeenth Century.
  19. Scherzi Musicali (Damigella Tutta Belle)
  20. A Still Earlier Example From Fifteenth-Century Spain
  21. Yo M'Enamori D'Un Aire
  22. The Birth Of The Bongo
  23. Symphonic Dances From 'West Side Story'
  24. From The Streets Of New York To The Blacksmith's Shop/Il Trovatore ('Anvil Chorus')
  25. Desert-Island Decibels: Grand Canyon Suite (On The Trail)/Arcana
  26. From One Vegetable To Another: The Humble Squash, Or Marrow/Huapango
  27. Onwards To The Tuned Percussion. First, The Timpani
  28. Also Sprach Zarathustra (Introduction)
  29. But The Drum Roll Can Be More Effectively Frightening Than The Big Bang.: Symphony No.2 'Resurrection' (Mvt 3)
  30. Not One Drum Roll, But Many/Grand Canyon Suite (Sunrise)/Symphonie Fantastique (Last Mvt)
  31. Taking Advantage Of Tunability
  32. Music For Strings, Percussion And Celeste (Mvt 2)
  33. The Russian Composer Rodion Shchedrin Takes A Downward Turn./Carmen Suite (Changing Of The Guard)/Tuned, Yes; But For The Truly Melodic We Must Look Elsewhere.
  34. Introducing The Glockenspiel/Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)
  35. Saint-Saens And The Xylophone
  36. The Carnival Of The Animals (Fossils)
  37. Ravel And The Xylophone
  38. Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Laideronette)
  39. Introducing The Marimba/Carmen Suite (First Intermezzo)
  40. Introducing The Vibraphone
  41. The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (Narange Dolce)
  42. The Vibraphone Goes Russian.../Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)/...And Is Joined By The Marimba./Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)
  43. Introducing The Hungarian Cimbalom
  44. Folk Dances
  45. The Cimbalom And The Symphony Orchestra
  46. Hary Janos Suite (Mvt 3)
  47. Introducing The Tubular Bells
  48. Hary Janos Suite (Viennese Musical Clock)
  49. A More 'Up-Front' Approach From Rodion Shchedrin
  50. Carmen Suite (Introduction)
  51. But The Bells Can Also Make The Sinister Even More Sinister./Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Mvt 1)
  52. Introducing The Celeste
  53. The Nutcracker (Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy)
  54. Magic, In The Use Of Collective Percussion
  55. Miroirs (La Vallee Des Cloches)
  56. Plucked Instruments: The 'Undercover Percussion'/Carmen Suite (Scene)
  57. A Prime Case In Point Is The Harp, Irresistible To The Romantics./The Nutcracker (Act II, No.1: Scene)/The Non-Solo Harp As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra/Hungarian Rhapsody No.1
  58. The Traditionally Subservient Role Of The Harpsichord In The Baroque Orchestra
  59. Brandenburg Concerto No.2 (Slow Mvt)
  60. The Piano: King Of The Tuned Percussion/Symphony No.3 'Organ' (Mvt 3)/And A Quarter Of A Century After That:
  61. Petrushka (Russian Dance)
  62. The Anti-Romantic Piano As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra
  63. Music For Strings, Percussion And Celeste (Last Mvt)

Tracks:

  1. Keyboard Instruments In The Orchestra - The Most Powerful Of Them All:
  2. Symphony No.3 'Organ' (Finale)
  3. But Things In Handel's Day Were Very Different.
  4. Organ Concerto In B Flat, Op.4 No.3 (Last Mvt)
  5. The Organ Is Difficult To Classify.
  6. An Unexpected, Organ-related Guest
  7. Concerto Pour Zampogna (Last Mvt)
  8. Peasant-Fancying... And A Touch Of The Roaming Cowboy
  9. Les Miserables (Drink With Me)
  10. Outside Artefacts And The Power Of Association
  11. Mahler's Sleighbells
  12. Symphony No.4 (Opening)
  13. A Roll-Call Of Some Unusual Guests/The Typewriter/Parade
  14. Chains, And More/Integrales/An American In Paris/Sandpaper Ballet
  15. Purpose-Built Oddities: Wind Machines/Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Opening)
  16. Don Quixote (Variation VIII)
  17. National Calling Cards: The Guitar For Spain/Concierto De Aranjuez (Finale)
  18. And The Guitar's Poor American Relative, The Banjo/Washington Breakdown
  19. And Poorer Still, The Mouth Organ/The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (Packing Up)
  20. The Balalaika For Russia/Romeo And Juliet (Act II: No.14)
  21. The Maracas For Mexico/The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (El Desayuno)
  22. The Bongos And Congas And A Whole Wealth Of Other Drums For Africa And Central America/Studio Example
  23. The Sitar Of India/Evening Raga: Bhapoli
  24. The Accordion For France (Especially Paris)/Paris Canaille
  25. The Zither For Vienna/The Third Man (Theme)
  26. The Cimbalom For Hungary/Folk Dances
  27. The Guitar As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra/Rondena
  28. There Are Whole Orchestras Of Balalaikas./Sveit Mesiats
  29. The Effect Of The Wordless Human Voice, Used Purely As An Instrument/Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Mvt 1)
  30. Nocturnes
  31. Instruments And the Imitation Of Nature. The Clarinet As Cuckoo
  32. The Carnival Of The Animals (The Cuckoo)
  33. The Flute As An All-purpose Aviary
  34. The Carnival Of The Animals (The Aviary)
  35. The Oboe As Duck
  36. Peter And The Wolf (The Duck)
  37. The Recording Of Reality. Does It Work As Well?
  38. The Pines Of Rome (The Pines Of The Janiculum)
  39. The Recording Of Reality Electronically Reborn In New Guises
  40. Cantus Articus - Concerto For Birds And Orchesra (Mvt 2)
  41. Beethoven Turns Avian: Cuckoo, Nightingale, And Quail
  42. Symphony No.6 'Pastoral' (Andante Molto Mosso)
  43. Some Improbable Casting: The Violin As Braying Donkey
  44. The Carnival Of The Animals (Persons With Long Ears)
  45. A Truly Orchestral Hee-haw To Be Reckoned With
  46. Overture To 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'
  47. A Thunderstorm In A Million
  48. Symphony No.6 'Pastoral (Allegro-Allegretto)
  49. the Instrumental Depiction Of A Silent World
  50. The Carnival Of The Animals (The Aquarium)
  51. Saint-Saens' Menagerie Takes A Curtain Call.
  52. The Carnival Of The Animals (Finale)

Tracks:

  1. The Grouping Of Instrumental Families. An Additive Approach. First, Two Violins
  2. Forty-Four Duos (No.4)
  3. A Great Contrast, Of Both Pitch And Character: Violin And Viola
  4. Duo For Violin And Viola In B Flat Major, K.424 (Finale, Vars 1 & 2)/Studio Example
  5. Arrival Of The Standard String Trio: Violin, Viola, And Cello
  6. String Trio In B Flat (Menuetto)
  7. The String Quartet: Two Violins, Viola, And Cello
  8. String Quartet In F, Op.18 No.1 (Mvt 3)
  9. The String Quintet - When The Extra Instrument Is A Second Viola
  10. String Quartet No.5 In D, K.593 (Adagio)
  11. The String Quintet - When The Extra Instrument Is A Second Cello
  12. String Quintet In C (Mvt 3)
  13. The String Sextet: Two Violins, Two Violas, And Two Cellos
  14. String Sextet In B Flat (Mvt 2)
  15. The String Octet: The Standard String Quaret Times Two
  16. Octet In E Flat, Op.20 (Mvt 1)
  17. Double The String Octet: A Fully Fledged String Orchestra
  18. String Symphony No.2 (Finale)
  19. The Massed Strings Of A Symphony Orchestra
  20. Fantasia On A Theme Of Thomas Tallis
  21. Contrasts Of Pitch And Instrumental 'Colour' In The Woodwind Section
  22. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Op.100 No.5 (Theme)
  23. In The First Variation It's The Horn That Gets The Lion's Share.
  24. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 1
  25. In Variation Two The Torch Is Handed To The Bassoon.
  26. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 2
  27. In Variation Three The Oboe Leads.
  28. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 3
  29. Variation Four: Conversation Before Returning To A Solo-dominated Texture
  30. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 4
  31. And Variation Five is Dominated By The Clarinet.
  32. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 5
  33. The Next To Be Featured Is The Virtuoso Flute.
  34. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 6
  35. Individual Farewells And A Closing Chorus
  36. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 7
  37. A Mixed Group: Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, String Quartet, And Double-Bass
  38. Octet In F (Mvt 3)
  39. The Early Classical Symphony Orchestra Of Haydn And Mozart
  40. Symphony No.29 In A, K.201 (Finale)
  41. Strings, Wind, But No Brass. What Haydn And Mozart Never Knew
  42. Canzon 28
  43. Beethoven's Fifth: Two Horns, Two Trumpets, And Three Trombones Join The Team.
  44. Symphony No.5 (Finale)
  45. From Beethoven To The Massive Orchestras Of Berlioz, Wagner, And Mahler
  46. Beethoven Changed The Face Of The Symphony And The Orchestra Forever
  47. Symphoy No.6 'Tragic' (Mvt 1)
  48. The Cult Of Orchestral Elephantiasis Reaches Its Peak.
  49. Symphony No.1 'Gothic' (VI: Te Ergo Quaesumus)
  50. When Large Doesn't Necessarily Mean Loud: Debussy
  51. Images (Gigues)
  52. A Crisis Of Confidence; The Orchestra's Survival Hangs In The Balance, But It Still Develops. The Ondes Martenot:
  53. Turangalila Symphony (Chant D'amour 1)
  54. The Advent Of The 'Early Music' Movement Brings A New Vitality And Freshness.
  55. Balle De Xerxes (Gavotte En Rondeau)
  56. Computer And Synthesiser: Friends Or Foes?
  57. Concerto In D Minor For Two Violins (Largo)
  58. A Speculative Look Ahead/Mass In B Minor ('Dona Nobis Pacem')

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Instruments of the Orchestra - Great Reference Material!.......2007-04-04

This set lends itself to greatly enhancing one's knowledge of the orchestra, instruments in it, and their usage. I am a huge music buff, and I still picked up a great deal I previously did not know. I highly recommend this for all who wish to understand the origin of music, as well as the processes that are employed to create music!

5 out of 5 stars Beginner or Expert.......2007-03-12

This CD is excellent for the beginner or expert! To be able to haear the instrumets separately and then together really provides a good education. and/or refresher. The book thaty comes with the CD is alomost worth the price by itself!

5 out of 5 stars Very Informative and Enjoyable.......2006-11-20

Whether you're a music novice or pro, "The instruments of the Orchestra" is a very worthwhile purchase. The 7 CDs, with a total of 8 hours, are expertly narrated by Jeremy Siepmann. He's a great speaker, very much like the late Leonard Bernstein was. Mr. Siepmann takes you on an unforgetable musical journey covering the origins and use of the various orchestral instruments throughout musical history. The balance between his narration and a wealth of musical examples, which range from snippets to entire movements, is superb. The comprehensive enclosed booklet is excellent and faithfully follows the 7 CDs in content. Even with my 40+ years of music training I still learned new things from this wonderful collection. Considering the excellence of the content, and a cost that translates to about $5 per disc, this collection is a great value. Grab it, you won't regret that you did. Five solid stars!

3 out of 5 stars Frank's view.......2006-08-19

This boxed set of CD's with booklet achieved all I had hoped that it would. There are good samples of individual instruments and well done commentary on each. The only drawback was that some of the samples were too brief and could have been longer, hoiwever I guess this fits in with time constraints of the medium. It has given me a lot of clues as to future purchases of CD's for listening to individual instruments. Altogeth a satisfactory purchase and a welcome addition to my collection.

5 out of 5 stars Excellent Intro for Those Not Familiar with the Orchestra.......2003-11-08

I've listened to classical music for years and am interested in composition. I bought this CD set to learn how an orchestra and its instruments work. I thought the CDs would be a nice but boring lecture. They aren't! Not only are they FUN but they are informative as well. I learned a huge amount from each CD and couldn't wait to listen to the next one.

The narrator and writer is a great speaker and holds your attention well. He is definitely knowledgeable. He provides musical examples for each point he makes, so you get to "hear" what he just talked about. I'd say the CDs are about 65% music and 35% narration. You'll learn about the range of instruments, some history, different ways to play them, how they sound, and how they are used in the orchestra. This CD set was a great learning experience and is sold at such a low price!

I recommend this CD for those who want to learn about classical music and those who know about it but are interested in learning more about the inner workings of an orchestra. You'll learn much useful information. For instance, the Rite of Spring (with that eerie start) is written for bassoon! I never knew a bassoon could sound like that but now I do.

The one complaint I have is the last CD. This deals with the orchestra. I wanted more of a tour of how the orchestra has been used through history up to the present. Instead, it was a tour of how different groups of instruments sound. I thought it could have been better. The other 6 CDs are excellent.
Classical Masterpieces of the Millennium [20 CD Set]
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Mill. Classical review
  • classical music for the unitiated
  • Some little gems there that I had forgotten!
  • A very helpful collection
  • Excellent!
Classical Masterpieces of the Millennium [20 CD Set]

Manufacturer: Delta
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

DancesDances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music
MazurkasMazurkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music
MinuetsMinuets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music
PolkasPolkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music
WaltzesWaltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music
QuartetsQuartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
QuintetsQuintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by J.S. BachAll Works by J.S. Bach | Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by BeethovenAll Works by Beethoven | Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by BrahmsAll Works by Brahms | Brahms, Johannes | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by ChopinAll Works by Chopin | Chopin, Frédéric | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Dvorák, Antonín | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
Grieg, EdvardGrieg, Edvard | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by HandelAll Works by Handel | Handel, George Frideric | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by Franz Joseph HaydnAll Works by Franz Joseph Haydn | Haydn, Franz Joseph | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by LisztAll Works by Liszt | Liszt, Franz | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus MozartAll Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by MendelssohnAll Works by Mendelssohn | Mendelssohn, Felix | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
Ravel, MauriceRavel, Maurice | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by RachmaninovAll Works by Rachmaninov | Rachmaninov, Sergei | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by SchubertAll Works by Schubert | Schubert, Franz | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by Robert SchumannAll Works by Robert Schumann | Schumann, Robert | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
Strauss Jr., JohannStrauss Jr., Johann | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by StraussAll Works by Strauss | Strauss, Richard | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by TchaikovskyAll Works by Tchaikovsky | Tchaikovsky, Peter Ilyich | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by VivaldiAll Works by Vivaldi | Vivaldi, Antonio | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by WagnerAll Works by Wagner | Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
ConcertinosConcertinos | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
Concerto GrossiConcerto Grossi | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
EtudesEtudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
FantasiesFantasies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
PreludesPreludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
RondosRondos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
Serenades & DivertimentosSerenades & Divertimentos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music | Divertimentos
Character PiecesCharacter Pieces | Short Forms | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
ImpromptusImpromptus | Short Forms | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
NocturnesNocturnes | Short Forms | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
SonatinasSonatinas | Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
SuitesSuites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
ClassicalClassical | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
RomanticRomantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
Sinfonia ConcertanteSinfonia Concertante | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
Incidental MusicIncidental Music | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
IntermezzosIntermezzos | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
OverturesOvertures | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
Tone PoemsTone Poems | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
Chamber MusicChamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
RequiemsRequiems | Forms & Genres | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
Ballets & DancesBallets & Dances | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
SymphoniesSymphonies | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
Ballets & DancesBallets & Dances | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
Chamber MusicChamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
Theatrical, Incidental & Program MusicTheatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
Vocal & SongVocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
French HornFrench Horn | Brass | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
TrumpetTrumpet | Brass | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
PianoPiano | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
ClarinetClarinet | Reeds & Winds | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
FluteFlute | Reeds & Winds | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
OboeOboe | Reeds & Winds | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
CelloCello | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
ViolinViolin | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
Berlin Philharmonic OrchestraBerlin Philharmonic Orchestra | ( B ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
Hungarian National Philharmonic OrchestraHungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra | ( H ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
Vienna Philharmonic OrchestraVienna Philharmonic Orchestra | ( V ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music
Modern & 20th CenturyModern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
CompilationsCompilations | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Baroque (c.1600-1750)Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
GermanGerman | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ItalianItalian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
RussianRussian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
OratoriosOratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
AirsAirs | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
CantatasCantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ChorusesChoruses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
MassesMasses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
OratoriosOratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
RequiemsRequiems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ClassicalClassical | Box Sets | Stores | Music
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ASIN: B00000K1C9
Release Date: 1999-08-24

Tracks:

  1. Brandenbutg Concerto No.3 In G First Movement
  2. Overture No.3 In D Second Movement
  3. Violin Concerto In E First Movement
  4. Prelude In C minor
  5. Jesu Bleibet Meine Freude (Chorus From Cantata No.147)
  6. Overture No.2 In B minor Minuet And Badinerie
  7. Oboe Concerto In D minor Second Movement
  8. Brandenburg Concerto No.4 In G Third Movement
  9. Musical Offering - Fuga canonica
  10. Easter Oratorio - Overture
  11. Minuet In D minor
  12. Kommst Du Nun, Jesu, Vom Himmel herunter(From Choral Prelude BWV 650
  13. Brandenburg Concerto No.1 In F Second Movement
  14. Art Of The Fugue - Contrapunctus 9
  15. Concerto For Flute, Violin, Harpsichord And Strings. Triple Concerto - Third Movement
  16. Overture No.4 In D - Réjouissance
  17. Concerto No. 1 in E: Spring
  18. Concerto No. 1 in E: Spring
  19. Concerto No. 1 in E: Spring
  20. Concerto No. 2 in G minor: Summer
  21. Concerto No. 2 in G minor: Summer
  22. Concerto No. 2 in G minor: Summer
  23. Concerto No. 3 in F: Autumn
  24. Concerto No. 3 in F: Autumn
  25. Concerto No. 3 in F: Autumn
  26. Concerto No. 4 in F minor: Winter
  27. Concerto No. 4 in F minor: Winter
  28. Concerto No. 4 in F minor: Winter
  29. Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
  30. Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
  31. Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
  32. Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
  33. Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
  34. Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
  35. Concerto Grosso in A minor, Op. 3, no. 8
  36. Concerto Grosso in A minor, Op. 3, no. 8
  37. Concerto Grosso in A minor, Op. 3, no. 8
  38. Water Music - Alla Hornpipe
  39. Xerxes - Ombra Mai Fu (Largo)
  40. Messiah - And The Glory Of The Lord
  41. Concerto Grosso In A Minor, Op. 6, No. 4 - Larghetto Affettuoso
  42. Organ Concerto In F, Op. 4, No. 4 Allegro
  43. Water Music - Air
  44. Messiah - For Unto Us A Child Is Born
  45. Concerto Grosso In B flat, Op. 3, No. 2 - Largo
  46. Salomon - Sinfonia, Act 3
  47. The Choice Of Hercules - While For Thy Arms
  48. Water Music - Allegro (Suite No. 1)
  49. Suite No. 5 In E - Air With Variations
  50. Jephtha - How Dark, O Lord
  51. Organ Concerto In F, Op. 4, No. 5 Alla Siciliana - Presto
  52. Mi Palpita Il Cor (Solo Cantata) S'un Di M'adora
  53. Water Music - Andante Allegro Da Capo
  54. Concerto for Trumpet & Orchestra in E-flat: First Movement
  55. Symphony No. 94 in G: Surprise Symphony-second movement
  56. Concerto for Violin No. 2 in D: Third Movement
  57. Flute Trio No. 31 in G: Second Movement
  58. Symphony No. 31 in D: Hornsignal-First Movement
  59. String Quartet No. 17 in F, Op. 3, no. 5: Serenade Quartet-Second Movement
  60. Sinfonia Concertante in B-flat for Violin, Cello, Oboe, Bassoon and Orchestra-Third Movement
  61. Concerto for 2 Horns & Orchestra in E-flat: Second Movement
  62. Symphony No. 88 in G: Fourth Movement
  63. String Quartet No. 77 in C: Kaiser Quartet-Poco adagio cantabile
  64. Notturno No. 1 in C: Second Movement
  65. Symphony No. 98 in B: Londoner No. 4-Fourth Movement
  66. Eine Kleine Nachtmusik - first movement
  67. Piano Concerto in A - second movement
  68. Flute Concerto in D - Rondeau
  69. Serenade - Minuet
  70. Violin Concerto - first movement
  71. Symphony No. 40 in G minor - first movement
  72. Clarinet Concerto - second movement
  73. Turkish March
  74. Divertimento - Minuet
  75. Horn Concerto No. 3 in E-flat - first movement
  76. Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67-First Movement
  77. Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 27, no. 2: Moonlight Sonata-First Movement
  78. Overture
  79. O welche Lust (Prisoners' Chorus)
  80. Ha, welch ein Augenblick (Pizarros's Aria)
  81. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37: Second Movement
  82. Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D, Op. 61: Third Movement
  83. Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13: Pathétique-Second Movement
  84. Sympony No. 6 in F, Op. 68: Pastorale-First Movement
  85. Fantasy for Piano, Chorus and Orchestra in C minor, Op. 80: Choral Fantasy - Finale
  86. German Dance No. 1 In C
  87. Impromptu Op. 90, No. 3 In G-Flat
  88. Heidenroslein
  89. Ave Maria
  90. Der Lindenbaum
  91. Quintet In A 'Trout Quintet' - Andante
  92. Mass No. 6 In E-Flat - Kyrie
  93. Die Schone Mullerin Des Mullers Blumen
  94. German Dance No. 2 In G
  95. Piano Sonata In B-Flat
  96. Nachtgesang Im Walde
  97. Winterreise - No. 15: Die Krahe
  98. German Mass - Zum Sanctus (Heilit, Heilig Ist Der Herr)
  99. Symphony No. 8 In B Minor 'Unfinished' - Second Movement
  100. Waltz No. 1 in E-flat, Op. 18 Grande Valse brillante
  101. Nocturne in E-flat, Op. 9, no. 2
  102. Etude in G-flat, Op. 10, no. 5
  103. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21-Second Movement
  104. Mazurka in D minor, Op. 33, no. 2
  105. Prelude in D-flat, Op. 28, no. 15 Raindrop
  106. Etude in C, Op. 10, no. 1
  107. Nocturne in D-flat, Op. 27, no. 2
  108. Impromptu No. 4 in C-sharp minor, Op. 66 Fantasy Impromptu
  109. Scherzo in B minor, Op. 20
  110. Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 35-Third Movement
  111. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11 - Third Movement
  112. Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor - first movement 113.String Seranade - Waltz
  113. Violin Concerto - second movement
  114. The Sleeping Beauty - Waltz
  115. Capriccio Italien, Op. 45
  116. Swan Lake - Waltz
  117. Eugene Onegin - Polonaise
  118. The Nutcracker - Waltz of the Flowers
  119. Orchestral Suite No. 4 - Mozartiana - Third Movement
  120. Swan Lake - Dance of the Swans
  121. Symphony No. 6 in B minor - Pathétique - Third Movement
  122. Hungarian Dance No.5
  123. Lullaby
  124. Symphony No.1 in C minor, Op. 68 - Third Movement
  125. Intermezzo in E-flat, Op.117, no. 1
  126. Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D, Op. 77 - Third Movement
  127. Waltz, Op. 39, no. 15
  128. Concert for Piano and Orchestra No. 2 in B-flat, Op. 83 - Second Movement
  129. String Quintet in G, Op. 111 - Second Movement
  130. Symphony No.4 in E minor, Op. 98 - Third Movement
  131. Intermezzo in A minor, Op. 76, no. 7
  132. Hungarian Dance No.1 in G minor
  133. German Requiem Selig sind die Toten (Final Chorus)
  134. Die Fledermaus - Overture
  135. Kaiser Waltz, Op.437
  136. Thunder And Lightning Polka, Op. 324
  137. Roses From The South Waltz, Op. 388
  138. AnnenPolka, Op. 117
  139. Vienna Blood Waltz, Op. 354
  140. Eljen A Magyar Polka, Op. 332
  141. Wine, Women and Song Waltz, Op. 333
  142. On The Beautiful Blue Danube Waltz, Op. 134
  143. Die Meistersinger Von Nurnberg - Overture
  144. Tannhauser - Die Pilger sind's (Pilgims' Chorus)
  145. Tannhauser - O du mein holder Abendstern (Wolfram's Aria)
  146. Lohengrin - Act 3 Prelude and Bridal Chorus
  147. The Flying Dutchman - Jo-ho-he Traft ihr das Schiff (Senta's Ballad)
  148. The Flying Dutchman - Steuermann, lass die Wacht (Sailors' Chorus)
  149. Die Walkure - Wintersturme wichen dem Wonnemond (Siegmund's Aria)
  150. Die Walkure - Ride of the Valkyries
  151. Siegfried Hoho! Hoho! Hohei! Schmiede mein Hammer (Siegfried's Forging Song)
  152. Tristan und Isolde - Liebestod
  153. Thus sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30 (excerpt)
  154. Don Juan, Op. 20
  155. Eine Alpensinfonie, Op. 64, I.Nacht
  156. Don Quixote, Op.35, first movement: Introduction
  157. Salome, Op. 54, Dance Of The Seven Veils
  158. Der Rosenkavalier, Op. 59, Finale: Hab' mir's gelobt ihn lieb zu haben
  159. Piano Concerto 2 In C minor, Op. 18 - First Movement
  160. Vocalise, Op.34, No. 14
  161. Prelude In G Sharp minor, Op. 32, No. 12
  162. Piano Concerto No. 4 In G minor, Op. 40 - Third Movement
  163. Symphony No. 2 In E minor, Op. 27 - Third Movement
  164. Piano Concerto No. 1 In F sharp minor, Op. 1 - Second Movement
  165. Rhapsody, Op. 43 On A Theme By Paganini
  166. Hungarian Rhapsody No.2
  167. Liebestraum No.3 in A-flat
  168. Piano Concerto No.1 in E-flat - third movement
  169. Angelus
  170. Mephisto Waltz No.1 (Dance in a Village Tavern)
  171. Prelude and Fugue on B-A-C-H
  172. Dante Symphony - Finale. - Purgatorio - Magnificat
  173. Les Préludes
  174. Boléro
  175. Daphnis et Chloé first movement: Nocturne
  176. Rhapsodie Espagnole
  177. Shéhérazade - first movement: Asie
  178. Ma Mère l'Oye - fourth movement: La Belle et la Bête
  179. Introduction and Allegro for Harp, Flute, Clarinet, and String Quartet
  180. La Valse
  181. Slavic Dance No. 1 in C, Op. 46, no.1
  182. Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 'From the New World' - second movement
  183. Humoresque, Op. 101
  184. Slavic Dance No. 8 in G minor, Op. 46, no. 8
  185. Serenade for String Orchestra, Op. 22 - second movement
  186. Romance for Violin and Orchestra In F minor, Op. 11
  187. Symphony No. 7 in D minor - third movement
  188. Melodie (Songs My Mother Taught Me)
  189. Carneval Overture, Op. 92
  190. Concerto for Cello and Orchestra in B minor, Op. 104 - third movement
  191. Symphony No.4 In A, Op. 90. Italian - First Movement
  192. Frühlingslied In A, Op. 62, No. 6
  193. Wedding March (From A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op.61)
  194. Duetto In F, Op.30, No.6 (From Songs Without Words)
  195. String Symphony No.9 In C. Schweitzer Symphony - Third Movement
  196. Concerto For Violin, Piano And String Orchestra No. 1 In D minor - Second Movement
  197. Symphony No.3 In A minor, Op.56 Scottish - Third Movement"
  198. Notturno (From A Midsumment Night's Dream, Op. 61)
  199. Rondo Capriccioso, Op.14
  200. String Symphony No. 12 In G minor - First Movement
  201. Venetian Gondola Song In F Sharp minor, Op.30, No.6
  202. Scherzo (From A Midsumment Night's Dream, Op. 61)
  203. Violin Concerto In E minor, Op.64 - Third Movement
  204. Peer Gynt - Suite No. 1, Op. 46 - Morgenstimmung
  205. Holberg Suite, Op. 40 - I. Prelude. Allegro vivace
  206. Holberg Suite, Op. 40 - IV. Air. Andante religioso
  207. Arietta, Op. 12, no. 1
  208. Homage March from Sigurd Jorsalfar, Op. 56
  209. Peer Gynt - Suite No. 2, Op. 55 - Solveig's Song
  210. Wedding Day at Troldhauen, Op. 65, no. 6
  211. The Last Spring, Op. 34, no. 2
  212. Peer Gynt - Suite No. 1, Op 46 - Anitra's Dance
  213. Nordic Melody Op. 63
  214. Notturno, Op. 54, no. 4
  215. Elegie, Op. 47, no. 5
  216. Peer Gynt - Suite No. 2, Op. 55 - Arabic Dance
  217. Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16 - Allegro
  218. Symphony No. 3 in E flat, Op. 97 - Rhenish - first movement
  219. Traumerai (from Kinderszenen, Op. 15)
  220. Mondnacht (from Eichendorff-Liederkreis, Op. 39)
  221. Aufschwung (from Fantasietucke, Op. 12)
  222. Triolett, Op. 114, no. 2
  223. Tanzlied (No. 1 from Duets, Op. 78)
  224. Symphony No. 4 in D minor, Op. 120 - second movement
  225. Frühlingsgruss
  226. Abschied (from Waldszenen Op. 82)
  227. Dichterliebe, Op. 48 - Im wunderschonen Monat Mai
  228. Manfred Overture, Op. 115
  229. Romance in F sharp, Op. 28, no. 2
  230. Die Rose stand im Tau
  231. Liebesgarten (from Four Duets, Op. 34)
  232. Warum? (from Fantasiestucke, Op. 12)
  233. Kennst du das Land, Op.79, no. 29 (from Lieder der Mignon, Op. 98a)
  234. Von fremden Landern und Menschen (from Kinderszenen, Op. 15)

Album Description

An extraordinary 20-CD collection of great works by Bach, Vivaldi, Handel, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin, Tchaikovsky, Brahms, Ravel, Mendelssohn, Rachmaninoff, J. Strauss, R. Strauss, Schumann, Wagner, Dvorak, Grieg and Liszt. It also features worldrenowned artists such as Sir Neville Marriner, Martha Argerich, Ivo Pogorelich, Hermann Prey, Reiner Goldberg, Sylvia Sass, Jochen Kowalski, Peter Schreler and many more. This exquisite, copper metallic, deluxe boxed set is the perfect gift for the classical music neophyte.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Mill. Classical review.......2007-05-13

This is a great set of recordings for the money, the only problem was I've had to clean some of the CD's before they played correctly.

4 out of 5 stars classical music for the unitiated.......2007-04-01

This set is a good way to start listening to classical music. It's very well produced and easy to listen to. I purchased it to use as part of my world history high school class. It would have been nice to have some bio information on the composers. However, the product is exactly as advertised and good value for the money. The students were intrigued by how many of the excerpts they had heard before.

4 out of 5 stars Some little gems there that I had forgotten!.......2007-03-30

Although I studied classical music at school, I had all but forgotten it until I bought this set. I heard several tracks I haven't heard for over 30 years, and I had been humming Brahms's 'Hungarian Dance no. 5' for years without ever knowing what it was and it was on the disc, so that was nice.

I found it to be a very good selection overall, but I felt too much had already been heard on TV, which of course is what lots of newcomers to classical music might appreciate. I managed to find about 2 hours of tracks that I wanted to keep, which works out quite expensive per disc, but I did find some wonderful music I had completely forgotten about, so it was worth it. All in all, it represents good value, and I have only knocked one star off as so much of it had been used in adverts.

It is definitely a good introduction to classical music, and it has made me want to listen to more of it, so I don't regret this 'expensive' purchase one bit!

Classical Masterpieces of the Millennium [20 CD Set]

5 out of 5 stars A very helpful collection.......2007-03-24

I define this set as an excellent way to find out who you like, and who you don't, among 20 of the important composers. It opens the door to purchasing more complete pieces by composers you do like, and can save a lot of time and money in the process.
To criticize the set for not containing more composers, or more than just snippets of those who are in the set, is missing the point: it is a helpful introduction to finding your way in the huge maze of classical music. It succeeds admirably in this.
Sound quality is uniformly very good on an audiophile system.
Highly recommended.

5 out of 5 stars Excellent!.......2007-03-08

A great way to start a classical music collection. It's nice to have a full CD of each composer. It makes it easy to keep track of selections/composers I already have and what composers I still need to puchase to complete my collection.
Richard Strauss - Capriccio / Schwarzkopf, Wächter, Gedda, Fischer-Dieskau, Hotter, Ludwig, Moffo, Philharmonia Orchestra, Sawallisch
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Peerless Recording of a Sublime Work of Art
  • Sublime Strauss
  • An acquired taste.
  • A world treasure
  • A perfect polemic on art
Richard Strauss - Capriccio / Schwarzkopf, Wächter, Gedda, Fischer-Dieskau, Hotter, Ludwig, Moffo, Philharmonia Orchestra, Sawallisch
Richard Strauss , Wolfgang Sawallisch , Elisabeth Schwarzkopf , Nicolai Gedda , Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau , Hans Hotter , Christa Ludwig , Rudolf Christ , Anna Moffo , Dermot Troy , and Eberhard Wächter
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by StraussAll Works by Strauss | Strauss, Richard | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
General ModernGeneral Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
General ContemporaryGeneral Contemporary | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
Sawallisch, WolfgangSawallisch, Wolfgang | ( S ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Romantic (c.1820-1910)Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
GermanGerman | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
OperettasOperettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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  2. Strauss - Der Rosenkavalier / Schwarzkopf · Ludwig · Karajan
  3. J. Strauss: Die Fledermaus / Schwarzkopf, Gedda, Streich, Krebs, Kunz, Christ; Karajan
  4. Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk
  5. Schubert: 24 Lieder

ASIN: B00004VVZO
Release Date: 2000-08-15

Tracks:

  1. Einleitung
  2. Scene One: Bezaubernd Ist Sie Heute Wieder!
  3. Scene One: Bei Sanfter Musik Schlaft Sich's Am Besten
  4. Scene One: Eine Schone Heroine Hast Auch Du Nicht Verschmaht
  5. Scene Two: Der Strom Der Tone Trug Mich Fort
  6. Scene Three: Die Buhne Ist Fertig, Wir Konnen Beginnen
  7. Scene Three: Da Ist Sie! Ich Eile, Sie Zu Begrussen/Scene Four: Sie Ist Doch Gekommen! Du Hast Es...
  8. Scene Four: Deklamation: Ihr Geht. Entliess Euch Schon Die Macht
  9. Scene Four: Sonett (Gesprochen): Kein Andres, Das Mir So Im Herzen Loht/Bravo, Bravo! Sie Sind...
  10. Scene Four: Ein Philosoph Schreitet Seiner Bekehrung Entgegen?/Sonett (Gesprochen): Kein Andres...
  11. Scene Five: Lassen Sie Ihn Gewahren
  12. Scene Six: Sonett: Kein Andres, Das Mir So Im Herzen Loht
  13. Scene Six: Trio: Des Dichters Worte, Wie Leuchten Sie Klar!
  14. Scene Six: Wie Schon Die Worte... Verzeiht Mir, Frau Grafin, Ich Muss Ihn Entfuhren
  15. Scene Seven: Verraten Hab' Ich Meine Gefuhle!
  16. Scene Seven: Diese Liebe, Plotzlich Geboren An Jenem Nachmittag
  17. Scene Seven: Allegro Moderato/Wie Werden Die Schokolade Hier
  18. Scene Eight: Welch Kostliche Begegnung!
  19. Scene Nine: Wir Kehren Zuruck In Die Welt Des Salons
  20. Scene Nine: I. Tanz (Passepied)/Was Sagt Ihr!
  21. Scene Nine: II. Tanz (Gigue)/Ich Bin Fest Entschlossen
  22. Scene Nine: III. Tanz (Gavotte)

Tracks:

  1. Scene Nine: Eure Kunst Entzuckt Und Begeistert Mich
  2. Scene Nine: Fuge (Diskussion Uber Das Thema: Wort Oder Ton): Tanz Und Musik Stehn Im Bann Des...
  3. Scene Nine: Das Sagt Ihr Jetzt, In Dem Augenblick
  4. Scene Nine: Duett: Addio, Mia Vita, Addio
  5. Scene Nine: Darf Ich Sie Nach Paris Zuruckbringen
  6. Scene Nine: Werden Ihre Neapolitaner
  7. Scene Nine: Oct (Erster Teil - Lachensemble): Ein Possierlicher Einfall!
  8. Scene Nine: Sie Sehn Uns Uberrascht Von Ihrer Fant
  9. Scene Nine: Oct (Zweiter Teil - Streitensemble): Aber So Hort Doch!
  10. Scene Nine: Hola! Ihr Streiter In Apoll!
  11. Scene Nine: Ich Diene Den Ew'gen Gesetzen Des Theaters
  12. Scene Nine: Heute Im Zenith Meiner Ruhmreichen Laufbahn... La Roche, Du Bist Gross!
  13. Scene Nine: Ich Hortet Die Mahnende Stimme Unsres Freundes!
  14. Scene Nine: Qt: Was Hebt Sich Gottergleich Aus Hohem Ather?/Das Ist Mehr Als Eine Versohnung
  15. Scene Nine: Nun Gleich An Die Arbeit
  16. Scene Nine: Ich Wusste Ein Ausserst Fesselndes Thema!
  17. Scene Nine: Der Einfall Ist Kostlich
  18. Scene Ten: Gut In Eure Mantel Gehullt
  19. Scene Eleven: Das War Ein Schoner Larm
  20. Scene Twelve: Herr Direktor! Herr Direktor!
  21. Closing Scene: Andante Con Moto
  22. Closing Scene: Wo Ist Mein Bruder?
  23. Closing Scene: Morgen Mittag Um Elf!
  24. Closing Scene: Sonett: Kein Andres, Das Mir So Im Herzen Loht
  25. Closing Scene: Ihre Liebe Schlagt Mir Entgegen
  26. Closing Scene: Wahlst Du Den Einen - Verlierst Du Den Andern!
  27. Closing Scene: Du Spiegelbild Der Verliebten Madeleine
  28. Closing Scene: Frau Grafin, Das Souper Ist Serviert

Amazon.com

Strauss's last opera is one of the wonders of lyric art: an intelligent conversation piece about aesthetic principles (which is more important, words or music?) wrapped in achingly beautiful music. Its humor and drama are subtler than we're used to, but the opera is no less pleasurable for it. Capriccio's reputation as a connoisseur's piece is well served by this 1957 recording that features a superb cast led by the distinguished Straussian Elisabeth Schwarzkopf. True, she could be mannered, but the role of the Countess who must decide between the poet and the musician fits her like a glove, and she's radiant in the final, soaring monologue. Everyone else in the cast is outstanding, and the monophonic sound is so clear that you almost won't miss stereo. Sawallisch has the Philharmonia playing with the utmost transparency. Karl Böhm's DG stereophonic version with Gundula Janowitz is almost as fine (although currently out of print), but this one, like vintage wine, just gets better and better. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Peerless Recording of a Sublime Work of Art.......2007-05-14

Repeated evocation of the word "perfect" in descriptions of this recording convinced me to buy it, and even in the midst of such lofty praise, I was not disappointed. To the contrary; Capriccio is amongst the most incisive and beautiful operas ever crafted, combining the intelligence and perspicacity of a truly outstanding libretto with all the beauty and sublimity of which the mature Strauss was capable. It is an opera for opera lovers, a piece of musical virtuosity that not only delights the listener, but brings to light the question of the nature of art, the source of the profundity found in music and verse; it is an opera about the nature of opera, and art itself. Perhaps appropriately for an opera examining the ideals of the artistic form, the cast and production are here utterly flawless; Elizabeth Schwarzkopf gives as nuanced and breathtaking an interpretation of Strauss as only she could, and there isn't a single element in the performance that comes across as weak. Given the fact that in Capriccio, it is an intelligent and often hilariously mordant discourse on art that attains primacy rather than overarching drama or passion, it is admittedly not an opera for everyone. For those who truly love opera and art, those who are looking for something a bit different and more philosophic than typical operatic passion, despair, and suicide, those who are looking for the perfectly produced version of the perfectly crafted opera--one cannot do any better than this version of Capriccio. Buy it and enjoy the pinnacle of truly brilliant music.

5 out of 5 stars Sublime Strauss.......2007-05-07

Capriccio, one of the finest achievements of Richard Strauss' late flowering, is served well in this definitive recording. An impressive array of top quality singers is supported magnificantly by the spirited conducting of Wolfgang Sawallisch.

While the mono recording might be detrimental in the case of a larger scale work, in this intimate conversation piece its absence is hardly noticible. This re-issue is a welcome reminder of just how good Walter Legge's series of opera recordings by his Philharmonia Orchestra in the 1950s were; it is part of a valuable legacy, the like of which we are unlikely ever to receive again from a major record label.

5 out of 5 stars An acquired taste........2007-05-07

Richard Strauss -- like really great scotch -- is an acquired taste.

This is Glen Livit level. (Not sure I spelled that brand name correctly.)

5 out of 5 stars A world treasure.......2005-09-20

This kind of opera is the most rarified of the arts. It is a treasure for all the world, but it takes some effort to come to terms with it. Tastes more used to popular arts will likely not at first be able to appreciate the tremendous richness of this work. After all, there is no hero, no love story beyond some minor flirtations, and certainly no dramatic action to excite the passions. So, what is this work and why is it so wonderfully important?

This was the last opera of Richard Strauss and it is in every sense a masterwork. The composer set himself a terribly difficult task. Here we have Flamand, a composer, and Olivier, a poet who engage in a sometimes intellectual and sometimes petty discussion of which of their arts is primary. They are both enamored of the Countess who is a patron of the arts, used to being admired, and is not quick to reveal herself. Her brother, the Count, is interested in female talent and his acting is pedestrian, but he is complemented because of his position. There is also the director of their theater, La Rouche. He starts the opera asleep, but becomes quite agitated by the ongoing debate and declares that without his art, the other two would be meaningless.

There is so much in this opera that this little paragraph can only set up all the wonderful insights that Strauss provides. Serious opera is all sung? We get spoken drama (so Olivier can make his point). There are musical comments as well on the words spoken. Brief quotes of various styles emphasize this or that point as well as undermine others. It gets to the point that towards the end, the main characters have all left the stage and eight servants appear. One comments about all the pointless discussion. Another asks whether opera will get to the point where domestics will be put on stage.

The music in this opera is like a slow continuous crescendo of sophistication and intensity. Amazing things are happening when the texture becomes its most complex including the eating of cake, the drinking of wine, discussion of the ongoing themes of the opera, and commentary on the whole scene. It is all so masterfully handled that it provides musically stunning effects and clarifies the points being discussed in the opera with great sophistication.

The final extended aria by the Countess is exquisite beyond measure and sung transcendently by Elizabeth Schwarzkopf. She is asked to think of an end for their opera. She asks if there is one that is not trivial. The opera ends, so beautifully, with the major domo calling the Countess, saying, "Your Ladyship, supper is served." Perfect. And thus Strauss ended a mighty career in writing fifteen operas.

This recording was done in 1959 and is in mono. While stereo was available, squabbling among the performers about who would be where led to using mono to settle the matter. It still sounds terrific. The booklet provided is very helpful as is the provided libretto.

Some believe that this opera should be performed in a small hall in the language of the audience. I am not so sure. The sophistication of the underlay would be lost. Nowadays, most opera halls use supertitles and they help everyone understand the opera while retaining the beauty of expression in the original language.

5 out of 5 stars A perfect polemic on art.......2004-09-25

There have been a handful of perfect Opera recordings over the years. Perfection, of course, is a subjective judgement that can, if ill-used, incite violence. Particularly among Opera fans. Naturally, an Opera review that doesn't initiate gunplay is a good thing.

I mention it because I offer this 1957 recording of Capriccio as an example, extremely rare in the history of recorded Opera, of a perfect recording - a Reference recording, one of perhaps two dozen. Its status as a Reference recording is not controversial among serious record collectors. It assumed that mantle almost immediately after its release in 1959. But perfect? Nothing in Life is perfect!

True. But Art is NOT Life. Thankfully, what we find so disappointing, even tragic, in Life can be transmuted into perfection when Art achieves its most exalted fruition in the hands of those with a burning desire for self-expression and the unique means to do so. A tad pretentious? Maybe. But it so happens that Art is what this 1941 Opera - the last Strauss would write - is about. Art as Alchemy. The transformation of what is base and mundane into something meaningful and gloriously eternal. Something perfect! And almost as if on que, Wolfgang Sawallisch and his stunning, impossible to ever replicate cast along with perhaps the greatest house band of the era, recorded an Opera about Artistic perfection... perfectly!

Nominally, this polemic written by Clemens Krauss offers a debate between Words and Music; each claiming supremacy in the Operatic Art. The Opera begins with a lovely string sextet played by the Orchestra: the beauty of the unaccompanied music making a strong case for its primacy. The Opera ends with the words of a sonnet, and a questioning gaze into a mirror by a Countess one cannot help but compare to two others inhabiting Der Rosenkavalier and Le Nozze di Figaro. Everywhere there is the struggle between the temporal and the eternal. It is this final scene with its suggestion of verbal temporality that ignited my suspicion that Strauss comes down on the side of Music as the eternal face of Operatic Art, the winner in the debate. You may not agree. This rich suggestiveness is just one of the reasons why Capriccio, alone among Struass' late Operas, is winning wide-spread acceptance into the repertory.

Sawallisch, merely 34 at the time of recording, exhibits exquisite taste in his textural delicacy. Tempos are broad yet firm. His time-beating clear, uncomplicated and comparable to the great Knappertsbusch. Instrumental and Vocal balances are exceptionally clear. His Orchestra, the Philharmonia, was possibly the best recording band of the 1950's and early 1960's. Incidentally, the superb Horn solos are NOT played by Dennis Brain, cruelly killed in an auto accident the day before recording commenced, but Alan Civil (Horn Soloist on the Beatles' "For No One" found on their 1966 album Revolver).

Elizabeth Schwarzkopf is superb as the Countess Madeleine, emotionally reserved without hauteur. Her voice had a clarion richness at the time. Lyrical, round yet soft, without the hint of shrillness one detects in later recordings. Eberhard Wachter is a terrific Count, a rough, unmusical womanizer. Nicolai Gedda is the Composer Flamand. A youngish Dietrich