The Best Classical Album in the World... Ever!

~ Release by Various Artists (see all versions of this release, 5 available)

Tracklist

▶ CD 1
▼ CD 2
#TitleArtistRatingLength
1Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23
piano:
Peter Donohoe (British classical pianist)
orchestra:
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
conductor:
Rudolf Barshai (viola player and conductor)
partial recording of:
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra no. 1 in B-flat minor, op. 23: I. Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso (original 1874/75 version)
composer:
Пётр Ильич Чайковский (Russian romantic composer) (from 1874-11 until 1875-02)
part of:
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra no. 1 in B-flat minor, op. 23 (original 1874/75 version)
Пётр Ильич Чайковский3:37
2Third Symphony
soprano vocals:
Zofia Kilanowicz (in 1993)
orchestra:
Kraków Symphony Orchestra (in 1993)
conductor:
Jacek Kaspszyk (conductor) (in 1993)
recorded at:
Wratislava Cantans (1993) (28th International Oratorio-Cantata Festival)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
EMI Electrola GmbH (not for release label use! DE subsidiary of EMI Records from 1972–2002) (in 1995)
live partial recording of:
Symphony no. 3, op. 36 "Symphony of Sorrowful Songs": II. Lento e largo: Tranquillissimo - Cantabilissimo - Dolcissimo - Legatissimo (in 1993)
lyricist:
Helena Wanda Błażusiakówna
composer:
Henryk Mikołaj Górecki (Polish composer) (in 1976)
part of:
Symphony no. 3, op. 36 "Symphony of Sorrowful Songs"
Henryk Mikołaj Górecki4:32
3Flute and Harp Concerto
flute:
James Galway (flautist)
harp:
Fritz Helmis (harpist)
orchestra:
Berliner Philharmoniker
conductor:
Herbert von Karajan (conductor)
partial recording of:
Concerto in C major for Flute, Harp & Orchestra, K. 297c/299: II. Andantino
composer:
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (classical composer) (in 1778-04)
part of:
Concerto in C major for Flute, Harp & Orchestra, K. 297c/299
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart4:01
4Flower Duet
audio engineer:
Paul Vavasseur (engineer) (from 1970-09-17 until 1970-12-21)
mezzo-soprano vocals [Mallika]:
Danielle Millet (mezzo-soprano) (from 1970-09-17 until 1970-12-21)
soprano vocals [Lakmé]:
Mady Mesplé (soprano) (from 1970-09-17 until 1970-12-21)
orchestra:
Orchestre du Théâtre National de l’Opéra‐Comique
conductor:
Alain Lombard (conductor) (from 1970-09-17 until 1970-12-21)
recorded at:
Salle Wagram in Paris, Île-de-France, France (from 1970-09-17 until 1970-12-21)
partial recording of:
Lakmé : Acte I. No. 2 Duetto « Viens, Mallika, les lianes en fleurs … Dôme épais le jasmin » (Lakmé, Mallika) (from 1970-09-17 until 1970-12-21)
composer:
Léo Delibes (composer)
librettist:
Philippe Gille and Edmond Gondinet
publisher:
Jenkinsongs Ltd.
part of:
Lakmé : Acte I
Léo Delibes2:36
5The Four Seasons (Winter: 1)
producer:
Andrew Keener (engineer/editor/producer)
violin:
Nigel Kennedy (violinist) (from 1986-11-28 until 1989-03-14)
orchestra:
English Chamber Orchestra (from 1986-11-28 until 1989-03-14)
conductor:
Nigel Kennedy (violinist) (from 1986-11-28 until 1989-03-14)
balance engineer:
Mike Clements (engineer) (from 1986-11-28 until 1989-03-14) and Mike Hatch (engineer/editor) (from 1986-11-28 until 1989-03-14)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
EMI Records Ltd. (not for release label use! UK parent of EMI-owned labels until Sept 2012) (in 1989)
recorded at:
Church of St. John-at-Hackney in Hackney, London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (from 1986-11-28 until 1989-03-14)
recording of:
Concerto in F minor, op. 8 no. 4, RV 297 “L’inverno”: I. Allegro non molto (from 1986-11-28 until 1989-03-14)
composer:
Antonio Vivaldi (Italian baroque composer and violinist) (in 1723)
part of:
Concerto in F minor, op. 8 no. 4, RV 297 “L’inverno”
Antonio Vivaldi3:29
6Porgy and Bess (Summertime)
vocals:
Dame Kiri Te Kanawa (soprano)
recording of:
Porgy and Bess: Act I, Scene I. “Summertime” (Clara)
lyricist:
Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward
composer:
George Gershwin (composer) (from 1934 until 1935)
part of:
Porgy and Bess: Act I, Scene I
George Gershwin2:43
7Bolero
orchestra:
London Symphony Orchestra
conductor:
André Previn (pianist, conductor, composer, arranger)
partial recording of:
Boléro
composer:
Maurice Ravel (classical composer) (in 1928)
publisher:
Ed. Durand & Cie (1909–1947) and Soc. Arima (rights society?)
premiered at:
Palais Garnier in Paris, Île-de-France, France (on 1928-11-22)
part of:
Catalogue Marcel Marnat des œuvres de Maurice Ravel (number: M. 81)
Maurice Ravel5:10
8Ave Maria
soprano vocals:
Lesley Garrett (soprano)
recording of:
Ave Maria (Bach/Gounod)
lyricist:
[anonymous] (special purpose artist)
composer:
Johann Sebastian Bach (German Baroque period composer & musician) and Charles Gounod (French composer) (in 1853)
is based on:
Méditation sur le Premier Prélude de Piano de S. Bach
is based on:
The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I: Prelude and Fugue no. 1 in C major, BWV 846: Prelude
Franz Schubert4:18
9Gymnopedie No. 1
piano:
Aldo Ciccolini (pianist) (on 1983-11-07)
recorded at:
Salle Wagram in Paris, Île-de-France, France (on 1983-11-07)
recording of:
Première Gymnopédie: Lent et douloureux (on 1983-11-07)
composer:
Erik Satie (French composer) (from 1888-02 until 1888-04)
part of:
Gymnopédies
Erik Satie3:10
10Montagues and Capulets
conductor:
André Previn (pianist, conductor, composer, arranger)
recording of:
Romeo and Juliet: Suite no. 2, op. 64ter: I. Montagues and Capulets
composer:
Сергей Сергеевич Прокофьев (Russian composer)
part of:
Romeo and Juliet: Suite no. 2, op. 64ter
Сергей Сергеевич Прокофьев2:00
11Paganini Rhapsody (Var. 18)
piano:
Cécile Ousset (French pianist)
conductor:
Simon Rattle (conductor)
recording of:
Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, op. 43: Variation XVIII: Andante cantabile
composer:
Sergei Rachmaninoff (Russian composer) (from 1934-07-03 until 1934-08-18)
part of:
Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, op. 43 (for piano and orchestra)
Сергей Васильевич Рахманинов3:23
12Walking in the Air
engineer:
John Richards (engineer)
producer:
Howard Blake
treble vocals:
Peter Auty (in 1982)
orchestra:
Sinfonia of London (John Wilson’s session orchestra) (in 1982)
conductor:
Howard Blake (in 1982)
recorded at:
CTS Studios in Wembley, Brent, London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (in 1982)
recording of:
Walking in the Air (in 1982)
lyricist and composer:
Howard Blake
publisher:
Faber Music Ltd., Highbridge Music Ltd. and Howard David Blake
part of:
The Snowman (film soundtrack)
Howard Blake43:28
13Moonlight Sonata (I)
piano:
Moura Lympany (British pianist)
recording of:
Sonata for Piano no. 14 in C-sharp minor, op. 27 no. 2 “Moonlight”
composer:
Ludwig van Beethoven (German composer) (in 1801)
part of:
Two Piano Sonatas, op. 27
recording of:
Sonata for Piano no. 14 in C-sharp minor, op. 27 no. 2 “Moonlight”: I. Adagio sostenuto
composer:
Ludwig van Beethoven (German composer) (in 1801)
part of:
Sonata for Piano no. 14 in C-sharp minor, op. 27 no. 2 “Moonlight”
Ludwig van Beethoven5:49
14Hallelujah Chorus
choir vocals:
Choir of King’s College, Cambridge
orchestra:
Academy of St Martin in the Fields
conductor:
Sir David Willcocks (UK composer, organist, choral conductor)
recording of:
Messiah, HWV 56: Part II, no. 44. Chorus: “Hallelujah”
composer:
George Frideric Handel (German‐British baroque composer) (in 1741)
librettist:
Charles Jennens
part of:
Messiah, HWV 56: Part II
Georg Friedrich Händel4:29
15Eine kleine Nachtmusik (I)
engineer:
Christopher Parker (classical recording and balance engineer, active from 1950s)
producer:
Christopher Bishop (conductor/producer)
orchestra:
Academy of St Martin in the Fields (from 1976-01 until 1976-10)
conductor:
Sir Neville Marriner (conductor) (from 1976-01 until 1976-10)
recorded at:
Abbey Road Studios in St John's Wood, Westminster, London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (from 1976-01 until 1976-10)
recording of:
Serenade no. 13 for Strings in G major, K. 525 „Eine kleine Nachtmusik“: I. Allegro (from 1976-01 until 1976-10)
composer:
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (classical composer) (in 1787)
part of:
Serenade no. 13 for Strings in G major, K. 525 „Eine kleine Nachtmusik“
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart5:52
16Nimrod
producer:
Christopher Bishop (conductor/producer)
orchestra:
London Symphony Orchestra (from 1970-08-04 until 1970-08-06, in 1971)
conductor:
Sir Adrian Boult (conductor) (from 1970-08-04 until 1970-08-06, in 1971)
balance engineer:
Michael Gray (UK classical recording engineer)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
EMI Records Ltd. (not for release label use! UK parent of EMI-owned labels until Sept 2012) (in 1971) and Warner Classics (in 2002)
recorded at:
Kingsway Hall in London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (from 1970-08-04 until 1970-08-06)
recording of:
Variations on an Original Theme (‘Enigma’), op. 36: IX. Nimrod (Adagio) (from 1970-08-04 until 1970-08-06)
publisher:
Sir Edward Elgar (dec’d) (composer)
composer:
Edward Elgar (composer) (in 1899)
dedicated to:
Augustus J. Jaeger
part of:
Variations on an Original Theme (‘Enigma’), op. 36
recording of:
Variations on an Original Theme (‘Enigma’), op. 36: IX. Nimrod (Adagio) (in 1971)
publisher:
Sir Edward Elgar (dec’d) (composer)
composer:
Edward Elgar (composer) (in 1899)
dedicated to:
Augustus J. Jaeger
part of:
Variations on an Original Theme (‘Enigma’), op. 36
Sir Edward Elgar4:00
17Swan Lake (Act I Finale)
producer:
John Fraser (UK producer)
orchestra:
Philharmonia Orchestra (London orchestra, known as New Philharmonia Orchestra from 1964-1976) (from 1982-04-20 until 1982-05-20)
conductor:
John Lanchbery (from 1982-04-20 until 1982-05-20)
balance engineer:
Christopher Parker (classical recording and balance engineer, active from 1950s) (from 1982-04-20 until 1982-05-20)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
EMI Records Ltd (not for release label use! UK parent of EMI-owned labels until Sept 2012) (in 1982)
recorded at:
Abbey Road Studios: Studio 1 in St John's Wood, Westminster, London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (from 1982-04-20 until 1982-05-20)
recording of:
Swan Lake, op. 20: Act I, no. 9: Finale: Andante (from 1982-04-20 until 1982-05-20)
composer:
Пётр Ильич Чайковский (Russian romantic composer)
part of:
Swan Lake, op. 20: Act I
part of:
Swan Lake, op. 20: Act I (ed. Drigo)
Пётр Ильич Чайковский2:25
18Air on the G String
violin:
Yehudi Menuhin (violinist)
orchestra:
The Bath Festival Chamber Orchestra
conductor:
Yehudi Menuhin (violinist)
recording of:
Orchestersuite Nr. 3 D-Dur, BWV 1068: II. Air (Air on the G string) (in 1961)
composer:
Johann Sebastian Bach (German Baroque period composer & musician) (in 1730)
part of:
Orchestersuite Nr. 3 D-Dur, BWV 1068
Johann Sebastian Bach4:23
19Jupiter (The Planets)
orchestra:
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
conductor:
Simon Rattle (conductor)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
EMI Records Ltd. (not for release label use! UK parent of EMI-owned labels until Sept 2012) (in 1981)
partial recording of:
The Planets, op. 32: IV. Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity
composer:
Gustav Holst (composer) (from 1914 until 1916)
orchestration of:
The Planets, op. 32: IV. Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity (for two pianos)
part of:
The Planets, op. 32 (Suite for Large Orchestra)
Gustav Holst4:50
201812 Overture, Op. 49
conductor:
Herbert von Karajan (conductor)
partial recording of:
The Year 1812, Festival Overture in E-flat major, op. 49
premiered in:
Moscow, Russia (on 1882-08-20)
composer:
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Russian romantic composer) (from 1880-09 until 1880-11)
part of:
The Tchaikovsky Handbook (number: TH 49), Thematic and Bibliographical Catalogue of P. I. Čajkovskij's Works (number: ČW 46) and Works of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky by opus number (number: op. 49)
is based on:
Боже, Царя храни!
Пётр Ильич Чайковский4:52