TCHAIKOVSKY: Piano Concerto No.1 in B flat minor Op.23- 1 I: Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso (opening) , Horacio Gutierrez piano, London Symphony Orchestra / André Previn (P) 1976/1994*
PROKOFIEV: Balcony Scene (Romeo & Juliet) (extract)- Philadelphia Orchestra / Riccardo Muti (P) 1981
SHOSTAKOVICH: Romance (The Gadfly)- Tasmin Little (violin) ∙ Piers Lane (piano) (P) 1992
TCHAIKOVSKY: Romeo and Juliet (Fantasy Overture) (extract)- Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra / Mariss Jansons (P) 1987
RACHMANINOV: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini - Variation 18- Cécile Ousset piano , City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra / Sir Simon Rattle (P) 1984 ,
TCHAIKOVSKY: Grand Pas de Deux (The Nutcracker)- Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra / Mariss Jansons (P) 1998
SHOSTAKOVICH: Piano Concerto No.2 in F Op.102 - II. Andante- Dmitri Alexeev (piano) , English Chamber Orchestra / Jerzy Maksymiuk (P) 1983,
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: Scheherazade Symphonic Suite, Op.35- 10 II. The Story of the Kalendar Prince (opening) , Philadelphia Orchestra / Riccardo Muti (P) 1983,
KHACHATURIAN: Adagio of Spartacus and Phrygia (Spartacus) (extract)- Royal Philharmonic Orchestra /Yuri Temirkanov (P) 1986
TCHAIKOVSKY: Swan Lake Scene (Act II No.10)- London Symphony Orchestra / André Previn (P) 1976/1988*
RACHMANINOV: Piano Concerto No.2 in C minor Op.18- 13 II: Adagio sostenuto (opening) , Cécile Ousset (piano), City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra / Sir Simon Rattle (P) 1984
BORODIN: Polovtsian Dances (Prince Igor) (opening)- Beecham Choral Society, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Sir Thomas Beecham (P) 1974/1999*,
RACHMANINOV: Symphony No.2 in E minor Op.27 − III. Adagio (opening)- St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra / Mariss Jansons (P) 1994
TCHAIKOVSKY: Waltz (The Sleeping Beauty)- Philharmonia Orchestra / John Lanchbery (P) 1982
STRAVINSKY: Le Oiseau de feu (conclusion)- Boston Symphony Orchestra / Seiji Ozawa (P) 1984/1995*
Track Listings (16) - Disc #2
MOZART: Piano Concerto No.21 in C `Elvira Madigan' K467- 1 II. Andante (extract) , Stephen Hough piano , Hallé Orchestra / Bryden Thomson (P) 1987
MOZART: Serenade in G `Eine kleine Nachtmusik' K525- 2 II. Romanze (Andante) , Academy of St Martin in the Fields / Sir Neville Marriner (P) 1977/1997*
BEETHOVEN: Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor `Moonlight' Op.27/2- 3 I. Adagio sostenuto (extract) , Dame Moura Lympany piano (P) 1991
BEETHOVEN: `Emperor' Concerto Op.73 - II. Adagio (trans. Craig Leon)- Julia Thornton harp , National Radio Orchestra of the Netherlands / Erno Olah (P) 2003
MOZART: Horn Concerto No.4 in E flat K495- 5 II. Romanza (Andante cantabile) , Radovan Vlatkovič horn , English Chamber Orchestra / Jeffrey Tate (P) 1987
MOZART: Un'aura amorosa (Così fan tutte)- John Aler tenor, London Philharmonic Orchestra / Bernard Haitink (P) 1987
BEETHOVEN: Piano Sonata No.8 in C minor `Pathétique' Op.31- 7 II. Adagio cantabile , Stephen Kovacevich piano (P) 1998,
MENDELSSOHN: Violin Concerto in E minor Op.64 - II. Andante (extract)- Yehudi Menuhin violin, Philharmonia Orchestra / Efrem Kurtz (P) 1959/1997*
MOZART: Clarinet Concerto - II. Adagio- Sabine Meyer clarinet , Dresden Staatskapelle / Hans Vonk (P) 1990 EMI Electrola GmbH
MENDELSSOHN: Frühlingslied (Lieder ohne Wörte No.30 in A, Op.62 No.6)- Daniel Adni piano (P) 1973/1996*
BRUCH: Violin Concerto No.1 in G minor Op.26 - II. Adagio (opening)- Yehudi Menuhin violin , Philharmonia Orchestra / Walter Susskind (P) 1959/1997*
MENDELSSOHN: Nocturne (A Midsummer Night's Dream)- Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment / Sir Charles Mackerras , (P) 1988 EMI Records Ltd/Virgin Classics
RICHARD STRAUSS: Beim Schlafengehen (Vier letzte Lieder) (conclusion)- Lucia Popp soprano, London Philharmonic Orchestra / Klaus Tennstedt (P) 1982
J. STRAUSS II: An der schönen blauen Donau Walzer, Op.314 (extract)- Berliner Philharmoniker / Herbert von Karajan (P) 1976/1987*
KREISLER: Liebesleid- Maxim Vengerov violin ∙ Ian Brown piano (P) 2004
MENDELSSOHN: Wedding March (A Midsummer Night's Dream)- Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra / Jeffrey Tate (P) 1991
Track Listings (17) - Disc #3
OFFENBACH: Belle nuit (Barcarolle) (Les Contes d'Hoffmann)- Jessye Norman soprano ∙ Ann Murray mezzo-soprano, Orchestre Symphonique et Chaeurs de l'Opéra National, du Théatre Royal de la Monnai, Bruxelles / Sylvain Cambreling (P) 1988
SAINT-SAËNS: The Swan from The Carnival of the Animals (arr. Chris Hazell)- Hah-Na Chang cello , Philharmonia Orchestra / Leonard Slatkin (P) 2000
BIZET: L'amour est un oiseau rebelle (Habanera) (Carmen)- Maria Callas soprano, Chaeurs René Duclos , Orchestre du Théâtre National de l'Opéra de Paris / Georges Prêtre (P) 1964
DEBUSSY: Clair de lune (arr. Stokowski)- Philadelphia Orchstra / Wolfgang Sawallisch (P) 1996
DELIBES: Flower Duet (Dôme épais) (Lakmé)- Natalie Dessay soprano ∙ Delphine Haidan mezzo-soprano, Orchestre de Capitole de Toulouse / Michel Plasson (P) 1998 EMI Music France
GOUNOD: Les nubiennes (Faust Ballet Music)- New Philharmonia Orchestra / Sir Charles Mackerras (P) 1970/1988*
SAINT-SAËNS : Mon caeur s'ouvre à ta voix (Samson et Dalila)- Maria Callas soprano, Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Française / Georges Prêtre (P) 1982/1997*
FAURÉ: Pavane- Gareth Morris flute ∙ New Philharmonia Orchestra , Sir David Willcocks (P) 1968/1997*
MARTINI: Plaisir d'amour- Barbara Hendricks soprano , Michel Dalberto (piano) (P) 1996 EMI France
SAINT-SAËNS: Romance Op.37- Ulf Hoelscher violin, New Philharmonia Orchestra / Pierre Dervaux (P) 1977/1993*
FAURÉ: Berceuse (Dolly Suite Op.56)- Jean-Philippe Collard & Bruno Rigutto pianos, (P) 1983 EMI France
BIZET: Entr'acte to Act III (Carmen)- French National Orchestra / Seiji Ozawa (P) 1984
FAURÉ: Chanson d'amour (arr. Craig Leon) Natasha Marsh soprano- London Symphony Orchestra / Michael Francis (P) 2007
SATIE: Gymnopédie No.1 (arr. Debussy)- City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra / Louis Frémaux (P) 1974/1990*
DELIBES: Intermezzo & Valse lente (Sylvia)- New Philharmonia Orchestra / Sir Charles Mackerras (P) 1970/1988*
MESSAGER: Pas de deux pigeons (Les deux pigeons)- Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden , Sir Charles Mackerras (P) 1958/1988*
MASSENET: Méditation (Thais)- Anne-Sophie Mutter violin, Berliner Philharmoniker / Herbert von Karajan (P) 1981
Track Listings (16) - Disc #4
GRIEG : Morning (Peer Gynt Incidental Music, Op.23)- Academy of St Martin in the Fields / Sir Neville Marriner (P) 1983
SMETANA: The Moldau (Ma Vlast) (extract)- Dresden Staatskapelle / Paavo Berglund (P) 1979/1995
GRIEG: Piano Concerto in A minor − II Adagio- Dmitri Alexeev piano, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Yuri Temirkanov (P) 1989
DVOŘÁK: Symphony No.9 `From the New World' - II. Largo (opening)- Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra / Mariss Jansons (P) 1989
GRIEG: Wedding Dayuat Troldhaugen (Lyric Pieces Book VIII, Op.65 No.6)- Daniel Adni piano (P) 1974/1995*
DVOŘÁK: Song to the Moon (Rusalka)- Lucia Popp soprano, Münchner Rundfunk Orchester / Stefan Soltesz (P) 1988
CHOPIN: Piano Concerto No.1 in E minor Op.11- 7 II. Romance (Larghetto) (opening) , Martha Argerich piano , Montreal Symphony Orchestra / Charles Dutoit (P) 1999
DVORÁK: Humoresque Op.107 No.7- Dame Moura Lympany piano (P) 1988
CHOPIN: Prelude in A (Les Sylphides)- Philharmonia Orchestra / Robert Irving (P) 1959/1994*
LISZT: Piano Concerto No.1 in E flat − II. Quasi adagio- Michel Beroff piano, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra / Kurt Mazur (P) 1980/1990*
SIBELIUS: At the Castle Gate (Pelléas et Mélisande)- Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra / Paavo Berglund (P) 1979/1997*
CHOPIN: Berceuse in D flat Op. 57- Peter Donohoe piano (P) 1993
CHOPIN: Nocturne No. 2 in E flat Op.9 No. 2- John Ogdon piano (P) 1969/1992*
LISZT: Liebestraum No.3 in A flat- Leif Ove Andsnes piano (P) 2006
LEHÁR: Vilja (Die lustige Witwe)- Elisabeth Schwarzkopf soprano, Philharmonia Orchestra with Chorus / Lovro von Matačić (P) 1963/2000*
Track Listings (17) - Disc #5
ELGAR: Salut d'amour- Northern Sinfonia of England / Richard Hickox (P) 1986
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: Fantasia on `Greensleeves' (Sir John in Love) (arr. Greaves)- Sinfonia of London / Sir John Barbirolli (P) 1963/1986*
ELGAR: Cello Concerto in E minor Op.85 - I. Adagio-Moderato (opening)- Jacqueline du Pré cello , London Symphony Orchestra / Sir John Barbirolli (P) 1965/1997*
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: The Lark Ascending (opening)- Hugh Bean violin , New Philharmonia Orchestra / Sir Adrian Boult (P) 1967/1987*
ELGAR: Chanson de matin- London Philharmonic Orchestra / Sir Adrian Boult (P) 1968/1985*
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis (opening)- London Philharmonic Orchestra / Sir Adrian Boult (P) 1976/1985*
LENNON & McCARTNEY: Michelle (arr. Ron Goodwin)- Rostal & Schaefer pianos , Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra / Ron Goodwin (P) 1979/2000*
HOLST: Venus (The Planets) (conclusion)- London Philharmonic Orchestra / Sir Adrian Boult (P) 1979/1987*
McCARTNEY: Celebration (Standing Stone)- London Symphony Chorus & Orchestra / Lawrence Foster, (P) 1997 MPL Communications Ltd under exclusive licence to EMI Records Ltd,
NYMAN: The Heart Asks Pleasure First/The Promise (from the film The Piano)- Music composed, directed and produced by Michael Nyman, (P) 1993 Michael Nyman Ltd under exclusive licence to Virgin Records Ltd,
MYERS: Cavatina (from the film The Deer Hunter)- Manuel Barrueco & Steve Morse (guitars) (P) 2001 Angel Records
NEWMAN: Any Other Name (from the film American Beauty)- Produced and performed by Nikolaj Bloch & Sally Herbert (P) 2001
HORNER: My Heart Will Go On (from the film Titanic)- Orchestra / David Abel (P) 1998
GERSHWIN: Summertime (Porgy and Bess)- Kiri Te Kanawa soprano ∙ The New York Choral Artists, The New Princess Theater Orchestra / John McGlinn (P) 1987
BERNSTEIN: West Side Story Symphonic Dances − II. Somewhere- City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra / Paavo Järvi , (P) 1998 EMI Records Ltd/Virgin Classics
GERSHWIN: Rhapsody in Blue (arr. Grofé) (conclusion)- André Previn piano, London Symphony Orchestra / André Previn (P) 1971/1998*
PUCCINI: O mio babbino caro (Gianni Schicchi)- Angela Gheorghiu soprano, London Symphony Orchestra / Antonio Pappano (P) 1999
ALBÉNIZ: Tango (España Op.165 No.2) Leif Ove Andsnes piano (P) 2006-
PUCCINI: Chi il bel sogno di Doretta (La rondine)- Montserrat Caballé soprano, London Symphony Orchestra / Sir Charles Mackerras (P) 1970/2002*
VIVALDI: Spring (The Four Seasons) - I. Allegro- Yehudi Menuhin violin, Camerata Lysy Gstaad / Alberto Lysy (P)1981,
MONTEVERDI: Pur ti miro (L'incoronazione di Poppea) (arr. Craig Leon)- Natasha Marsh soprano ∙ Fernando Lima countertenor, David Parsons lute, London Symphony Orchestra / Craig Leon (P) 2007
BOCCHERINI: Minuet (arr. Woodhouse)- Academy of St Martin in the Fields / Sir Neville Marriner (P) 1980/1997*
MASCAGNI: O amore, o bella luce del core (L'amico Fritz)- Luciano Pavarotti tenor, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Gianandrea Gavazzeni (P) 1969/2000*
TÁRREGA: Recuerdos de la Alhambra- Christopher Parkening guitar (P) 1976/2005* Angel Records
ROTA: Ai Giochi Addio (love theme from the Zeffirelli film Romeo & Juliet)- Natasha Marsh soprano , London Symphony Orchestra / François-Xavier Roth (P) 2007
RODRIGO: Concierto de Aranjuez − II. Adagio (opening)- Julian Bream guitar , City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra / Sir Simon Rattle (P) 1993
PUCCINI: Vogliatemi bene (Love Duet) (Madama Butterfly)- Renata Scotto soprano ∙ Carlo Bergonzi tenor , Orchestra del Teatro dell' Opera di Roma / Sir John Barbirolli (P) 1966/2002*
VIVALDI: Guitar Concerto in D (arr. Emilio Pujol; ed. Isbin) - II. Largo- Sharon Isbin guitar , Lausanne Chamber Orchestra / Lawrence Foster , (P) 1991 EMI Records Ltd/Virgin Classics
SARASATE: Zigeunerweisen Op.20- Anne-Sophie Mutter violin, Orchestre National de France / Seiji Ozawa (P) 1985
QUARANTOTTO: Time to Say Goodbye (adapt. F. Peterson)- Amy Nuttall soprano, Orchestra conducted by Julian Kershaw (P) 2005
PUCCINI: Nessun dorma (Turandot)- José Carreras tenor ∙ Rhine Opera Chorus , Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra / Alain Lombard (P) 1978/1990*
This 6-CD album sets the perfect mood with some of classical music's most sensual, passionate melodies- Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet, Mozart's "Elvira Madigan" piano concerto, Debussy's Clair de Lune, Dvorak's Largo from... more » Symphony No. 9, Puccini's Nessun Dorma, and many more, all performed by the finest artist from the EMI Classics/Virgin Classics roster! Disc 1 - FROM RUSSIA WITH ROMANCE
This 6-CD album sets the perfect mood with some of classical music's most sensual, passionate melodies- Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet, Mozart's "Elvira Madigan" piano concerto, Debussy's Clair de Lune, Dvorak's Largo from Symphony No. 9, Puccini's Nessun Dorma, and many more, all performed by the finest artist from the EMI Classics/Virgin Classics roster! Disc 1 - FROM RUSSIA WITH ROMANCE
Disc 2 - AN AUSTRO-GERMAN ROMANCE
Disc 3 - A FRENCH ROMANCE
Disc 4 - ROMANCE IN A COLD CLIMATE
Disc 5 - ENGLAND & AMERICA IN LOVE
Disc 6 - MEDITERRANEAN ROMANCE
"Two weeks ago, I was sitting in a bookstore when the strains of music came over the sound system and distracted me from my reading several times. But this distraction wasn't Johnny Paycheck's "Take This Job and Shove It" (vile), "The Streak," or "Honey, I Miss You." (Oh, the bile)!
This is one of those DVD's you don't have to think about if you have any inclination to the classical. It was a case of how soon can I have it. Not until the 16th it turned out. I eagerly counted the days. Yesterday became one of those special treats where you bring home a great personal gift, pour a glass of wine, sit back, and just enjoy.
There are six DVD's here: 1) From Russia with Romance 2) An Austro-German Romance [without boots] 3) A French Romance 4) Romance in a Cold Climate, 5) England & America in Love [at least after 1812], 6) Mediterranean Romance. This is a part of the "Best 100" series, which offers classics and movies, etc.
For those who know classical only by sound and not by name or snob, you will recognize strains you heard in "The Shawshank Redemption," "The Truman Show," "Billy Elliot," or "Seven Years in Tibet," but you won't find the love theme from "I'm Going to Get You Sucka" or that other classic "All Surf Nazis Must Die."
Alone or with your Snookums, this is the music that calms the nerves and soothes the soul. More importantly, it is music that plays in your head, long after it is turned off.
Can I give a better recommendation than that?"
NA
Blanche Rubin | 02/22/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"When there is an absence of classical music during some parts of the day or night,
it is very pleasant to have all of our favorites compositions as backround music.
The selections were satisfactory as were the performances."