Classical > Vocal & Choral Classical > Beethoven, Ludwig van > Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Advantages: An excellent introduction to Classical Music
Disadvantages: None

This is a companion set to Naxos' "The A~Z of Opera" (previously reviewed.. It follows the same format and is an ideal compilation for people who are new to classical music as well as classical music buffs. It contains a double CD with two and a half hours of classical music (as you would expect) and a 562 page book (not quite as thick as the Opera one) compiled and written again by Keith Anderson. So what's in the pack? ~~ The Book This contains ...
...same size as a CD and fairly thick. The text is concise and clear and informative, with portraits of composers throughout. After the index you get 450 pages of concise histories of composers, with recommendations of recordings from the Naxos catalogue. It is arranged in alphabetical order, and starts with Adolphe Adam and is completed by Bernd Alois Zimmerman. As well as details about the composer there are sections on the different types of music ... Read review

Advantages: Everything you could ever want from a classical CD
Disadvantages: none

...Richard Strauss 39. (The) Planets Composed by Gustav Holst 40. Toccata and Fugue in D minor Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach 41. Symphony No. 40 in G minor Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 42. Symphony No. 5 in C minor Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven 43. Romeo and Juliet Composed by Sergey Prokofiev 44. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in A minor Composed by Edvard Grieg 45. Boléro Composed by Maurice Ravel 46. Fanfare for the Common Man Composed ...
...by Richard Wagner 48. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 1 in B flat minor Composed by Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky 49. (6) Brandenburg Concertos Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach 50. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 3 in D minor Composed by Sergey Rachmaninov 51. 1812 Composed by Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky 52. Symphony No. 9, 'Choral' in D minor Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven 53. Carmen Composed by Georges Bizet 54. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra ... Read review

Advantages: Superb collection of beautifully recorded pieces
Disadvantages: Nothing particularly abstract, few 'original' interpretations

The Classic FM CDs tend to excel particularly in the regions of recording quality, original and varied cho