CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

.

100 Classical Hits

by: Various Artists

Release Date October 13, 2003

This is a great low cost box set which does exactly what it says on the box - it gives you 100 classical music hits, covering all the styles such as baroque, classical, romantic and modern, and includes music from all the popular composers.

Some of the tracks are simply excerpts from the full piece, for example Beethoven's Ninth symphony, originally over 60 minutes long, is reduced to a two and a half minute rousing chorus of the popular `Ode to Joy'. Likewise, Tchaikovsky's 1812 overture is cut from 15 minutes down to the last few minutes of the exciting thunder and fireworks finale.

This editing enables a great range of `hits' to be squeezed onto five discs, and gives the classical music novice a chance to ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

.

Smooth Classics

by: London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, Academy of St Martin in the Fields, City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra

Release Date October 19, 2002
Every year at this time Classic FM bring out a new triple CD set - and this year's is even better than the ones that have come before. I didn't think they'd be able to better "Time to Relax", which was last year's album - but they have! And they've done it in some style too by choosing music from their evening programme "Smooth Classics at Seven", which is presented by the legendary John Brunning. I can't recommend this album enough. And it does just what it says on the box. I've got my copy in the car at the moment - it's perfect as an antidote to a journey from Hull to Manchester on the M62 every morning. I'm seriously considering ordering two more copies - one for the office and one for home - the music choice really is that good. This is excellent ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

.

Classic FM Music for Dinner Parties

from: Classic FM.(Export

Release Date July 12, 2004

Such is Classic FM's marketing team's enthusiasm for releasing these 'Music For' compilation albums we should soon have a CD in our collection to cover every eventuality in our lives!

This one is for dinner parties - although being a single CD it may need to be played several times depending on how quickly your guests eat - and the intention is to create a calm, relaxed atmosphere with perhaps an air of sophistication to those social events.

There should be something on this album to please everyone round the dinner table. Satie's 'Trois Gymnopedies' is soothing and familiar, Haydn's 'Cello Concerto no. 2' is more lively and Handel's 'Water Music' adds a bit of ceremony to the event.

The recordings, as ever ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

.

A Window in Time - Rachmaninov Plays Rachmaninov

from: Telarc

Release Date April 04, 2001
Bought this on a recommendation from Stereophile (Records to Die For).
Clever use of technology, although I have to say that, as they had all the time in the world to get it right, the sound quality could have been even better.
As it is, it's just very very good.
The playing speaks for itself.
You can also check out volume two A Window in Time, Vol.2 but the sound is not quite as good and this second volume is filled Rachmaninov's own music/arrangments- not to my taste (too much staccato and drama and not enough melody).

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

.

Itzhak Perlman - The Kreisler Collection

from: Gemini

Release Date April 03, 2006
Bought this on a recommendation from Stereophile (Records to Die For).
Clever use of technology, although I have to say that, as they had all the time in the world to get it right, the sound quality could have been even better.
As it is, it's just very very good.
The playing speaks for itself.
You can also check out volume two A Window in Time, Vol.2 but the sound is not quite as good and this second volume is filled Rachmaninov's own music/arrangments- not to my taste (too much staccato and drama and not enough melody).

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

.

The Best of Maxim Vengerov

by: London Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Release Date November 20, 2006
Bought this on a recommendation from Stereophile (Records to Die For).
Clever use of technology, although I have to say that, as they had all the time in the world to get it right, the sound quality could have been even better.
As it is, it's just very very good.
The playing speaks for itself.
You can also check out volume two A Window in Time, Vol.2 but the sound is not quite as good and this second volume is filled Rachmaninov's own music/arrangments- not to my taste (too much staccato and drama and not enough melody).

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

.

Tchaikovskiana

from: EMI Classics

Release Date September 01, 2003
You will adore this fantastic CD. Tasmin Little has created the dreamiest tribute to Swan Lake yet with a Salut D'Amour to die for. First Rate.

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

.

Relaxing Classic FM

from: Bmg

Release Date October 17, 2005
For a relaxing couple of hours just to yourself, plug in the headphones and sit back and enjoy. The music flows pleasantly from soft and light to that more uplifting fibrancy that pulls you and your heart and mind to an edge of pleasure but without going overboard into the more emotional and vibrant pieces. For myself i have preferred using a travel mask to totally remove myself from the house around me! Really relaxing!

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

.

Kreisler Plays Kreisler

by: Fritz Kreisler

Release Date March 07, 2005
For a relaxing couple of hours just to yourself, plug in the headphones and sit back and enjoy. The music flows pleasantly from soft and light to that more uplifting fibrancy that pulls you and your heart and mind to an edge of pleasure but without going overboard into the more emotional and vibrant pieces. For myself i have preferred using a travel mask to totally remove myself from the house around me! Really relaxing!

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

.

The Most Relaxing Violin Album in the World ... Ever!

from: EMI

Release Date October 04, 2005
For a relaxing couple of hours just to yourself, plug in the headphones and sit back and enjoy. The music flows pleasantly from soft and light to that more uplifting fibrancy that pulls you and your heart and mind to an edge of pleasure but without going overboard into the more emotional and vibrant pieces. For myself i have preferred using a travel mask to totally remove myself from the house around me! Really relaxing!