100 Best Classics vol.2 (6 CD box set, FLAC)

Audio CD
Number of Discs: 6 CD box set
Format: FLAC (image+cue)
Label: EMI Classics
Size: 1.83 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: no

Disc 1:
01. Carmen: Prelude, Act I (Les toréadors)
02. Die Walküre: Ride of the Valkyries (concert version)
03. Carmina Burana (1997 Digital Remaster): O Fortuna
04. The Tale of Tsar Saltan: The Flight of the Bumble-Bee (Act III)
05. Pictures at an Exhibition: The Hut on Fowls’ Legs (Baba Yaga)
06. Pictures at an Exhibition: The Great Gate at Kiev
07. Ruslan and Ludmilla: Overture
08. VI. Waltz 2 from Jazz Suite No. 2
09. Boléro (abbrev. version; arr. Bates) (1992 Digital Remaster)
10. Il Trovatore: Vedi! le fosche (Anvil Chorus)
11. The Planets, Op. 32: 1. Mars, the Bringer of War (Allegro)
12. Symphonie fantastique Op. 14 (1987 Digital Remaster): IV. Marche au supplice
13. William Tell
14. Gayaneh – Suite from the Ballet: Sabre Dance
15. Rhapsody in Blue (jazzband version): Opening
16. A Night on the Bare Mountain
17. The Rite of Spring, ‘Le sacre du printemps’ (1947 revised version), Part 2: Le sacrifice: Danse sacrale (l’élue)

Disc 2:
01. Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F, BWV 1047: III. Allegro assai
02. The Four Seasons, Concerto No. 4 in F minor (L’inverno/ Winter) RV297 (Op. 8 No. 4): II. Largo
03. Water Music (1988 Digital Remaster), Suite No. 2 in D: alla hornpipe (extract)
04. Keyboard Concerto in F Minor, BWV 1056: II. Largo
05. Music for the Royal Fireworks, HWV 351 (1989 Digital Remaster): La Réjouissance
06. Serenade No. 6 in D K239, ‘Serenata notturna’ (1990 Digital Remaster): I. Marcia – Maestoso
07. Für Elise Dame Moura Lympany 3:21 $0.99
08. Le Nozze di Figaro, ACT 2: Voi che sapete (Cherubino)
09. II. Adagio un poco mosso from Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat ‘Emperor’ Op. 73 (extract) (1989 Digital Remaster)
10. Songs without Words (1996 – Remaster): Andante grazioso in A Major, Op.62 No. 6 ‘Frühlingslied’
11. Piano Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op.13 ‘Pathétique’ (1990 Digital Remaster): II. Adagio cantabile
12. Serenade in C, Op.48: II. Valse. (Moderato: Tempo di valse)
13. Tosca, Act II: Vissi d’arte (Tosca)
14. 24 Preludes: Prelude in C sharp minor (Lento) Op. 3 No. 2
15. Wiener Blut – Walzer Op. 354 (extract)
16. Four Last Songs: Beim Schlafengehn (conclusion)
17. Vltava (extract), B111 (1874) from Má vlast (1995 Digital Remaster)
18. Symphony No. 4 in F minor Op. 36: IV. Allegro con fuoco

Disc 3:
01. Serenade No. 13 in G, K.525 ‘Eine kleine Nachtmusik’ (1997 – Remaster): II. Romanze (Andante)
02. Lohengrin, Dritter Akt/Act 3/Troisième Acte: Treulich Geführt Ziehet Dahin
03. Carmen Suite No. 1: III. Entr’acte to Act III
04. Nocturne No. 2 in E Flat, Op.9 No. 2 (1992 Digital Remaster)
05. Les Contes d’Hoffmann: Barcarolle (Orchestral Version)
06. Vocalise, Op.43/No.4
07. Liebesträume S541: No. 3 in A flat
08. The Planets H125 (Op. 32): II. Venus, the Bringer of Peace
09. Pavane, Op.50 (orch. version, 1887) (1997 – Remaster)
10. Martha: Ach, so fromm (Act III)
11. A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Op.61: Wedding March (Act IV)
12. Porgy and Bess: Summertime (DuBose Hayward)
13. Dolly, six pièces pour piano à quatre mains, Op.56 : I Berceuse
14. Tristan und Isolde, Act 3, Scene 3: Mild und leise wie er lächelt
15. The Firebird (conclusion) (1995 – Remaster)

Disc 4:
01. Te Deum, H.146 (1987 Digital Remaster): Prélude
02. Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D, BWV 1050: III. Allegro
03. Italian Concerto in F BWV971: I. [Allegro]
04. Guitar Concerto in D Major (arr. Emilio Pujol) (1991 Digital Remaster): II. Largo
05. Cello Suite No. 1 in G BWV1007 (1987 Digital Remaster): Prélude
06. Flute Concerto No. 2 in D K314/285d: III. Rondeau (Allegro)
07. The Carnival of the Animals: The Swan
08. Suite española No. 1, Op.47 (arr. Byzantine): III. Sevilla (Sevillanas)
09. Liebesfreud (1998 Digital Remaster)
10. Trumpet Concerto in E Flat (1998 Digital Remaster): III. Rondo (Allegro molto)
11. The Four Seasons, Concerto No. 2 in G minor (L’estate/ Summer) RV315 (Op. 8 No. 2): III. Presto
12. Cello Concerto in E minor Op. 85 (1995 Digital Remaster): I. Adagio – Moderato
13. Two Arabesques
14. Zigeunerweisen, Op.20
15. Horn Concerto No. 4 in E Flat, K.495: II. Romanza (Andante cantabile)
16. Violin Concerto in D. Op.35 (1990 Digital Remaster): I. Allegro moderato (conclusion)- extract

Disc 5:
01. Quintett für Klarinette, 2 Violinen, Viola und Violoncello A-dur KV 581: II. Larghetto
02. Träumerei (No. 7 of Kinderszenen Op. 15)
03. Requiem: Pie Jesu
04. Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor, K.466 (1990 Digital Remaster): II. Romanze (excerpt)
05. Berceuse in D Flat, Op.57
06. Nocturne (from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Op.61)
07. Salut d’amour, Op.12
08. Etude in E Major, Op.10 No. 3 (1990 Digital Remaster)
09. Serenade Nr.10 B-dur KV 361(370a) “Gran Partita”: III. Adagio
10. Peer Gynt – Incidental Music, Op.23: Solveig’s Song
11. The Carnival of the Animals: Aquarium
12. La fille aux cheveux de lin from Préludes Book I
13. Preludes: Prelude No. 15 in D flat ‘Raindrop’ (Sostenuto)
14. Ständchen D.954, No.4
15. Trois Gymnopédies (1888): I: Lent et douloureux
16. Pavane pour une infante défunte (1988 Digital Remaster)

Disc 6:
01. Candide: Overture
02. 3 German Dances, K.605 (1997 Digital Remaster): No.3 Die Schlittenfahrt (Sleigh Ride)
03. Waltz in A Flat Major, Op. 39 No. 15
04. Heidenröslein D257 (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe) (1988 Digital Remaster)
05. Minuet in G, WoO 10 No. 2
06. Liebesleid (1988 Digital Remaster)
07. Piano Sonata No. 11 in A, K.331: III. Rondo alla turca (Allegretto)
08. Carmen (1997 Digital Remaster), Act I: L’amour est un oiseau rebelle (Habanera)
9. 8 Humoresques, Op.101, B.187: No. 7 in G Flat
10. La Rondine (1995 – Remaster), Act I: Chi il bel sogno di Doretta
11. Waltzes: No. 7 in C sharp minor Op. 64 No. 2
12. Memories of the Alhambra
13. Polonaise No. 6 in A Flat, Op.53 ‘Heroic’ (1999 Digital Remaster)
14. Tritsch-Tratsch Polka, Op.214 (1985 Digital Remaster)
15. Pines of Rome (1996 Digital Remaster): The Pines of the Villa Borghese
16. Peter and the Wolf – A Musical Tale for Children Op. 67 (extract)
17. Orphée aux enfers, ‘Orpheus in the Underworld’ (1988 Digital Remaster): Overture
18. Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg – Prelude Act I (2001 Digital Remaster)

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Great Overview of the Classical Genre Courtesy of EMI

Recently I wrote a very positive review for Volume 1 of EMI’s 100 Best Classics. This second volume shares the same strengths, and truth be told, I actually enjoy this volume a little more. This is another terrific yet inexpensive introduction or overview of classical music.

The strengths of this six CD set are that: (1) 100 selections are provided, allowing a wide scope of music contained within the genre generally regarded as “classical”, (2) these are strong performances from significant conductors and orchestras,(3) at a price of $20 or less, this is a very good value, and (4) this six CD collection is packaged compactly enough to essentially take up the physical space of a double-CD jewel case.

This set’s format is simultaneously an advantage and disadvantage. A CD provides less than 80 minutes of music, and a 6 CD set containing 100 selections will necessarily provide hi-lites of famous pieces rather than the complete works. This is a problem for many people, and for good reason. I find most of the selections provide a satisfying sample, however at least a few tracks seem much too short (Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue in particular seemed to be left hanging). The advantage however is that it is feasable to get an overview of many works in a single sitting; this set is all about presenting an introduction to or reminder of a variety of different pieces of outstanding music.

The approach here is similar to volume one of the same series, but I actually enjoy listening to this volume a little more. The previous volume covers familiar ground in the classical genre, such as Beethoven’s Fifth Symmphony, Mozart’s “Figaro”, and Pachelbel’s “Canon in D”. These are obviously cornerstones of classical, but there’s a good chance that if you have picked up any other classical music compilations that you may find some of this ground already covered…perhaps multiple times. What I like about volume 2 is that while the music is still very well-known, it is not as ubiquitous and seems a little more “fresh” to me. Even if you have not heard these before, I bet selections like Bernstein’s “Candide” or Mussorgsky’s “Night on the Bare Mountain” (to name a few) are still going to be entertaining for most listeners.

I think this set is a great companion to Volume 1 of the series. The first collection is probably a better choice for those who are trying classical music for the first time as it contains more of what I would consider the flat-out “essentials”.

Nevertheless, I find this to be a good sampling of the rollicking side of classical music. I recommend it to newcomers to classical music who would like a deeper taste of the variety this genre has to offer. It’s also a safe bet for those who already have the complete works but appreciate a combination of variety and quality in one inexpensive package.