100 BEST RELAXING CLASSICS

 

The six discs cover different genres of relaxing music:

 

CD 1     RELAXING BAROQUE   

 

J.S. BACH

1          Sheep may safely graze (Cantata No.208) (arr. Marriner) 

Academy of St Martin in the Fields / Sir Neville Marriner (P) 1984

                       

PACHELBEL       

2          Canon   in D                 

            Academy of St Martin in the Fields / Sir Neville Marriner (P) 1974/1997*

 

            J.S. BACH

3          Air ‘on the G string’ (Suite No.3 in D BWV1068)    

            Academy of St Martin in the Fields / Sir Neville Marriner (P) 1974/1997*

 

VIVALDI

4          The Four Seasons − Concerto No.4 in F minor ‘Winter’ (II. Largo)

            Yehudi Menuhin violin, Camerata Lysy Gstaad / Alberto Lysy (P) 1981

 

            HANDEL            

5          Ombra mai fu (Largo) (Serse)                                                                                                    

Gérard Lesne alto ∙ Il Seminario Musicale (P) 1995 EMI France

 

HANDEL

6          Concerto Grosso Op.6 No.12 – III Larghetto e piano                                             

Bath Festival Orchestra / Yehudi Menuhin (P) 1964/1999*

 

            J. S. BACH

7          Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring          (Cantata No.147)                                               

            Choir of King’s College, Cambridge

            Academy of St Martin in the Fields / Sir David Willcocks (P) 1972/1989*

 

            HANDEL

8          Sarabande (Keyboard Suite in D minor)                                                              

Andrei Gavrilov (piano) (P) 1982/1996*  

 

            J.S. BACH

9          Keyboard Concerto No. 5 in F minor BWV1056 – II. Largo             

            Andrei Gavrilov (piano)

            Academy of St Martin in the Fields / Sir Neville Marriner (P) 1987

 

VIVALDI

10         Concerto for Two Mandolins in G RV532 – II. Andante                               

            Europa Galante ∙ Fabio Biondi (P) 2002 EMI Records Ltd/Virgin Classics

                       

            J.S. BACH

            Double Violin Concerto in D minor BWV 1043

11         II. Largo ma non tanto                                                               

            Jonathan Rees & Jane Murdoch (violins)

            Scottish Ensemble / Jonathan Rees (P) 1991 EMI Records Ltd/Virgin Classics

 

HANDEL

12         Lascia ch’io pianga (Rinaldo) (arr. Craig Leon & Isobel Cooper)                 

            Izzy soprano

            Fabio Zanon guitar ∙ Julia Thornton harp

            National Radio Orchestra of the Netherlands / Erno Olah (P) 2002 Virgin Records Ltd

            From Izzy’s album ‘New Dawn’

           

GLUCK

13         Dance of the Blessed Spirits (Orfeo ed Euridice)                                       

            Academy of St Martin in the Fields / Sir Neville Marriner (P) 1977/1984*

           

J.S. BACH

14         Zion hört die Wächter singen (Cantata No.140)                                        

            Süddeutscher Madrigalchor ∙ Consortium Musicum

            Wolfgang Gönnenwein (P) 1967/1990* EMI Electrola GmbH

                       

            HANDEL

15         Water Music – Air from Suite No.1 in F                                                                                         

Berliner Philharmoniker / Riccardo Muti (P) 1985

                       

            VIVALDI

16         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

                       

            J.S BACH

17         Viola da Gamba Sonata in G minor BWV1029  – II Adagio (opening)          

Jordi Savall viola da gamba ∙ Ton Koopman harpsichord

(P) 1978/1989* EMI Electrola GmbH

 

            ALBINONI (realised Giazotto)

18         Adagio in G minor (extract)                                            

Academy of St Martin in the Fields / Sir Neville Marriner (P) 1974/1986*

 

           

CD 2     RELAXING MOZART & BEETHOVEN                 

 

            MOZART                       

1          Serenade in G ‘Eine kleine Nachtmusik’ K525  – II. Romance (Andante)     

            Academy of St Martin in the Fields / Sir Neville Marriner (P) 1977/1997*

 

2          Flute & Harp Concerto in C K299 − II. Andantino (extract)             

            James Galway flute ∙ Fritz Helmis harp

            Berliner Philharmoniker / Herbert von Karajan (P) 1972/1985*

                                               

3          Soave sia il vento (Così fan tutte)                                                           

            Margaret Marshall soprano ∙ Agnes Baltsa mezzo-soprano ∙ José van Dam bass

            Wiener Philharmoniker / Riccardo Muti (P) 1983

            Live recording

 

4          Piano Sonata No.11 in A K331 – I. Andante grazioso (Theme)                   

            Andrei Gavrilov piano (P) 1990

                       

5          Un’aura amorosa (Così fan tutte)            

            John Aler tenor

London Philharmonic Orchestra / Bernard Haitink (P) 1987

 

6          Piano Concerto No.20 in D minor K466 – II. Romance (extract)     

            Annie Fischer piano

            Philharmonia Orchestra / Sir Adrian Boult (P) 1960/1990*

                                   

7          Canzonetta sull’aria (Le nozze di Figaro)                                                                                      

Dame Felicity Lott & Gianna Rolandi sopranos

            London Philharmonic Orchestra / Bernard Haitink (P) 1988

           

8          Clarinet Quintet in A K581 − II. Larghetto                                    

            Sabine Meyer clarinet

            Members of the Vienna String Sextet (P) 1987 EMI Electrola GmbH

                       

9          Ave verum corpus K618                                                             

Stockholm Radio Chorus ∙ Stockholm Chamber Choir

Berliner Philharmoniker / Riccardo Muti (P) 1987

 

10         Serenade No.10 in B flat K361 ‘Gran Partita’ − III. Adagio            

            London Philharmonic Orchestra Wind Ensemble (P) 1985

           

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN

Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor ‘Moonlight’ Op. 27/2

11         I. Adagio sostenuto (extract)                                                                              

Dame Moura Lympany (piano) (P) 1991

                       

12         Minuet in G                                                                                                       

            Dame Moura Lympany piano (P) 1988

                       

13         Piano Concerto No.5 in E flat ‘Emperor’ Op.73 – II. Adagio (trans. Craig Leon)

Julia Thornton harp

National Radio Orchestra of the Netherlands / Erno Olah (P) 2003

 

14         Piano Sonata No.8 in C minor ‘Pathétique’ Op.31- II. Adagio cantabile        

Stephen Kovacevich piano (P) 1998

                         

15         Für Elise (Bagatelle No.25)                                                                     

            Dame Moura Lympany piano (P) 1988

           

Symphony No.6 in F ‘Pastoral’ Op.68

16         V. Allegretto (Shepherds’ Hymn after the Storm)                          

            The Philadelphia Orchestra / Riccardo Muti (P) 1988

 

CD 3        RELAXING FILM CLASSICS                                       

 

            ELVIRA MADIGAN

1          Piano Concerto No. 21 in C K467 (Mozart) – II. Andante                

            Stephen Hough piano

            Hallé Orchestra / Bryden Thomson (P) 1987 

 

THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY

2          Casta Diva (Norma) (Bellini)†                                                                 

            Maria Callas soprano

            Coro e Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala di Milano / Tullio Serafin (P) 1961/1997*

                       

THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS

3          Goldberg Variations (J. S. Bach) – Aria                                        

Maria Tipo (piano) (P) 1986 EMI France

100 BEST FILM CLASSICS 3 74283 2 CD 6 [9]

 

CHARIOTS OF FIRE

4          Miserere mei, Deus (vv 1–4 & 17–20) (Allegri)                             

            Timothy Beasley-Murray treble ∙ Gerald Finlay cantor

            Choir of King’s College, Cambridge / Stephen Cleobury (P) 1984

 

            THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY

5          Stabat Mater (Pergolesi)                                                

            Lesley Garrett soprano ∙ Robin Blaze countertenor

            London Session Orchestra / Paul Daniel (P) 2003

           

            CARRINGTON

6          String Quintet in C D956 (Schubert) – II Adagio opening                           

Hungarian Quartet ∙ Laszlo Varga cello (P) 1972/1992* EMI Music France

 

OUT OF AFRICA

7          Clarinet Concerto in A K622 (Mozart) – II. Adagio             

Sabine Meyer basset clarinet

Staatskapelle Dresden / Hans Vonk (P) 1990 EMI Electrola GmbH

 

BRIEF ENCOUNTER

 8         Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor (Rachmaninov) – II Adagio sostenuto opening

Cécile Ousset piano

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra / Sir Simon Rattle (P) 1984

 

THE DEER HUNTER

9          Cavatina (Stanley Myers)           

            Manuel Barrueco & Steve Morse guitars (P) 2001 Angel Records

 

            DEATH IN VENICE:

10         Symphony No. 5 in C sharp minor (Mahler) – IV Adagietto conclusion        

New Philharmonia Orchestra / Sir John Barbirolli (P) 1969/1988*

 

            PLATOON

11         Adagio for Strings (Barber)                                

            The Philadelphia Orchestra / Eugene Ormandy (P) 1985/1985*

 

THE PIANO

12        The Heart asks Pleasure First / The Promise (Michael Nyman)†                  

            Music composed, directed and produced by Michael Nyman

(P) 1993 Michael Nyman Ltd under exclusive licence to Virgin Records Ltd

 

            AMERICAN BEAUTY

13         Any Other Name (Thomas Newman)                   

            Produced and performed by Nikolaj Bloch & Sally Herbert (P) 2001

                                   

            SCHINDLER’S LIST

14         Schindler’s List Main Theme (John Williams)                                 

Tasmin Little violin

New World Philharmonic / Iain Sutherland (P) 1994

                       

            THE MISSION

15         Gabriel’s Oboe (Morricone)†                                                       

            Ennio Morricone and his Orchestra (P) 1987 Virgin Records Ltd

                                               

            SIDEWAYS

16         Memories of the Alhambra (Tárrega)                               

Christopher Parkening guitar (P) 1976/2005* Angel Records

                       

TITANIC

 17        My Heart Will Go On (James Horner)                               

            Orchestra / David Abel (P) 1998

                       

CD 4     RELAXING ROMANTIC CLASSICS                    

 

BIZET

1          Entr’acte to Act III (Carmen)                                          

            Orchestre National de France / Seiji Ozawa (P) 1984

 

MASSENET

2          Méditation from Thaïs                                                    

            Hans Kalafusz (violin)

Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra / Sir Neville Marriner

(P) 1987 EMI Electrola GmbH

                                                           

FAURÉ

3          Cantique de Jean Racine                                                

            Stephen Farr organ

            Winchester Cathedral Choir / David Hill

            (P) 1998 EMI Records Ltd/Virgin Classics

                       

MENDELSSOHN

4          Nocturne (A Midsummer Night’s Dream)                          

            Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment / Sir Charles Mackerras

(P) 1988 EMI Records Ltd/Virgin Classics

                                   

            FAURÉ

5          In Paradisum (Requiem Op.48)                           

            Choir of King’s College, Cambridge

            New Philharmonia Orchestra / Sir David Willcocks (P) 1968/1997*

                       

            SAINT-SAËNS

6          The Swan (Carnival of the Animals) (arr. Chris Hazell)                  

            Hah-Na Chang cello ∙ Philharmonia Orchestra / Leonard Slatkin (P) 2000

                       

            ELGAR

7          Cello Concerto in E minor Op.85 – III. Adagio                  

            Jacqueline du Pré cello, London Symphony Orchestra / Sir John Barbirolli (P) 1965/1997*

 

            BRUCH

8          Violin Concerto No.1 in G minor Op.26 – II. Adagio opening          

            Yehudi Menuhin violin, Philharmonia Orchestra / Walter Susskind (P) 1959/1997*

                       

GRIEG

9          Morning (Peer Gynt Incidental Music Op.23)                     

            Academy of St Martin in the Fields / Sir Neville Marriner (P) 1983

 

            FAURÉ

10         Pavane                                                                         

            Gareth Morris flute

New Philharmonia Orchestra / Sir David Willcocks (P) 1968/1997*

                       

            MENDELSSOHN

11         Violin Concerto in E minor Op.64 – II. Andante (extract)               

            Yehudi Menuhin violin

Philharmonia Orchestra / Efrem Kurtz (P) 1959/1997*

           

DELIBES

12         Dôme épais (Flower Duet) (Lakmé)                                                         

            Mady Mesplé soprano ∙ Danielle Millet mezzo-soprano

            Paris Opéra-Comique Orchestra / Alain Lombard (P) 1971/1987* EMI France                      

 

DVOŘÁK

13         Symphony No.9 ‘From the New World’ – II. Largo opening

            Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra / Mariss Jansons (P) 1989

 

            OFFENBACH

14         Belle nuit (Barcarolle) (Les Contes d’Hoffmann)                

            Jessye Norman soprano ∙ Ann Murray mezzo-soprano

            Orchestre Symphonique et Chœurs de l’Opéra National

            du Théatre Royal de la Monnai, Bruxelles / Sylvain Cambreling (P) 1988

 

            ELGAR

15         Nimrod (‘Enigma’ Variations)                                          

            London Symphony Orchestra / Sir Adrian Boult (P) 1971/1986*

 

DVOŘÁK

16         Song to the Moon (Rusalka)                                   

            Lucia Popp soprano,  Münchner Rundfunk Orchester / Stefan Soltesz (P) 1988

 

MASCAGNI

17         Intermezzo (Cavalleria rusticana)                                                           

            Philharmonia Orchestra / Riccardo Muti (P) 1980/1987*

 

 

CD 5    RELAXING PIANO FAVOURITES                     

 

RACHMANINOV

1          Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini – Variation 18                         

            Cécile Ousset piano

            City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra / Sir Simon Rattle (P) 1984

                       

FAURÉ

2          Berceuse (Dolly Suite Op. 56       )                                                          

            Jean-Philippe Collard & Bruno Rigutto pianos (P) 1983 EMI France

 

CHOPIN

3          Nocturne No. 2 in E flat Op.9 No.2                                               

            John Ogdon piano (P) 1969/1992*

                       

LISZT

4          Liebestraum No. 3 in A flat                                             

            John Ogdon piano (P) 1968/1988*

                       

CHOPIN

5          Berceuse in D flat Op. 57                                                           

            Peter Donohoe piano (P) 1993

                       

GRIEG

6          Piano Concerto in A minor – II. Adagio                                                    

            Cécile Ousset piano

London Symphony Orchestra / Sir Neville Marriner (P) 1985

 

SCHUMANN

7          Träumerei (Kinderszenen)                                                                                                                      

Dame Moura Lympany piano (P) 1988

                                   

CHOPIN

8          Étude in E ‘Tristesse’ Op.10 No.3                                                 

John Ogdon piano (P) 1969/1990*

 

            BRAHMS

9          Waltz No. 15 in A flat                                                                 

Moura Lympany piano (P) 1988

                       

CHOPIN

10         Piano Concerto No.1 in E minor Op.11– II. Romance: Larghetto opening

            Martha Argerich piano

            Montreal Symphony Orchestra / Charles Dutoit (P) 1999

 

DEBUSSY

11         La Fille aux cheveux de lin (Préludes Book I)                   

            Dame Moura Lympany piano (P) 1991

           

            CHOPIN

12         Prelude No.15 in D flat ‘Raindrop’                        

            Dmitri Alexeev piano (P) 1986

 

            DALLA

13         Caruso (arr. Bayless)                                                                

            John Bayless piano (P) 1999 Angel Records

           

            SATIE

14         Gymnopédie No.1 (Lent et douloureux)                                                                                       

Anne Queffélec piano (P) 1988 EMI Records Ltd/Virgin Classics

 

SATIE

15         Gnossienne No.1                                                                                   

            Anne Quefféllec piano (P) 1988 EMI Records Ltd/Virgin Classics

                       

DEBUSSY

16         Clair de lune                                                                                         

            Dame Moura Lympany piano (P) 1988

 

SHOSTAKOVICH

17         Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Op.102 – II. Andante                            

            Dmitri Alexeev piano

English Chamber Orchestra / Jerzy Maksymiuk (P) 1983

                       

CD 6    RELAXING CLASSICS OF MODERN TIMES                     

        

KARL JENKINS

1          Agnus Dei (The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace)                                                                            

National Youth Choir of Great Britain musical director Mike Brewer

            Paul Beniston principal trumpet ∙ London Philharmonic Orchestra / Karl Jenkins

            (P) 2001 Karl Jenkins Music Ltd under exclusive licence to Virgin Records Ltd

Taken from the album ‘The Armed Man (A Mass for Peace)’

                       

ORFF

2          In trutina (Carmina Burana)                                                                                                                   

Janice Watson soprano

            Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra / David Hill (P) 1995 EMI Records Ltd/Virgin Classics

 

VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

3          Fantasia on ‘Greensleeves’ (Sir John in Love) (arr. Greaves)                     

            Sinfonia of London / Sir John Barbirolli (P) 1963/1986*

                                   

CANTELOUBE

4          Baïlèro (Chants d’Auvergne)                                                                               

            Arleen Auger soprano

            English Chamber Orchestra / Yan Pascal Tortelier

(P) 1988 EMI Records Ltd/Virgin Classics

           

UNGAR & MASON

5          The Ashokan Farewell                                                                

            Jay Ungar violin ∙ Molly Mason guitar

            Nashville Chamber orchestra / Paul Gambill (P) 1999 Angel Records

                       

RUTTER

6          Pie Jesu (Requiem)                                                                                            

Edward Saklatvala treble, Choir of King’s College, Cambridge

City of London Sinfonia / Stephen Cleobury (P) 1998

                       

            RODRIGO

7          Concierto de Aranjuez – II. Adagio                                                                     

            Julian Bream guitar ∙ Peter Walden cor anglais

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra / Sir Simon Rattle (P) 1993

           

LLOYD WEBBER

 8         Pie Jesu (Requiem)                                                                                

            Jane Gilchrist soprano ∙ Fergus Thirlwell treble

            Simon Gibson organ ∙ Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra / Kirk Trevor (P) 2004

                       

SHOSTAKOVICH

9          Romance (The Gadfly)                                                               

            Tasmin Little violin, Piers Lane piano (P) 1992

 

DUDLEY

10         The Crying Game Love Theme                                                                                                    

Anne Dudley piano & keyboards

The Quartet of London (P) 2001 Angel Records

           

CANTELOUBE

11         Brezairola (Chants d’Auvergne) (arr. Tolga Kashif)                                               

            Lesley Garrett soprano ∙ Marcia Crayford violin ∙ Jonathan Williams cello

            Orchestra conducted by Philip Ellis (P) 2002

                       

            VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

12         The Lark Ascending opening                                                       

            Hugh Bean violin

New Philharmonia Orchestra / Sir Adrian Boult (P) 1967/1987*

 

            LENNON & McCARTNEY

13         Michelle (arr. Ron Goodwin)                                                                   

            Rostal and Schaefer pianos

            Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra / Ron Goodwin (P) 1979/2000*

                       

VAUGHAN WILLIAMS 1872–1958

14         Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis opening                            

            London Philharmonic Orchestra / Sir Adrian Boult (P) 1976/1985*

                       

            HOLST

15         Venus (The Planets) conclusion                                                   

            London Philharmonic Orchestra / Sir Adrian Boult (P) 1979/1987*

 

The “100 BEST” series continues its incredible success - over 2 million sales to date - with 100 BEST RELAXING CLASSICS

 

Sit back, relax and unwind to some of the most relaxing classical music performed by some of the finest artists. There’s over 7 hours of well-chosen music split across six CDs and featuring the world's best loved composers. Another winning collection.

           

†Original film soundtrack version / (P) as shown. The copyright in these sound recordings is owned by EMI Records Ltd except where otherwise stated. *Digital remastering (P) as shown by EMI Records Ltd except where otherwise stated.

This compilation (P) & © 2007 by EMI Records Ltd. / Compilation producer: Tony Locantro

 

EMI 6cds 3890322