Discs: 2 CDs

Essential works in timeless interpretations by the biggest names in classical music - from Lang Lang to Anne-Sophie Mutter and Daniel Barenboim to Herbert von Karajan

The perfect introduction to the music of Beethoven especially for the curious consumer taking their first steps into his universe: from the “Moonlight Sonata” to “Für Elise” and the complete Symphony No.5

Artists

Lang Lang (piano), Murray Perahia (piano), David Garrett (violin, Alexander Markovich (piano), Daniel Barenboim (piano), Emil Gilels (piano), Anne-Sophie Mutter (violin), Wilhelm Kempff (piano), Krystian Zimerman (piano)

Berliner Philharmoniker, Wiener Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan, Ferdinand Leitner, Leonard Bernstein, Karl Bohm, Carlos Kleiber

Composers

Beethoven, Ludwig van (1770-1827)

Contents

Beethoven: Für Elise (Bagatelle in A minor, WoO59)
Lang Lang (piano)

Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2 'Moonlight': Adagio sostenuto
Murray Perahia (piano)

Beethoven: Violin Sonata No. 5 in F major, Op. 24 'Spring': Rondo
David Garrett (violin, Alexander Markovich (piano)

Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57 'Appassionata': 2. Andante con moto
Daniel Barenboim (piano)

Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 17 in D minor, Op. 31 No. 2 'Tempest' - Allegretto
Emil Gilels (piano)

Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61 - Rondo
Anne-Sophie Mutter (violin)
Berliner Philharmoniker
Herbert von Karajan

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4, Op. 58 (Andante con moto)
Wilhelm Kempff (piano)
Berliner Philharmoniker
Ferdinand Leitner

Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 in E flat major, Op. 55 'Eroica' - Allegro con brio
Berliner Philharmoniker
Herbert von Karajan

Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68 'Pastoral' - III. Allegro
Wiener Philharmoniker
Leonard Bernstein

Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92: Allegro con brio
Berliner Philharmoniker
Herbert von Karajan

Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 'Choral' - Ode to joy (excerpt)
Wiener Philharmoniker
Karl Böhm

Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67
Wiener Philharmoniker
Carlos Kleiber

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major, Op. 73 'Emperor'
Krystian Zimerman (piano)
Wiener Philharmoniker
Leonard Bernstein

Works

Bach, J S: Partita for solo violin No. 2 in D minor, BWV1004: Chaconne
Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61
Beethoven: Violin Sonata No. 5 in F major, Op. 24 'Spring'
Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 26
Elgar: Salut d'amour, Op. 12
Fauré: Berceuse, Op. 16
Kreisler: La Gitana
Lalo: Symphonie espagnole, Op. 21: Intermezzo
Massenet: Meditation (from Thaïs)
Monti, V: Csárdás
Paganini: Caprice for solo violin, Op. 1 No. 24 in A minor
Rimsky Korsakov: Flight of the Bumble Bee
Saint-Saëns: Introduction & Rondo capriccioso, Op. 28
Tchaikovsky: Valse-scherzo in C major for violin & orchestra (or violin & piano), Op. 34
Vivaldi: The Four Seasons: Spring, RV269
Vivaldi: The Four Seasons: Winter, RV297
Wieniawski: Polonaise brilliante No. 1 in D major, Op. 4
Williams, John: Schindler's List: Theme

Disc 1:
1. Allegro
2. Allegro Moderato
3. Hopak (Arr. For Violin And Piano)
4. Giga
5. Eliza Aria
6. Hungarian Dance No.5 In G Minor, Woo 1 No.5 (Arr. For Violin)
7. Largo
8. Allegro
9. Rondo A La Clochette, 'La Campanella'
10. Preludio
11. Legende, Op.17
12. Spring 1
13. Rondo Allegro
14. Largo, Ma Non Tanto
15. No 24 In A Minor
16. Vivace
17. Presto
18. Echorus

Disc 2:
1. Sinfonia (Arr. For Violin, Strings And Continuo)
2. Lento, Ma Non Troppo - Poco Piu Mosso - Tempo I
3. Meditation
4. No 3 In D Flat Major (Lento, Placido)
5. No 2 Einfach, Innig
6. Andante
7. Preghiera (Arr. By Fritz Kreisler From Piano Concerto No. 2 In C Minor, Op. 18, 2nd Movement)
8. Vocalise-Etude En Forme De Habanera, M. 51 (Arr. For Violin And Piano)
9. No 1 (Arr. For Violin And Piano)
10. I Giorni (Arr. For Violin, Piano And String Orchestra)
11. Yumeji's Theme
12. Tempo Di Minuetto
13. Allegretto
14. Largo Andante
15. American Beauty (Arr. For Violin And Orchestra)
16. Theme From 'Schindler's List'
17. Spiegel Im Spiegel

Disc 3:
1. Introduction Allegro Moderato
2. Danse Espagnole (Arr. For Violin And Piano By Fritz Kreisler)
3. Allegro
4. Chanson Russe - Arr. Stravinsky & Samuel Dushkin From 'Mavra'
5. Vocalise, Op.34 No.14 (Arr. For Violin And Piano)
6. Introduktion Andante
7. La Gitana
8. Allegro Ma Non Tanto
9. Scherzo
10. No.39 Aria: 'Erbarme Dich' (Arr. For Oboe D'amore, Violin, Strings And Continuo)
11. Ii. Canzonetta (Andante)
12. Allegro Vivo
13. Intermede (Fantasque Et Leger)
14. Finale (Tres Anime)
15. = Ca. 108

A journey to complete relaxation

Discs: 3 CDs

Immerse yourself in the most peaceful and chilled-out works written for the piano.

Featuring over three and a half hours of calming piano pieces, Peaceful Piano takes the listener seamlessly through a journey of total relaxation, making this the perfect album to relax or study to.

Includes popular pieces and composers of the classical piano repertoire alongside giants of the neo-classical world to well-known movie themes and piano arrangements of Coldplay's 'Fix You' and David Bowie's 'Life on Mars'.

A perfect introduction to the piano which will appeal to anyone with a curiosity, whatever their preferred taste.

Artists

Nicola Benedetti (violin), Vesselin Gellev (leader), Vladimir Ashkenazy (piano), Emma Johnson (clarinet), Edward Brewer (harpsichord), Laura Wright (soprano), Robert Fardell (tenor), Lucie Svehlova (concertmaster), Sara Brimer (background vocalist), Chris Foster (chorus master), Nelson Freire (piano), Barnaby Smith (counter-tenor), Oliver Vincent (tenor), Samuel Dressel (tenor), Dingle Yandell (bass), Paul Smith (baritone), Christopher Wardle (counter-tenor), Emily Dickens (soprano), Andrea Haines (soprano), Ludovico Einaudi (piano), James Galway (flute), Wilhelm Kempff (piano), Zoltan Kocsis (piano), Johann Strauss Orchestra, Jorge Bolet (piano), Maarten Jansen (cello), Janine Jansen (violin), Jan Jansen (harpsichord), Stacey Watton (double bass), Elizabeth Kenny (theorbo), Julian Rachlin (viola), Candida Thompson (violin), Henk Rubingh (violin), Julia Fischer (violin), Alisa Weilerstein (cello), Paul Frey (tenor)

London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, Voces8, Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Berliner Philharmoniker, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, London Festival Orchestra, Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Chorus, National Philharmonic Orchestra

Works

Allegri: Miserere mei, Deus
Bach, J S: Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G Major, BWV1048
Barber: Adagio for Strings, Op. 11
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major, Op. 73 'Emperor'
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2 'Moonlight'
Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68 'Pastoral'
Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92
Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 'Choral'
Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 26
Chopin: Nocturne No. 20 in C sharp minor, Op. post.
Debussy: Suite Bergamasque
Debussy: Clair de Lune (from Suite Bergamasque)
Dvořák: Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 'From the New World'
Einaudi: I Giorni
Elgar: Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85
Elgar: Enigma Variations, Op. 36
Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue
Holst: The Planets, Op. 32
Jenkins, K: The Armed Man - A Mass For Peace
Mascagni: Cavalleria Rusticana
Mozart: Clarinet Concerto in A major, K622
Pachelbel: Canon
Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18
Strauss, J, II: An der schönen, blauen Donau, Op. 314
Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture, Op. 49
Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 23
Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
Vaughan Williams: The Lark Ascending

Virtuoso Horn Concertos

Discs: 3 CDS

Artists

Hélène Grimaud (piano), Daniel Barenboim (piano), Wilhelm Kempff (piano), Martha Argerich (piano), Dino Ciani (piano), Alexis Weissenberg (piano), Mikhail Pletnev (piano), Andrei Gavrilov (piano), Yundi Li (piano), Lazar Berman (piano), Lilya Zilberstein (piano), Jean-Marc Luisada (piano), Lang Lang (piano)

Composers

Bach, Johann Sebastian (1685-1750)
Beethoven, Ludwig van (1770-1827)
Brahms, Johannes (1833-97)
Chopin, Frédéric François (1810-49)
Debussy, Claude Achille (1862-1918)
Grieg, Edvard Hagerup (1843-1907)
Liszt, Ferencz (1811-86)
Mendelssohn, Felix (1809-47)
Rachmaninov, Sergey Vassilievich (1873-1943)
Satie, Erik Alfred Leslie (1866-1925)
Schubert, Franz Peter (1797-1828)
Schumann, Robert (1810-56)

Works

Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2 'Moonlight': Adagio sostenuto
Brahms: Intermezzo in E flat major, Op. 117 No. 1
Chopin: Nocturne No. 2 in E flat major, Op. 9 No. 2
Chopin: Nocturne No. 5 in F sharp major, Op. 15 No. 2
Chopin: Prelude Op. 28 No. 4 in E minor
Chopin: Prelude Op. 28 No. 7 in A major
Debussy: Clair de Lune (from Suite Bergamasque)
Debussy: La fille aux cheveux de lin (from Préludes - Book 1: No. 8)
Grieg: Nocturne (from Lyric Pieces Op. 54)
Grieg: To Spring (from Lyric Pieces Op. 43)
Liszt: Consolation, S. 172 No. 3 in D flat major
Liszt: Liebestraum, S541 No. 3 (Nocturne in A flat major)
Mendelssohn: Song without Words, Op. 19b No. 1 in E major 'Sweet Remembrance'
Mendelssohn: Song without Words, Op. 30 No. 6 in F sharp minor 'Venezianisches Gondellied No. 2'
Rachmaninov: Prelude Op. 23 No. 4 in D major
Rachmaninov: Prelude Op. 32 No. 12 in G sharp minor
Satie: Gymnopédie No. 1
Schubert: Impromptu in G flat major, D899 No. 3
Schumann: Träumerei (from Kinderszenen, Op. 15)

Two CDS filled with the best-loved numbers from opera - and filled with the passion, tragedy, joy and laughter that define this most thrilling of musical genres. Aria, duet, trio, chorus, overture … Verdi, Puccini, Mozart, Rossini, Bizet … Callas, Dessay, Gheorghiu, Domingo, Carreras, Alagna, Villazón … and so much more.

Decca, the opera company, presents a premium collection of the 100 most beautiful operatic moments - from arias and choruses, to overtures and marches.

With a world-beating roster of opera singers including Luciano Pavarotti, Renee Fleming and Jonas Kaufmann, Decca Classics has always invested infinite energy and enormous care on its productions, blending the greatest casts with experienced opera orchestras and great conductors. The result of this mix of world-beating artists, unrivalled technical skill and know-how is an opera catalogue of matchless artistry and superb sound.

Two CDs filled with treasures for the piano, drawn from the world's greatest catalogue of recorded music. From hushed intimacy to spectacular virtuosity, and from Bach to Gershwin - by way of Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Debussy, Rachmaninov and more - this collection of pieces demonstrates the piano's astonishing range of colour and emotion in the hands of supreme performers.

Disc: 1

1. Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Op.18: I. Moderato - Leif Ove Andsnes
2. Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor, K. 466: II. Romanze - Yuri Egorov
3. Bagatelle No 25 in A Minor, WoO 59, 'Fur Elise' - Francois-Rene Duchable
4. Impromptu No. 3 in G-Flat Major, D. 899 - Maria Joao Pires
5. Piano Sonata No. 62 in E-Flat Major, Hob. XVI:52: III. Finale: Presto - Mikhail Pletnev
6. Klavierstucke, Op 119: III Intermezzo in C Major (Grazioso e giocoso) - Nicholas Angelich
7. Songs Without Words, Book 6, Op. 67: No. 2 Allegro leggiero - Alexandre Tharaud
8. Nocturne No. 4 in F Major, Op. 15 No. 1 - Martha Argerich
9. Liebestraum No. 3 in A flat major - Leif Ove Andsnes
10. 6 Lyric Pieces, Book 8, Op. 65: No. 6 Wedding Day at Troldhaugen - Alexandre Tharaud
11. 18eme Ordre: No 6 Le tic-toc-choc, ou Les maillotins - Alexandre Tharaud
12. Children's Corner: VI. Golliwogg's Cake-Walk - Samson Francois
13. Piano Concerto in G Major, M. 83: II. Adagio assai - Helene Grimaud
14. Rhapsody in Blue - Andre Previn

Disc: 2

1. Piano Sonata No 8 in C Minor, 'Pathetique', Op 13: I Grave - Allegro di molto e con brio - Stephen Kovacevich
2. Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-Flat Major, Op. 73, 'Emperor': II. Adagio un poco mosso - Hans Richter-Haaser
3. Nocturne in C-Sharp Minor, Op. posthume - Alexandre Tharaud
4. Suite Bergamasque : IV. Passepied - Samson Francois
5. Goyescas, Book 2: IV. Quejas o La maja y el ruisenor - Jean-Francois Heisser
6. Noches en los jardines de Espana: II Danza lejana - Martha Argerich
7. Prelude in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 3 No. 2 - Jean Philippe Collard
8. Hungarian Rhapsody, S. 244: No. 2 in C-Sharp Minor - Georges Cziffra
9. Prokofiev : Piano Concerto No.3 in C major Op.26 : I Andante - Allegro - Vladimir Krainev
10. Impromptus, D. 899: No. 2 in E-Flat Major:Allegro - David Fray
11. The Seasons, Op. 37b: VI. Juin (Barcarolle) - Mikhail Pletnev
12. Keyboard Concerto in D Minor, BWV 1052: II. Adagio - David Fray
13. Cantata No. 147, 'Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben', BWV 147: Choral: 'Jesu bleibet meine Freude' - Dinu Lipatti

This 2CD album brings together ten of the most famous tenors, performing nearly 50 of the greatest arias of all time. It also features a 16-page booklet with everything you need to know about each tenor - nationality, short biography, best recording, trivia and more - in an appealing and witty design.

Disc One contains 24 operatic arias, opening with the all-time tenor of tenors, Luciano Pavarotti, singing Nessun Dorma. Juan Diego Flórez delivers the astonishing Ah mes amis (with its 9 top Cs) in supreme style, Villazón sings Verdi and Handel, while Jonas Kaufmann can be heard in Puccini, Bizet (Carmen) and even Wagner.

Disc Two contains film themes, Neopolitan songs, Sicilian songs, sacred music and others. Highlights include Andrea Bocelli's Ave Maria (from his best-selling Sacred Arias album); Joseph Calleja singing the “love theme” from Cinema Paradiso, Plácido Domingo with No Puedo Ser and José Carreras singing Granada.

Luciano Pavarotti (tenor), Jose Carreras (tenor), Jonas Kaufmann (tenor), Fritz Wunderlich (tenor), Rolando Villazon (tenor), Joseph Calleja (tenor), Juan Diego Florez (tenor), Andrea Bocelli (tenor), Placido Domingo (tenor)

Works

Bernstein: West Side Story
Bizet: Les Pêcheurs de Perles
Brodszky: Be My Love
Caccini, G: Ave Maria
Cardillo: Core 'ngrato
Denza: Funiculì-Funiculà
Franck, C: Panis Angelicus
Gounod: Ave Maria
Hardelot: Because
Kalman: Gräfin Mariza
Lara, Augustin: Granada
Leoncavallo: Mattinata - 'L'aurora di bianco vestita'
Puccini: La Bohème: Act 1
Ramirez, A: Misa Criolla
Refice: Ombra di Nube
Rossini: Soirées Musicales
Strauss, R: Sechs Lieder, Op. 17
Verdi: Rigoletto: Act 3

Catalogue No: 4824025
Label: Decca
Discs: 2 CDs
Length: 2 hours 36 minutes

Cyndia Sieden (soprano), Christiane Oelze (soprano), Gerald Finley (baritone), Andreas Dieterich (treble), Constanze Backes (soprano), Florian Wöller (treble), Jan Andreas Mendel (treble), Anne Sofie von Otter (mezzo-soprano), Rodney Gilfry (baritone), Rosa Mannion (soprano), Amanda Roocroft (soprano), Carlos Feller (baritone), Charlotte Margiono (soprano), Christoph Prégardien (tenor), Bryn Terfel (bass-baritone)
English Baroque Soloists
Sir John Eliot Gardiner

Composers

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus (1756-91)

Works

Mozart: Ach, ich fühl's (from Die Zauberflöte, K620)
Mozart: Deh vieni, non tardar (from Le nozze di Figaro)
Mozart: Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen (from Die Zauberflöte)
Mozart: Der Vogelfänger bin ich, ja (from Die Zauberflöte)
Mozart: Donne mie la fate a tanti (from Così fan tutte)
Mozart: E amore un ladroncello (from Così fan tutte)
Mozart: Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen (from Die Zauberflöte)
Mozart: Fin ch'han dal vino (from Don Giovanni)
Mozart: Il mio tesoro intanto (from Don Giovanni)
Mozart: La ci darem la mano (from Don Giovanni)
Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro, K492
Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro, K492: Overture
Mozart: Mi tradì quell'alma ingrata (from Don Giovanni)
Mozart: Non piu andrai, farfallone amoroso (from Le Nozze di Figaro)
Mozart: Parto, parto, ma tu ben mio (from La Clemenza di Tito)
Mozart: Porgi amor (from Le nozze di Figaro)
Mozart: Soave sia il vento (from Così fan tutte)
Mozart: Sull' aria che soave zeffiretto (from Le Nozze di Figaro)
Mozart: Vedro mentr'io sospiro (from Le nozze di Figaro)