Angela Denoke (soprano), Marianna Tarasova (contralto), Endrik Wottrich (tenor), Matthias Goerne (baritone)
Russian National Orchestra, Moscow State Chamber Choir, Mikhail Pletnev

Composers

Beethoven, Ludwig van (1770-1827)

Works

Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 'Choral'

André Previn (piano/conductor)
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

Composers

Gershwin, George (1898-1937)

Works

Gershwin: An American in Paris, tone poem
Gershwin: Piano Concerto in F major
Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue

Composers

Barber, Samuel (1910-81)
Copland, Aaron (1900-90)

Works

Barber: Adagio for Strings, Op. 11
Copland: Appalachian Spring
Copland: Appalachian Spring - Suite
Copland: Fanfare for the Common Man
Copland: Rodeo
Copland: Rodeo (Four Dance Episodes)

Sylvia McNair (soprano), Carolyn Watkinson (contralto), Francisco Araiza (tenor), Robert Lloyd (bass)
Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Rundfunkchor Leipzig, Sir Neville Marriner

Composers

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus (1756-91)

Works

Mozart: Ave verum corpus, K618
Mozart: Requiem in D minor, K626

Gidon Kremer (violin), Heinz Holliger (oboe)
Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields

Composers

Bach, Johann Sebastian (1685-1750)
Works

Bach, J S: Concerto for Two Violins in D minor, BWV1043
Bach, J S: Oboe Concerto in F major, BWV1053
Bach, J S: Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, BWV1041
Bach, J S: Violin Concerto No. 2 in E major, BWV1042

Beethoven was a musical giant. He wasn't taller or fatter than everyone else, but his music is big and his name is important. Beethoven is like the Olympic champion of classical music. Some of the music he wrote is strong and serious, and some of it is very gentle. Listen here to orchestras, pianos, violins and other instruments playing some of the most famous pieces of all.

Artists

Jenö Jandó (piano), Takako Nishizaki (violin), Stefan Vladar (piano), Gyorgy Eder (cello), Attila Falvay (violin), Janos Fejervari (viola), Jeno Kevehazi (horn), Jozsef Kiss (oboe), Jozsef Vajda (bassoon), Bela Kovacs (clarinet), Csaba Onczay (cello), Jozsef Balogh (clarinet), Istvan Toth (double bass), Ildiko Hegyi (violin), Gyozo Mathe (viola), Peter Szabo (cello)

Nicolaus Esterhazy Sinfonia, Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, Cappella Istropolitana, Kodály Quartet, Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, Nicolaus Esterhazy Chorus, Béla Drahos, Ondrej Lenárd, Barry Wordsworth, Kenneth Jean, Michael Halász

Composers

Beethoven, Ludwig van (1770-1827)

Works

Beethoven: Cello Sonata No. 3 in A major, Op. 69
Beethoven: Fidelio Overture Op. 72c
Beethoven: Für Elise (Bagatelle in A minor, WoO59)
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: Piano Sonata No. 29 in B-flat major, Op. 106 'Hammerklavier'
Beethoven: Quintet in E flat major for piano and winds, Op.16
Beethoven: Septet in E flat major, Op. 20
Beethoven: Serenade for string trio in D major, Op. 8
Beethoven: String Quartet No. 2 in G major, Op. 18 No. 2
Beethoven: String Quartet No. 9 in C major, Op. 59 No. 3 'Rasumovsky No. 3'
Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67
Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68 'Pastoral'
Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 'Choral'
Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61
Beethoven: Violin Sonata No. 5 in F major, Op. 24 'Spring'

'Da-da-da-DAAAAH, Da-da-da-DAAAAH': listen to track 7 and see if you recognise that music! It's one of the most famous pieces of classical music ever written. There are some animals here, too - an elephant and a swan. And right at the end, guess which boy wizard joins the party… Come and join it too!

Artists
Josef Bogacz (violin), Takako Nishizaki (violin), Dong-Suk Kang (violin), Pascal Devoyon (piano), Jenö Jandó (piano), Jurgen Schuster (trumpet), Idil Biret (piano), Francois-Joel Thiollier (piano), Georg Tichy (baritone)

Zagreb Festival Orchestra, Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, Cappella Istropolitana, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Kölner Kammerorchester, Nicolaus Esterhazy Sinfonia, Slovaca Philharmonia, Budapest Symphony Orchestra, Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, Budapest Failoni Chamber Orchestra, Eder Quartet, Philharmonia Orchestra, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Michael Halász, Stephen Gunzenhauser, Marin Alsop, Helmut Müller-Brühl, Béla Drahos, Libor Pešek, Istvan Bogar, Ondrej Lenárd, Kenneth Jean, Zdenek Kosler, Robert Craft, Christopher Lyndon-Gee, Carl Davis

Composers
Adams, John (b.1947)
Bach, Johann Sebastian (1685-1750)
Bartók, Béla (1881-1945)
Beethoven, Ludwig van (1770-1827)
Brahms, Johannes (1833-97)
Chopin, Frédéric François (1810-49)
Debussy, Claude Achille (1862-1918)
Dukas, Paul (1865-1935)
Dvořák, Antonín (1841-1904)
Fauré, Gabriel Urbain (1845-1924)
Grieg, Edvard Hagerup (1843-1907)
Haydn, Franz Joseph (1732-1809)
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus (1756-91)
Prokofiev, Sergei Sergeievitch (1891-1953)
Rossini, Gioacchino Antonio (1792-1868)
Saint-Saëns, Charles Camille (1835-1921)
Schumann, Robert (1810-56)
Shostakovich, Dmitri (1906-75)
Stravinsky, Igor Feodorovich (1882-1971)
Tchaikovsky, Piotr Ilyich (1840-93)
Vivaldi, Antonio (1678-1741)
Williams, John Towner (b.1932)
Works
Adams, J: Short Ride in a Fast Machine
Bach, J S: Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B minor, BWV1067
Bartók: Romanian Folk Dances for piano, Sz. 56, BB 68
Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67
Brahms: Hungarian Dances
Chopin: Études (12), Op. 25
Chopin: Étude Op. 25 No. 1 in A flat major 'Aeolian Harp'
Chopin: Étude Op. 25 No. 2 in F minor
Chopin: Étude Op. 25 No. 3 in F major
Chopin: Étude Op. 25 No. 4 in A minor
Chopin: Étude Op. 25 No. 5 in E minor
Chopin: Étude Op. 25 No. 6 in G sharp minor
Chopin: Étude Op. 25 No. 7 in C sharp minor
Chopin: Étude Op. 25 No. 8 in D flat major
Chopin: Étude Op. 25 No. 9 in G flat major 'Butterfly'
Chopin: Étude Op. 25 No. 10 in B minor
Chopin: Étude Op. 25 No. 11 in A minor 'Winter Wind'
Chopin: Étude Op. 25 No. 12 in C minor
Debussy: Children's Corner
Dukas: The Sorcerer's Apprentice
Dvořák: Slavonic Dances Nos. 1-8, Op. 46 Nos. 1-8
Fauré: Berceuse, Op. 16
Grieg: Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46
Haydn: Trumpet Concerto in E flat major, Hob. VIIe:1
Mozart: Die Zauberflöte, K620
Mozart: Divertimento in F major, K138
Rossini: Guillaume Tell
Saint-Saëns: Le carnaval des

If you listen carefully to this CD, you will get to know one of the best composers in the world. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart lived 250 years ago but he carries on being famous - so he must have been special. He giggled a lot. He was also good at playing the piano and the violin. And he wrote this amazing music, which people still love hearing today. See if you love hearing it too!

Artists

Jiri Valek (flute), Hana Mullerova (harp), Jenö Jandó (piano), Ladislav Kyselak (viola), Takako Nishizaki (violin), Jozsef Balogh (clarinet), Georg Tichy (baritone), Magdalena Hajossyova (soprano), Peter Mikulas (bass), Vladimir Ruso (organ), Jaroslava Horska (contralto), Jozef Kundlak (tenor), Stefan Klimo (choirmaster), Michael Thompson (horn), Jeno Kevehazi (horn)

Hungarian State Opera, Cappella Istropolitana, Swedish Chamber Orchestra, Concentus Hungaricus, Danubius Quartet, Budapest Failoni Chamber Orchestra, Eder Quartet, Slovak Philharmonic Chorus, Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, Bournemouth Sinfonietta, German Wind Soloists, Kodály Quartet, Pier Giorgio Morandi, Barry Wordsworth, Petter Sundkvist, Richard Edlinger, Matyas Antal, Stephen Gunzenhauser, Michael Halász, Andras Ligeti, Zdenek Kosler

Composers

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus (1756-91)

Works

Mozart: Clarinet Quintet in A major, K581
Mozart: Der Vogelfänger bin ich, ja (from Die Zauberflöte)
Mozart: Die Zauberflöte, K620
Mozart: Divertimento in D major, K136
Mozart: Divertimento in D major, K136: I. Allegro
Mozart: Ein musikalischer Spass K522
Mozart: Flute & Harp Concerto in C major, K299
Mozart: Horn Concerto No. 4 in E flat major, K495
Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro, K492
Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro, K492: Overture
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major, K467 'Elvira Madigan'
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major, K488
Mozart: Piano Sonata No. 11 in A major, K331 'Alla Turca'
Mozart: Piano Sonata No. 16 in C major, K545 'Facile'
Mozart: Requiem in D minor, K626
Mozart: Rondo alla Turca from Piano Sonata No. 11, K331
Mozart: Serenade No. 10 in B flat major, K361 'Gran Partita'
Mozart: Serenade No. 10 in B flat major, K361 'Gran Partita': V. Menuetto - Allegretto
Mozart: Serenade No. 13 in G major, K525 'Eine kleine Nachtmusik'
Mozart: Sinfonia Concertante for Violin, Viola & Orchestra in E flat major, K364
Mozart: Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K550
Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 3 in G major, K216

Listen to the piano turn into a bumblebee, a donkey, trolls, a bird, a horse and a butterfly! Sometimes it isn't anything except a piano, but the music coming out of it is exciting and beautiful. Can you spot Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star? Mozart makes it twinkle in all kinds of different ways. There are so many things to enjoy here, and all from the most amazing musical instrument: the piano.

Artists

Balázs Szokolay (piano), Jenö Jandó (piano), Zsuzsa Kollar (piano), Idil Biret (piano), Alexander Peskanov (piano), Pierre-Alain Volondat (piano), Patrick de Hooge (piano), Chu-Fang Huang (piano), Rico Gulda (piano), Wolfgang Rubsam (piano), Hae Won Chang (piano), Peter Nagy (piano), Christian Kohn (piano), Silke-Thora Matthies (piano), Francois-Joel Thiollier (piano)

Composers

Bach, Johann Sebastian (1685-1750)
Bartók, Béla (1881-1945)
Beethoven, Ludwig van (1770-1827)
Chopin, Frédéric François (1810-49)
Debussy, Claude Achille (1862-1918)
Dvořák, Antonín (1841-1904)
Fauré, Gabriel Urbain (1845-1924)
Grieg, Edvard Hagerup (1843-1907)
Haydn, Franz Joseph (1732-1809)
Ibert, Jacques (1890-1962)
Joplin, Scott (1868-1917)
Liszt, Ferencz (1811-86)
Mendelssohn, Felix (1809-47)
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus (1756-91)
Rachmaninov, Sergey Vassilievich (1873-1943)
Scarlatti, Domenico (1685-1757)
Schubert, Franz Peter (1797-1828)
Schumann, Robert (1810-56)

Works

Bach, J S: French Suite No. 5 in G major, BWV816
Bartók: For Children Volume 2: Based on Slovakian Folk Tunes
Beethoven: Für Elise (Bagatelle in A minor, WoO59)
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2 'Moonlight'
Chopin: Waltz No. 6 in D flat major, Op. 64 No. 1 'Minute Waltz'
Debussy: Children's Corner
Debussy: Suite Bergamasque
Debussy: Clair de Lune (from Suite Bergamasque)
Dvořák: Slavonic Dances Nos. 9-16, Op. 72 Nos. 1-8
Fauré: Dolly Suite, Op. 56
Grieg: Lyric Pieces III (6), Op. 43
Grieg: Lyric Pieces V (6), Op. 54
Haydn: Piano Sonata No. 50 in D major, Hob.XVI:37
Ibert: Histoires...
Joplin: Maple Leaf Rag
Liszt: Transcendental Studies, S139 Nos. 1-12
Mendelssohn: Songs without Words, Book 6 (6), Op. 67
Mendelssohn: Song without Words, Op. 67 No. 1 in E flat major
Mendelssohn: Song without Words, Op. 67 No. 2 in F sharp minor
Mendelssohn: Song without Words, Op. 67 No. 3 in B flat major
Mendelssohn: Song without Words, Op. 67 No. 4 in C major 'Spinning Song' or 'Bee's Wedding'
Mendelssohn: Song without Words, Op. 67 No. 5 in B minor
Mendelssohn: Song without Words, Op. 67 No. 6 in E major 'Lullaby'
Mozart: Piano Sonata No. 11 in A major, K331 'Alla Turca'
Mozart: Variations (12) on 'Ah, vous dirai-je, Maman' in C major, K265
Rachmaninov: Polka italienne
Scarlatti, D: Keyboard Sonata K125 in G major
Schubert: Marches Militaires (3), D733
Schumann: Album for the Young, Op. 68, Vol. 2

The most successful and well-known composer of choral music in recent British history,' wrote BBC Music Magazine of the composer, conductor and arranger John Rutter. This collection celebrates the festive side of Rutter's music, from the jubilant Gloria for full orchestra to the street festival-inspired Magnificat, and includes his Psalm 150, composed for the Queen's Golden Jubilee in 2002.

Geoffrey Webber (director), Jacqueline Hartley (leader), Ashley Grote (organ), Jacqueline Hartley (orchestra leader), The Choir of Gonville & Caius College Cambridge (lead vocals)
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Choir of King's College Cambridge
Stephen Cleobury
Recorded: 2004-07-15
Recording Venue: 9, 14 & 15 July 2004, Chapel of King's College, Cambridge

Composers

Rutter, John (b.1945)

Works

Rutter: Gloria
Rutter: Magnificat
Rutter: Psalm 150

Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Charles Dutoit

Composers

Tchaikovsky, Piotr Ilyich (1840-93)

Works

Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake, Op. 20

Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado

Composers

Mahler, Gustav (1860-1911)

Works

Mahler: Symphony No. 5

This is Joshua Bell's first CD of Sonatas on Sony Classical and it is a passionately nuanced interpretation of works from Saint-Saëns, Franck and Ravel. Joshua Bell is one of the world's most successful violinists and has won multiple Grammy awards, was awarded the prestigious Avery Fisher Prize and named Instrumentalist of the Year by Musical America. Bell was recently named Music Director for the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields becoming the first person to hold this title since Sir Neville Marriner founded the Orchestra in 1958.

Often referred to as the “poet of the violin”, his 2004 album Romance of the Violin was named the “Classical CD of the Year” by Billboard Magazine, with Bell named “Classical Artist of the Year.”

The three Sonatas chosen for this disc are very different though linked extraneously through their inherent national style:

The Saint-Saëns sonata remains one of the most exciting sonatas in the repertoire; the feverish finale is guaranteed to bring the house down. Bell's recording of César Franck's Violin Sonata allows him to pay homage, through his mentor Josef Gingold, to the two great artists who created this undying masterpiece. Written 125 years ago, at the height of the French Belle Epoque for the wedding of his friend, the virtuoso Eugene Ysaÿe (with whom Gingold studied). Ravel's more fantastic sonata offers a kaleidoscope of different thrills, as seen in the unexpected yet beautiful blending of genres in the slow “Blues” movement of his sonata.

“French Impressions is the culmination of my last decade of exploration and performance with pianist Jeremy Denk, and I hope that with this recording we can affect the listener with the same joy and spiritual enrichment that these masterpieces have provided us with over the years.” Joshua Bell

Composers

Franck, César Auguste (1822-90)
Ravel, Maurice (1875-1937)
Saint-Saëns, Charles Camille (1835-1921)

Works

Franck, C: Violin Sonata in A major
Ravel: Violin Sonata in G major
Saint-Saëns: Violin Sonata No. 1 in D minor, Op. 75

Tamás Vásáry (piano), Ivo Pogorelich (piano)
Berliner Philharmoniker, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Jerzy Semkow, Claudio Abbado

Composers

Chopin, Frédéric François (1810-49)

Works

Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11
Tamás Vásáry (piano)
Berliner Philharmoniker
Jerzy Semkow
Recorded: 1965-06-20
Recording Venue: Beethovensaal, Hannover

Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21
vo Pogorelich (piano)
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Claudio Abbado
Recorded: 1983-02-23
Recording Venue: Orchestra Hall, Chicago

Orchestre de Paris, Daniel Barenboim

Composers

Debussy, Claude Achille (1862-1918)

Works

Debussy: La Mer
Debussy: Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune
Debussy: Trois Nocturnes