Best Classics 100

The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba

George Frideric Handel - Solomon, HWV 67: Act III. Sinfonia “The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba”

Neville Marriner, Academy of St Martin in the Fields

Le Quattro Stagioni: I. Allegro

Antonio Vivaldi - Concerto in E major, op. 8 no. 1, RV 269 “La primavera”

Alberto Lysy, Yehudi Menuhin

Toccata in D minor BWV565

Johann Sebastian Bach - Toccata und Fuge d-Moll, BWV 565

Wayne Marshall

Horn Concerto No. 4 in E-flat, K. 495: Rondo

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Concerto for Horn no. 4 in E-flat major, K. 495

Barry Tuckwell, Neville Marriner, Academy of St Martin in the Fields

Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67: I. Allegro con brio

Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony no. 5 in C minor, op. 67

Kurt Sanderling, Wolfgang Sawallisch, Philharmonia Orchestra

1812 Overture - Conclusion

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky - The Year 1812, Festival Overture in E-flat major, op. 49

Mariss Jansons, Oslo Philharmonic

Ode to Joy - Symphony No. 9 in D minor 'Choral' Op. 125

Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony no. 9 in D minor, op. 125 “Choral”

Adrian Boult, Joseph Flummerfelt, Riccardo Muti

Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16: Allegro molto moderato (Opening)

Edvard Grieg - Concerto in A minor for Piano and Orchestra, op. 16

Neville Marriner, London Symphony Orchestra, Cécile Ousset

Alla Marcia - Karelia Suite Op. 11 No. 3

Jean Sibelius - Karelia-sarja, op. 11

John Barbirolli, The Hallé

The Planets, Op. 32: IV. Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity (conclusion)

Gustav Holst - The Planets, op. 32

Simon Rattle, Philharmonia Orchestra

Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23: Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky - Concerto for Piano and Orchestra no. 1 in B-flat minor, op. 23

André Previn, London Symphony Orchestra, Horacio Gutiérrez

Finlandia - Symphonic Poem Op. 26

Jean Sibelius - Finlandia, op. 26

John Barbirolli, The Hallé

Gloria All'egitto - Triumphal Scene & Grand March

Giuseppe Verdi - Aida: Atto II, scena 2. Marcia trionfale (orchestra)

Douglas Robinson, Riccardo Muti, Philharmonia Orchestra

Montagues and Capulets - Dance of the Knights (Romeo and Juliet)

Sergei Prokofiev - Romeo and Juliet: Suite no. 2, op. 64ter

Riccardo Muti, Philadelphia Orchestra

Radetzky March

Johann Strauss I - Radetzky‐Marsch, op. 228

Willi Boskovsky, Wiener Johann Strauss Orchester

Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1 - Land of Hope and Glory (Conclusion)

Edward Elgar - Pomp and Circumstance Military Marches, op. 39: March no. 1 in D major

Andrew Davis, Royal Choral Society

Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor - Allegro ma non tanto (Opening)

Sergei Rachmaninoff - Piano Concerto no. 3 in D minor, op. 30

Mariss Jansons, Saint Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Mikhail Rudy

Symphony No. 3 in C Minor 'Organ' Op. 78 - Maestoso-Allegro (Conclusion)

Camille Saint-Saëns - Symphony no. 3 in C minor “avec orgue”, op. 78

Michel Plasson, Orchestre national du Capitole de Toulouse, Matthias Eisenberg

Suite for Orchestra No. 3 in D major: Air on the G string (Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner)

Johann Sebastian Bach - Orchestersuite Nr. 3 D-Dur, BWV 1068

Iona Brown, Neville Marriner, Academy of St Martin in the Fields

Orfeo ed Erudice: Dance of the Blessed Spirits (New Philharmonia Orchestra, Riccardo Muti)

Christoph Willibald von Gluck - Orfeo ed Euridice, Wq. 30: Ballet in D minor “Dance of the Blessed Spirits”

Riccardo Muti, Philharmonia Orchestra

Canon and Gigue for 3 Violins and Basso Continuo in D Major: Canon (Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner)

Johann Pachelbel - Canon and Gigue in D major, P. 37, T. 337

Iona Brown, Neville Marriner, Academy of St Martin in the Fields

Clarinet Concerto in A major, K. 622: II. Adagio (Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden, Hans Vonk)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Concerto for Clarinet in A major, K. 622

Hans Vonk, Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden, Sabine Meyer

Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Aria (trs. Craig Leon, Julia Thornton (harp))

Johann Sebastian Bach - Goldberg-Variationen, BWV 988

Julia Thornton

Sonata for Piano No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2 "Moonlight": I. Adagio sostenuto (Dame Moura Lympany)

Ludwig van Beethoven - Sonata for Piano no. 14 in C‐sharp minor, op. 27 no. 2 “Moonlight”

Moura Lympany

Concerto in C, K. 299 for flute, harp and orchestra: II. Andantino (Berliner Philharmonic, James Galway (Flute), Herbert von Karajan)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Concerto in C major for Flute, Harp & Orchestra, K. 297c/299

Herbert von Karajan, James Galway, Berlin Philharmonic

Concerto for Violin in E minor, Op. 64: II. Andante (Philharmonia Orchestra, Yehudi Menuhin)

Felix Mendelssohn - Violinkonzert in e-Moll, op. 64

Efrem Kurtz, Yehudi Menuhin, Philharmonia Orchestra

Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major, K. 467 "Elvira Madigan": II. Andante (Halle Orchestra, Stephen Hough (piano), Bryden Thomson)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Concerto for Piano no. 21 in C major, K. 467

Bryden Thomson, The Hallé, Stephen Hough

Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 "From the New World": II. Largo (Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, Mariss Jansons)

Antonín Dvořák - Symfonie č. 9 e moll, op. 95 „Z Nového světa“

Mariss Jansons, Oslo Philharmonic

Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 26: II. Adagio (Philharmonia Orchestra, Yehudi Menuhin)

Max Bruch - Violin Concerto no. 1 in G minor, op. 26

Walter Susskind, Yehudi Menuhin, Philharmonia Orchestra

Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 36 'Enigma": Variation 9, Nimrod (London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Adrian Boult)

Edward Elgar - Variations on an Original Theme (‘Enigma’), op. 36

Adrian Boult, London Symphony Orchestra

Concierto de Aranjuez for Guitar: II. Adagio (City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Julian Bream (Guitar), Sir Simon Rattle)

Joaquín Rodrigo - Concierto de Aranjuez

Simon Rattle, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Julian Bream

The Lark Ascending: conclusion (City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Nigel Kennedy (Violin), Sir Simon Rattle)

Ralph Vaughan Williams - The Lark Ascending

Nigel Kennedy, Simon Rattle, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra

Symphony No. 5 in C-sharp minor: IV. Adagietto (New Philharmonia Orchestra, Sir John Barbirolli)

Gustav Mahler - Symphony no. 5

John Barbirolli, Philharmonia Orchestra

Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Variation 18 (City of Birmingham Orchestra, Cecile Ousset (piano), Sir Simon Rattle)

Sergei Rachmaninoff - Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, op. 43: Variation XVIII

Simon Rattle, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Cécile Ousset

Les Pêcheurs de perles, opera in 3 acts Temple Duet. Au Fond Du Temple Saint

Georges Bizet - Les Pêcheurs de perles : Acte I. No. 2 Duo « Au fond du temple saint » (Zurga, Nadir)

Pierre Dervaux, Ernest Blanc, Nicolai Gedda

Rusalka, opera, B. 203 (Op. 114) Song to the Moon

Antonín Dvořák - Rusalka, op. 114, B. 203: 1. jednání. “Měsíčku na nebi hlubokém” (Rusalka)

Stefan Soltész, Munich Radio Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra

Lakmé, opera Flower Duet. Dôme Épais

Léo Delibes - Lakmé : Acte I. No. 2 Duetto « Viens, Mallika, les lianes en fleurs » … « Dôme épais le jasmin » (Lakmé, Mallika)

Alain Lombard, Mady Mesplé

Carmen, opéra-comique in 4 acts Flower Song. La Fluer Que Tu M' Avais Jetée

Georges Bizet - Carmen : Acte II. No. 17 Duo : « La Fleur que tu m’avais jetée » (Carmen, Don José)

Georges Prêtre, Orchestre de l'Opéra national de Paris, Maria Meneghini Callas

Orfeo ed Euridice (Italian version), opera in 3 acts, Wq. 30 Che Farò senza Euridice?

Christoph Willibald von Gluck - Orfeo ed Euridice, Wq. 30: Atto III. Aria “Che farò senza Euridice?” (Orfeo)

Riccardo Muti, Philharmonia Orchestra, Agnes Baltsa

Norma, opera Casta Diva

Vincenzo Bellini - Norma: Atto I, scena 1. Scena e cavatina “Casta diva, che inargenti” (Norma, coro)

Tullio Serafin, Orchestra of the Teatro alla Scala, Milan, Coro del Teatro alla Scala

La bohème, opera Che Gelida Manina

Giacomo Puccini - La bohème: Atto I, no. 6. “Che gelida manina!” (Rodolfo)

Richard Armstrong, Roberto Alagna

Gianni Schicchi, opera O Mio Babbino Caro

Giacomo Puccini - Gianni Schicchi: “O mio babbino caro” (Lauretta)

Antonio Pappano, London Symphony Orchestra, Angela Gheorghiu

Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera Vogliatemi Bene

Giacomo Puccini - Madama Butterfly: Atto I. “Vogliatemi bene, un bene piccolino” … “Un pò'di vero c'è” … “Oh quanti occhi fisi” (Butterfly, Pinkerton)

John Barbirolli, Carlo Bergonzi, Renata Scotto

Nabucco, opera (Nabucodonosor) Chorus of Hebrew Slaves. Va, Pensiero

Giuseppe Verdi - Nabucco: Parte III, scena 2. Coro “Va, pensiero, sull’ali dorate” (Coro)

Bernard Haitink, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

Die lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow), operetta Es Lebt' Eine Vilja

Franz Lehár - Die lustige Witwe: Akt II. N°7. Introduktion, Tanz und Vilja-Lied: “Ich bitte, hier jetzt zu verweilen” … “Nun laßt uns aber wie daheim” … “Es lebt’ eine Vilja” (Hanna, Chor)

Lovro von Matačić, Philharmonia Orchestra, Philharmonia Chorus

Serse (Xerxes), opera, HWV 40 Ombra Mai Fu

George Frideric Handel - Serse, HWV 40: Atto I. Arioso “Ombra mai fù”

John Barbirolli, The Hallé, Richard Lewis

Ellens Gesang III ("Ave Maria"), song for voice & piano, D. 839 (Op. 52/6)

Franz Schubert - Ellens Gesang III, op. 52 no. 6, D. 839 “Ave Maria”

Gerald Moore, Janet Baker

Cantique de Noel for voice & orchestra, "O Holy Night"

Adolphe Adam - Cantique de Noël “Minuit chrétiens”

Michel Plasson, Orchestre national du Capitole de Toulouse, Roberto Alagna

Turandot, opera Nessun Dorma

Giacomo Puccini - Turandot: Atto III, scena 1. Aria “Nessun dorma” (Calaf)

Alain Lombard, Orchestre philharmonique de Strasbourg, José Carreras

Le Nozze di Figaro (Overture)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Le nozze di Figaro, K. 492: Sinfonia

Colin Davis, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Jesus bleibet meine Freude

Johann Sebastian Bach - Kantate, BWV 147 „Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben“: Teil II, X. Choral „Jesus bleibet meine Freude“

Neville Marriner, Academy of St Martin in the Fields

Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 73 "Emperor": I. Allegro (Extract)

Ludwig van Beethoven - Concerto for Piano and Orchestra no. 5 in E-flat major, op. 73 “Emperor”

George Szell, Cleveland Orchestra, Emil Gilels

Trumpet Voluntary

Jeremiah Clarke - The Prince of Denmark’s March

Jane Parker-Smith, Maurice Andrés

Judex (Mors et Vita)

Charles Gounod - Mors et Vita: Pars secunda "Judicium": Judex: 4. Sedenti in Throno

Maurice Handford, The Hallé

Sarabande

George Frideric Handel - Suite de pièce in D minor, Vol. 2 no. 4, HWV 437

Alexander Briger, Academy of St Martin in the Fields

Troika (Lieutenant Kijé)

Sergei Prokofiev - Lieutenant Kijé Suite, op. 60

Klaus Tennstedt

Fantasia on 'Greensleeves' (Sir John in Love)

Ralph Vaughan Williams - Fantasia on “Greensleeves”

John Barbirolli, Sinfonia of London

Clair De Lune

Claude Debussy - Suite bergamasque, L. 75, CD 82

Moura Lympany

Swan Lake - Scene (Act II, No.10)

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky - Swan Lake, op. 20

André Previn, London Symphony Orchestra

Cavatina (The Deer Hunter)

Stanley Myers - Cavatina

Manuel Barrueco, Steve Morse

Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11: II. Romance - Larghetto (opening)

Frédéric Chopin - Concerto for Piano and Orchestra no. 1 in E minor, op. 11: II. Romance. Larghetto

Jerzy Maksymiuk, Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Garrick Ohlsson

An der schönen blauen Donau, Walzer, Op. 314 (Extract)

Johann Strauss II - An der schönen blauen Donau, op. 314

Herbert von Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic

Intermezzo (Cavalleria Rusticana)

Pietro Mascagni - Cavalleria rusticana: Intermezzo

Riccardo Muti, Philharmonia Orchestra

Piano Concerto No.2 in C minor, Op.18 (II - Adagio sostenuto, Opening)

Sergei Rachmaninoff - Piano Concerto no. 2 in C minor, op. 18

Simon Rattle, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Cécile Ousset

Morning (Peer Gynt Incidental Music, Op.23)

Edvard Grieg - Peer Gynt, op. 23: 4. akt, prelude: Morgenstemning

Neville Marriner, Academy of St Martin in the Fields

Romance (The Gadfly)

Dmitri Shostakovich - The Gadfly Suite, op. 97a

Piers Lane, Tasmin Little

Adagio for Strings

Samuel Barber - Adagio for Strings

Eugene Ormandy, Philadelphia Orchestra

Scheherazade: The Story of the Kalender Prince (Opening)

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov - Scheherazade, op. 35

Riccardo Muti, Philadelphia Orchestra

Meditation (Thais)

Jules Massenet - Thaïs: Acte II. Entr’acte “Méditation”

Herbert von Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic, Anne-Sophie Mutter

Polovtsian Dances (Prince Igor) (Beginning)

Alexander Borodin - Polovtsian Dances

Thomas Beecham, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Adagio of Spartacus and Phrygia (Spartacus) (Extract)

Aram Khachaturian - Spartacus, op. 82: Act 1. 8. Aegina's variation and Bacchanalia

Yuri Temirkanov, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Romeo & Juliet: Fantasy Overture (Excerpt)

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky - Romeo and Juliet, Fantasy Overture, TH 42, ČW 39

Mariss Jansons, Oslo Philharmonic

Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92: II. Allegretto (extract)

Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony no. 7 in A major, op. 92

Kurt Sanderling, Philharmonia Orchestra

Double Violin Concerto in D minor, BWV 1043

Johann Sebastian Bach - Concerto for 2 Violins in D minor, BWV 1043

Yehudi Menuhin, Christian Ferras

Dance of the Reed Flutes (The Nutcracker)

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky - Щелкунчик, op. 71: Действие II, Картина III, no. 12e. Дивертисмент (д) Танец пастушков

André Previn, London Symphony Orchestra

Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68 "Pastorale": V. Allegretto

Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony no. 6 in F major, op. 68 “Pastorale”

Riccardo Muti, Philadelphia Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra

Zadok the Priest (Coronation Anthem)

George Frideric Handel - The Four Coronation Anthems: “Zadok the Priest”, HWV 258

Andrew Davis, Royal Choral Society

Zion hört die Wächter singen (Cantata BWV 140)

Johann Sebastian Bach - Kantate, BWV 140 "Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme"

Wolfgang Gönnenwein, Theo Altmeyer

Miserere Mei, Deus (W 1-4, 17-20)

Gregorio Allegri - Miserere mei, Deus

Stephen Cleobury, Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Gerald Finley

Deutsche Messe (DB72 - Sanctus)

Franz Schubert - Deutsche Messe, D. 872

Karl Forster, Berliner Symphoniker, St. Hedwig's Cathedral Choir

Panis Angelicus

César Franck - Messe solennelle en la majeur, op. 12

Maurice Handford, The Hallé

L'Adieu Des Bergers (L'Enfance Du Christ)

Hector Berlioz - L'Enfance du Christ, op. 25 : Deuxième partie no. 8. Adieu des bergers à la sainte famille « Il s'en va loin de la terre » (Les bergers)

André Cluytens, Jean Laforge, Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire

Messe de Sainte-Cécile (Sanctus)

Charles Gounod - Messe solennelle de Sainte Cécile, CG 56

Jean-Claude Hartemann, Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire, Franz Crass

In Paradisum (Requiem Op 48)

Gabriel Fauré - Requiem, op. 48

José Luis García Asensio, Stephen Cleobury, English Chamber Orchestra

Laudate Dominum (Solemn Vespers K339)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Vesperae solennes de confessore, K. 339

Eugen Jochum, Gerhard Wilhelm, Wolfgang Isenhardt

Ingesmico (Requiem)

Giuseppe Verdi - Messa da requiem: IIh. Dies irae: Ingemisco (tenore)

Giulio Bertola, Riccardo Muti, Orchestra of the Teatro alla Scala, Milan

Ave verum corpus (K. 618)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Ave Verum Corpus, K. 618

Paul Hillier, Roy Goodman, Stephen Cleobury

I Know That My Redeemer Liveth (Messiah)

George Frideric Handel - Messiah, HWV 56: Part III, no. 45. Air “I know that my Redeemer liveth” (Soprano)

Charles Mackerras, English Chamber Orchestra, Ambrosian Singers

The Heavens are Telling (The Creation)

Joseph Haydn - Die Schöpfung, Hob XXI:2: Part II: XXVIa. Chor: Vollendet ist das große Werk

David Willcocks, Neville Marriner, Robert Tear

Pie Jesu (Requiem)

Gabriel Fauré - Requiem, op. 48

André Cluytens, Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire, Chorale Elisabeth Brasseur

Lacrimosa (Requiem in D minor, K. 626)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Requiem in D minor, K. 626: IIIf. Sequenz: “Lacrimosa”

Franz Welser-Möst, London Philharmonic Choir

Hallelujah Chorus (Messiah)

George Frideric Handel - Messiah, HWV 56: Part II, no. 44. Chorus: “Hallelujah”

Charles Mackerras, Paul Esswood, Robert Tear