Best Classics 100

Solomon: 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

Karelia Suite Op. 11 No. 3: Alla marcia

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

Aida: 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

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

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

Orfeo ed Euridice: Dance of the Blessed Spirits

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

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

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

Hans Vonk, Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden, Sabine Meyer

Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Aria

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Adrian Boult, London Symphony Orchestra

Concierto de Aranjuez for Guitar: II. Adagio

Joaquín Rodrigo - Concierto de Aranjuez

Simon Rattle, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Julian Bream

The Lark Ascending: conclusion

Ralph Vaughan Williams - The Lark Ascending

Nigel Kennedy, Simon Rattle, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra

Symphony No. 5 in C-sharp minor: IV. Adagietto

Gustav Mahler - Symphony no. 5

John Barbirolli, Philharmonia Orchestra

Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Variation 18

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 : Au fond du temple saint (Temple Duet)

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 : « Dôme épais … » (Flower Duet)

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 : « La Fleur que tu m'avais jetée » (Flower Song)

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), 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: “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: “Che gelida manina”

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

Richard Armstrong, Roberto Alagna

Gianni Schicchi: “O mio babbino caro”

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

Antonio Pappano, London Symphony Orchestra, Angela Gheorghiu

Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly): “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 (Nabucodonosor): “Va, pensiero” (Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves)

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): „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), 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: “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

Ingemisco (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