VA — 100 Best 20th Century Classics [6CD Box Set] (2009) MP3

It\’s a tall order to compile the best classical music of the twentieth century, but EMI has selected its top 100 classics for this six-disc set, and it\’s difficult to argue with most of the choices. Without taking sides in the great ideological debates of the modern era — traditionalist vs. avant-garde, tonal vs. atonal, styles vs. schools, and so on — the label has picked the composers whose reputations seem most secure at the turn of the twenty-first century and has chosen representative excerpts of their music. Certainly, the titans of modernism are here, such as Igor Stravinsky, Arnold Schoenberg, B?la Bart?k, Dmitry Shostakovich, Sergey Prokofiev, Claude Debussy, and Benjamin Britten, to name just a few masters, but they don\’t cast such a large shadow that they eclipse either their more backward-looking predecessors or their more expental successors. If anything, a complaint could be made that certain post-Romantic composers, such as Sergey Rachmaninov and Ralph Vaughan Williams, are over-represented, to the exclusion of other significant figures. Yet this is perhaps understandable for a set designed for accessibility, and it is clear that this was not intended to be a thorough survey, for otherwise, the breakdown of the program would have been more consistently planned. With the discs organized to cover \»The Last of the Romantics,\» \»Innovators,\» \» Brave New World,\» \»America,\» \»Instrumental and Chamber,\» and \»Choral and Vocal,\» the themes seem ill-suited for an in-depth educational program, though good enough for making casual acquaintance with the music in understandable groupings. The performances date from 1963 to 2007, so the ADD and DDD recordings are fairly variable in quality, and there is also a noticeable difference between the live concert recordings and studio sessions. Still, for a quick run through the many styles and developmental phases of the century, this collection is pretty hard to beat for its variety and sheer quantity of examples.

CD 1:

01. Lawrence Foster, Halle Orchestra & Jean-Bernard Pommier — Piano Concerto No. 2 In C Minor, Op. 18: I. Moderato (4:52)

02. London Symphony Orchestra & Andre Previn — Romeo and Juliet: Dance of the Knights (5:41)

03. Efrem Kurtz & Philharmonia Orchestra — Masquerade: Waltz (4:20)

04. London Philharmonic Orchestra & Klaus Tennstedt — Lieutenant Kije, Op. 60: IV. Troika (2:54)

05. Mariss Jansons, Mikhail Rudy & St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra — Piano Concerto No. 3 In D Minor: I. Allegro Ma non Tanto (Excerpt) (2:52)

06. Julian Bream, City Of Bigham Symphony Orchestra & Sir Simon Rattle — Concierto de Aranjuez: Adagio — Opening (4:46)

07. John Fraser, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra & Yuri Tkanov — Spartacus Ballet Suite No. 2: Adagio (4:45)

08. Sir John Barbirolli, Jacqueline Du Pre & London Symphony Orchestra — Cello Concerto In E Minor, Op. 85: I. Adagio — Moderato (8:01)

09. City Of Bigham Symphony Orchestra, Cecile Ousset & Sir Simon Rattle — Rhapsody On a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XVIII (Andante Cantabile, a Tempo Vivace) (3:01)

10. London Symphony Orchestra & Andre Previn — Images: II. Iberia: III. Le Matin D\’un Jour de Fete (4:58)

11. Sir John Barbirolli & Halle Orchestra — I. Valse Triste from Kuolema — Incidental Music, Op. 44 (5:34)

12. Sir Adrian Boult, Hugh Bean & New Philharmonia Orchestra — The Lark Ascending (Opening) (6:25)

13. Rafael Fruhbeck de Burgos, Gonzalo Soriano & Orchestre De La Societe Des Concerts Du Conservatoire — Noches en los Jardines de Espana: En A Generalife (5:49)

14. Polish Radio Chorus Of Krakow, Polish Radio Orchestra Of Krakow & Antoni Wit — Harnasie, Op. 46 ExtrAct (Rural Scene) (2:29)

15. Dmitri Alexeev, English Chamber Orchestra & Jerzy Maksymiuk — Piano Concerto No. 2 In F: II. Andante (6:09)

16. Philharmonia Orchestra & Sir Simon Rattle — The Planets, Op. 32 (Jupiter, Concl.): Jupiter, the Bringer of Jolity (Conclusion) (4:47)

CD 2:

01. Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Seiji Ozawa — Sinfonietta: IV. Allegretto (2:45)

02. City Of Bigham Symphony Orchestra & Sir Simon Rattle — SIX. Orchestral Pieces, Op. 6 (Revised Version): VI. Langsam (1:53)

03. City Of Bigham Symphony Orchestra & Sir Simon Rattle — Five Orchestral Pieces, Op. 16 (Original Version): IV. Peripetie (Sehr Rasch) (2:37)

04. Sir Simon Rattle — Lulu Suite (Symphonic Pieces from the Opera \’Lulu\’): IV. Variations (Moderato) (3:25)

05. City Of Bigham Symphony Orchestra, Peter Donohoe & Sir Simon Rattle — Petrushka — Scenes Burlesques en Quatre Tableaux, Prre Tableau: Le Tour de Passe-passe — Danse Russe (2:31)

06. Libor Pesek & Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra — 4 Sea Interludes, Op. 33a: Sunday Morning (3:48)

07. Herbert Blomstedt & Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra — Symphony No. 5 FS. 97 (Op. 50): Allegro (2:44)

08. Ambrosian Singers, Philharmonia Orchestra & Georges Pretre — Les Biches: Rondeau (3:37)

09. Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Seiji Ozawa — Concerto for Orchestra: IV. Intermezzo Interotto (Allegretto) (4:26)

10. London Symphony Orchestra, Yehudi Menuhin & Sir William Walton — Violin Concerto (Revised Version): II. Presto Capriccioso Alla Napolitana — Trio (Canzonetta) — Tempo I (6:48)

11. Lamberto Gardelli & London Symphony Orchestra — Pines of Rome: The Pines of the Villa Borghese (2:54)

12. James Conlon & Gurzenich-Orchester Kolner Philharmoniker — Sinfonietta, Op. 23: III. Rondo. Sehr Lebhaft (5:57)

13. City Of Bigham Symphony Orchestra — The Rite of Spring, \’Le Sacre Du Printemps\’ (1947 Revised Version), Pt. 1: l\’adoration de A Terre (5:02)

14. Berliner Philharmoniker & Mariss Jansons — Aufstieg Und Fall Der Stadt Mahagonny — Suite Aus Der Oper: No. 2 Moderato Assai (2:24)

15. Sir Adrian Boult & London Philharmonic Orchestra — Fantasia On a Theme By Thomas Tallis (Opening) (6:12)

16. Mariss Jansons & Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra — 3 Symphonic Movements, H. 53, H. 67, H. 83: Pacific 231 (6:33)

17. Berliner Philharmoniker & Claudio Abbado — Kammermusik No. 1 Fur 12 Solo-Intrumente, Op. 24, No. 1: IV. Finale: 1921 (Lebhaft) (6:05)

18. London Symphony Orchestra & Andre Previn — Bolero (Abbrev. Version — Arr. Bates) (5:15)

CD 3:

01. Bournemouth Sinfonietta & Richard Studt — Cantus In Memoriam BenjaMinor Britten for String Orchestra and Bell (6:13)

02. Mariss Jansons — Ballet Suite: Yugen, Dance of Men (2:40)

03. Japan Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, Seiji Ozawa & Stomu Yamash\’ta — Cassiopeia for Percussion Solo and Orchestra (1971), Scene (3:03)

04. Jacek Kasprzyk & Zofia Kilanowicz — Sinfonie No. 3, Op. 36 \»sinfonie Der Klagelieder\» (\»Symphony of Sorrowful Songs\»): II. Lento e Largo, Tranquillissimo (4:32)

05. London Symphony Orchestra & Krzysztof Penderecki — Anaklasis for Strings & Percussion (1959) (6:01)

06. City Of Bigham Symphony Orchestra & Sir Simon Rattle — Symphony No. 8: Movement 2 (Conclusion) (4:40)

07. Serge Baudo — Et Expecto Resurrectionem Mortuorum, Pour Orchestre de Bois, Cuivres Et Percussions Metalliques (2:49)

08. City Of Bigham Symphony Orchestra & Sir Simon Rattle — Drowned Out (5:11)

09. Witold Lutoslawski & Polish Radio National Symphony Orchestra — Symphony No. 1: I. Allegro Guisto (4:56)

10. Julian Bream & Sir Simon Rattle — Concierto de Aranjuez: I. Allegro con Spirito (6:25)

11. Michael Nyman — The Heart Asks Pleasure First / The Promise (Edit) (3:15)

12. Oliver Knussen & London Sinfonietta — Rain Coming for Chamber Orchestra (1982) (8:33)

13. Steven Isserlis, London Symphony Orchestra & Gennadi Rozhdestvensky — The Protecting Veil: The Protecting Veil (3:44)

14. John Alley, London Voices, Mstislav Rostropovich — The Canticle of the Sun — ExtrAct (5:21)

15. City Of Bigham Symphony Orchestra & Sir Simon Rattle — Asyla (For Orchestra): IV (4:39)

16. City Of Bigham Symphony Orchestra & Sir Simon Rattle — Flourish With Fireworks, Op. 22 (4:06)

CD 4:

01. London Symphony Orchestra & Andre Previn — Candide: Overture (4:18)

02. Ensemble Modern — A Set of Pieces for Theater or Chamber Orchestra: No. 3: In the Night (2:50)

03. Simon Haram, John Harle, London Chamber Orchestra — Facades (7:49)

04. Tasmin Little, New World Philharmonic Orchestra & Ian Sutherland — Schindler\’s List — Theme (5:06)

05. Enrique Batiz & Orquesta Filarmonica de la Ciudad de Mexico — Fanfare for the Common Man (3:42)

06. Eugene Ormandy & Philadelphia Orchestra — Adagio for Strings, Op. 11 (6:24)

07. David Abel & Orchestra — My Heart Will Go On (Love Theme from the Movie Titanic) (4:24)

08. Colin Currie & Sam Walton — Nagoya Marimbas (For Two Marimbas) (4:54)

09. City Of Bigham Symphony Orchestra & Sir Simon Rattle — Three Occasions for Orchestra: A Celebration of Some 100 X 150 Notes (3:33)

10. Ralph Kirshbaum, Jukka-Pekka Saraste & Scottish Chamber Orchestra — Cello Concerto, Op. 22: II. Andante Sostenuto (7:47)

11. London Chamber Orchestra & Christopher Warren-Green — Shaker Loops (1983): A Final Shaking (3:47)

12. Leonard Slatkin — Rodeo: Hoe-Down (4:14)

13. City Of Bigham Symphony Orchestra, Wayne Marshall — Rhapsody In Blue (Jazzband Version): Opening (4:40)

14. Michael Tilson-Thomas — Three Dances: Dance No. 1 (6:33)

15. Nikolaj Bloch & Sally Herbert — Any Other Name (American Beauty) (4:08)

16. City Of Bigham Symphony Orchestra & Sir Simon Rattle — Short Ride In a Fast Machine — Fanfare for Orchestra (4:18)

CD 5:

01. Moura Lympany — El Amor Brujo: Ritual Fire Dance (4:07)

02. John Ogdon — Two Poemes, Op. 63: II.Etrangete (1:53)

03. Cecile Ousset — Estampes: I. Pagodes (5:12)

04. Piers Lane & Tasmin Little — Romance from the Gadfly (3:16)

05. Ian Brown & Maxim Vengerov — Liebesfreud (3:17)

06. Nell Gotkovsky & Yehudi Menuhin — 6 Duos for 2 Violins (From 44 Duos for 2 Violins): No. 28: Sorrow (2:49)

07. Tasmin Little & Martin Roscoe — Spiegel Im Spiegel for Violin and Piano (8:22)

08. Manuel Barrueco — Choro No. 1 E-moll · Fur Gitarre Solo (4:57)

09. Julian Bream — All In Twilight: I. Dotted Quaver = 80 (3:09)

10. Sharon Isbin — Zapateado (2:16)

11. Artemis Quartet — String Quartet No. 1 \’Metamorphoses Nocturnes\’: Allegro Grazioso (1:34)

12. Alban Berg Quartett — Lyric Suite: III. Allegro Misterioso (3:13)

13. Thomas Kakuska, Artemis Quartet & Valentin Erben — Verklarte Nacht, Op. 4 (ExtrAct) (7:28)

14. Manuel Fischer-Dieskau, Yvonne Loriod — Quatuor Pour A Fin Du Temps, \’Quartet for the End of \’: Litu de Cristal (2:30)

15. Yuri Bashmet, Gidon Kremer & Mstislav Rostropovich — Minuet (2:49)

16. Belcea Quartet — String Quartet In F: II. Assez Vif: Tres Rythme (6:03)

CD 6:

01. Jose Carreras, Choeurs De L\’Opera Du Rhin — Turandot (Act III): Nessun Dorma (4:10)

02. Riccardo Muti, Philharmonia Chorus & Philharmonia Orchestra — Caa Burana: O Fortuna (2:47)

03. Tonu Kaljuste, Estonian National Symphony Orchestra — Beatus Petronius (5:07)

04. James Bowman, City Of London Sinfonia — Nunc dimittis (3:04)

05. Jane Gilchrist, Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, Kirk Trevor — Requiem: Pie Jesu (2:52)

06. Karl Jenkins — Agnus Dei (3:39)

07. David Hill & Winchester Cathedral Choir — Song for Athene (6:12)

08. Stephen Cleobury, King\’s College Choir, Cambridge & Sinfonia of London — Requiem: III. Pie Jesu (Edward Saklatvala, Treble) (3:35)

09. Cambridge Boys Of King\’s College Choir, Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields — Ecce Cor Meum (2:50)

10. Berliner Symphoniker, Natalie Dessay & Michael Schonwandt — Vocalise, Op. 43 / No. 4 (5:22)

11. Orchestre de l\’Opera National de Lyon & Ernst Theo Richter — Arlecchino, Oder Die Fenster, Op. 50: III. SATZ: Wie Ist Ihr Schlaf, Madame (Arlecchino / Colombina) (2:25)

12. Linda Hirst, London Sinfonietta & Diego Masson — 11 Folk Songs: Ballo (Italy) (1:45)

13. Arleen Auger, English Chamber Orchestra & Yan-Pascal Tortelier — Chants D\’Auvergne: Bailero (Series 1, No. 2) (6:43)

14. Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Antonio Pappano & Nina St — Vier Letzte Lieder AV150 (Op. Posth): III. Beim Schlafengehen (Hesse) (5:14)

15. Enrique Batiz, Barbara Hendricks & Royal Philharmonic Orchestra — Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 (For Soprano and 8 Cellos): I. Aria (Cantilena): Adagio (6:08)

16. Pierre Boulez, BBC Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Louis Devos — Les Soleil Des Eaux: A Sorgue (4:21)

17. Angela Gheorghiu, London Symphony Orchestra & Antonio Pappano — Gianni Schicchi: O Mio Babbino Caro (Lauretta) (2:08)

18. Philharmonia Orchestra, Julius Rudel & Kiri Te Kanawa — Die Tote Stadt: Mariettas Lied: Gluck, Das Mir Verblieb (5:38)