VA - 50 Best Romantic Classics (2010)

EMI's 50 Best Romantic Classics is loosely organized by regions, with the first disc devoted to French music, the second to Scandinavian and Eastern European classics, and the third to music from Italy and Spain. This arrangement is quite practical for beginners, who may appreciate the music's recognizable national styles before grasping more historical or theoretical aspects. Yet some understanding is needed of the term romantic, for not all of the music included in this collection fits within the Romantic era (roughly, the 19th century, with some overlapping of the early years of the 20th). With the inclusion of Baroque composer Antonio Vivaldi and the modern film composer Nino Rota, it seems that a romantic feeling is suggested, rather than the Romantic period, and the majority of selections evoke song-like and emotional moods, so this package should be regarded as a collection of slow, relaxing pieces in a romantic vein. The artists gathered here are among the most distinguished ever to record for any label, and many enjoyed long careers recording for EMI. The recording dates range from 1959 to 2007, so there's a mix of analog and digital tracks, but they have been well-balanced in volume and tone for comfortable home listening.

Track List:

CD 1
1 Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Act 4: "Belle nuit, ô nuit d'amour" (Barcarolle) [Nicklausse, Giulietta, Chorus]
by Sylvain Cambreling
2 Le Carnaval des Animaux, R. 125: XIII. Le Cygne (Andantino grazioso) [Arr. Hazell for Orchestra & Cello]
by Leonard Slatkin
3 Carmen, WD 31, Act 1 Scene 4: No. 5, Havanaise, "L'amour est un oiseau rebelle" (Carmen, Chorus)
by Maria Callas
4 Suite Bergamasque: Clair De Lune (Transcr. Stokowski)
by Wolfgang Sawallisch
5 Lakmé, ACT 1: Dôme Épais Le Jasmin À La Rose S'assemble (Lakmé/Mallika)
by Michel Plasson
6 Faust: Ballet Music (Act V) (2002 Remastered Version): Les Nubiennes
by New Philharmonia Orchestra/Sir Charles MacKerras
7 Samson et Dalila, Act 2: "Mon coeur s'ouvre à ta voix" (Dalila)
by Maria Callas
8 Pavane in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 50 (Orchestral Version)
by Sir David Willcocks
9 Plaisir D'amour (Jean-Pierre Claris De Florian)
by Barbara Hendricks
10 Romance In D Flat Op.37 (1993 Digital Remaster)
by Ulf Hoelscher/New Philharmonia Orchestra/Pierre Dervaux
11 Dolly Suite, Op. 56: I. Berceuse (For Piano 4-Hands)
by Jean-Philippe Collard
12 Carmen, WD 31, Act 3: Entr'acte
by Seiji Ozawa
13 Chanson D'Amour Op 27 No 1
by Natasha Marsh
14 Gymnopédies (1990 Digital Remaster): (1) Lent Et Douloureux (Orch. Debussy)
by Louis Frémaux
15 Sylvia - Suite (2002 Digital Remaster): Intermezzo & Valse Lente
by New Philharmonia Orchestra/Sir Charles MacKerras
16 Les Deux Pigeons - Suite (2002 Digital Remaster): Pas De Deux Pigeons
by Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden/Sir Charles MacKerras
17 Thaïs: Méditation
by Anne-Sophie Mutter/Alexis Weissenberg

CD 2
1 Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46: No. 1, Morning Mood
by Sir Neville Marriner
2 Vltava (Extract), B111 (1874) From Má Vlast (1995 Digital Remaster)
by Staatskapelle Dresden
3 Piano Concerto In A Minor Op.16: II. Adagio
by Dmitri Alexeev/Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Yuri Temirkanov
4 Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, Op. 95, B. 178 "From the New World": II. Largo (Opening)
by Mariss Jansons
5 Lyric Pieces, Book 8 Op. 65 (1995 Digital Remaster): 6. Wedding Day At Troldhaugen (Bryllupsdag På Troldhaugen)
by Daniel Adni
6 Rusalka, Op. 114, B. 203, Act 1: "Mesicku na nebi hlubokém" (Rusalka)
by Stefan Soltesz
7 Piano Concerto No. 1 in E Minor, Op. 11: II. Romance (Larghetto) [Opening]
by Martha Argerich
8 8 Humoresques B187 (Op. 101): No. 7 In G Flat
by Dame Moura Lympany
9 Les Sylphides (1994 Digital Remaster): Prélude In A, Op.28, No.7
by Robert Irving/Philharmonia Orchestra
10 Piano Concerto No. 1 In E Flat Major S124 (1990 Digital Remaster): Quasi Adagio
by Michel Béroff/Kurt Masur/Gewandhausorchester Leipzig
11 Pelleas & Melisande (1997 Digital Remaster): At The Castle Gate
by Paavo Berglund/Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
12 Berceuse in D-Flat Major, Op. 57
by Peter Donohoe
13 Jalousie, "Tango Tzigane"
by Mariss Jansons/Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra/Stig Nilsson
14 3 Nocturnes, Op. 9: No. 2 in E-Flat Major
by John Ogdon
15 Liebestraum No. 3 In A Flat Major
by Leif Ove Andsnes
16 Die Lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow) (2000 Digital Remaster): Nun Laßt Uns Aber Wie Dahein…Es Lebt' Eine Vilja (Viljalied)…Tanz: Mi Velimo Dase Dase Veslimo! (Hanna/Chor)
by Philharmonia Orchestra

CD 3
1 Cavalleria Rusticana (1987 Digital Remaster): Intermezzo From Cavalleria Rusticana
by Riccardo Muti
2 Gianni Schicchi: "O mio babbino caro" (Lauretta)
by Angela Gheorghiu
3 España, Op. 165: II. Tango (Andantino)
by Leif Ove Andsnes
4 La Rondine (1995 Digital Remaster), Act 1: Chi Il Bel Sogno Di Doretta
by Montserrat Caballé/London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Charles Mackerras
5 The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in E Major, Op. 8 No. 1, RV 269, "Spring": I. Allegro
by Yehudi Menuhin
6 Pur Ti Miro
by Natasha Marsh/Fernando Lima
7 String Quintet in E Major, G. 282, Op. 13 No. 6: III. Minuetto - Trio
by Sir Neville Marriner
8 L'amico Fritz, Act 3 Scene 3: "O amore, o bella luce del core" (Fritz)
by Luciano Pavarotti/Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden/Gianandrea Gavazzeni
9 Recuerdos de la Alhambra
by Christopher Parkening
10 Ai Giochi Addio
by Natasha Marsh
11 Concierto de Aranjuez: II. Adagio (Excerpt)
by Sir Simon Rattle
12 Madama Butterfly (2002 Digital Remaster): Vogliatemi Bene (Love Duet)…Vieni, Vieni
by Sir John Barbirolli
13 Chamber Concerto in D Major, RV 93: II. Largo (Arr. Pujol for Guitar and Orchestra)
by Sharon Isbin
14 Zigeunerweisen, Op. 20
by Anne-Sophie Mutter
15 Time To Say Goodbye (Con Te Partiro)
by Amy Nuttall
16 Suite Española No. 1 Op. 47 (Arr. Byzantine): III. Sevilla (Sevillanas)
by Julian Byzantine
17 Turandot, Act 3: "Nessun dorma!" (Calaf, Chorus)
by Alain Lombard