Naxos, through Klaus Heymann, have never been content just to issue CDs. It has done
that and continues to do it in dizzying profusion. Their CDs are priced at bargain level so they are made accessible to the widest audience. While always showcasing Naxos products this and other initiatives serve a valuable educational purpose too.
The first point to make is that the A-Z of Classical Music 3rd edition has been expanded to include even more composers and 150 bonus music tracks. The 930-page illustrated book tracks in outline the lives of hundreds of composers, from Aaltoila to Zwilich, via the conventionally accepted ‘Greats’.
Although things have certainly moved on since 2000 do have a look at
Ian Lace’s review of the first edition of this set. It will help you find your bearings.
The Bonus Area to which you will have access if you get this 3
rd edition has more than 17 hours of music - 150 tracks to stream and 25 tracks to download.
The links with film are not neglected; indeed the book has 28 pages of names of films complete with the classical music used in each and the number of the Naxos CD that includes that classical piece. It’s not necessarily the same performance as the soundtrack though. Even so Naxos have recognised that films are a valuable pathway towards appreciation of classical music.
The book includes 85 pages of plain language definitions of classical terminology to help the beginner … and others.
The core of the two inch thick book that forms a substantial part of the slip-cased package is close to 800 pages of personable composer entries written by the redoubtable Keith Anderson – a one-man musical renaissance long associated with Naxos. Dates, essential biographical and stylistic references – they’re all there.
Numerous composers are covered but the set does have its blindspots. For example there’s nothing for two richly significant Scandinavian composers Gösta Nystroem and Allan Pettersson. Perhaps when Naxos issue their first CDs of these composers …
For any young or other person suffering the first stirrings of an interest in classical music I cannot imagine a better compact gateway through which to explore and discover.
Rob Barnett
Detailed tracklisting
Disc 1
Adams, John
Short Ride in a Fast Machine
Performed by: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by: Alsop, Marin
1. Short Ride in a Fast Machine 00:04:05
Bach, Johann Sebastian
Concerto for 2 Violins in D minor, BWV 1043: II. Largo ma non tanto
Jablokov, Alexander, violin
Nishizaki, Takako, violin
Performed by: Capella Istropolitana
Conducted by: Dohnanyi, Oliver
2. Concerto for 2 Violins in D minor, BWV 1043: II. Largo ma non tanto 00:06:46
Bartok, Bela
44 Duos for Two Violins, Book 1, Sz. 98: No. 14. Parnas Tanc (Pillow Dance)
Pauk, Gyorgy, violin
Sawa, Kazuki, violin
3. 44 Duos for Two Violins, Book 1, Sz. 98: No. 14. Parnas Tanc (Pillow Dance) 00:00:40
Beethoven, Ludwig van
Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13, "Pathetique": I. Grave - Allegro di molto e con brio
Jando, Jeno, piano
4. Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13, "Pathetique": I. Grave - Allegro di molto e con brio 00:08:28
Berlioz, Hector
Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14: IV. Marche au supplice
Performed by: San Diego Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by: Talmi, Yoav
5. Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14: IV. Marche au supplice 00:04:43
Brahms, Johannes
Symphony No. 3 in F major, Op. 90: III. Poco allegretto
Performed by: London Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by: Alsop, Marin
6. Symphony No. 3 in F major, Op. 90: III. Poco allegretto 00:05:49
Britten, Benjamin
Simple Symphony, Op. 4: II. Playful Pizzacato
Performed by: Northern Sinfonia
Conducted by: Bedford, Steuart
7. Simple Symphony, Op. 4: II. Playful Pizzacato 00:03:00
Chopin, Fryderyk
Impromptu No. 1 in A flat major, Op. 29
Biret, Idil, piano
8. Impromptu No. 1 in A flat major, Op. 29 00:04:32
Debussy, Claude
Nocturnes: No. 2. Fetes
Performed by: Lyon National Orchestra
Conducted by: Markl, Jun
9. Nocturnes: No. 2. Fetes 00:06:39
Dvorak, Antonin
Symphony No. 8 in G major, Op. 33: III. Allegretto grazioso - Molto vivace
Performed by: Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by: Gunzenhauser, Stephen
10. Symphony No. 8 in G major, Op. 33: III. Allegretto grazioso - Molto vivace 00:05:46
Elgar, Edward
Garnett, Richard, lyricist(s)
Sea Pictures, Op. 37: IV. Where Corals Lie
Connolly, Sarah, mezzo-soprano
Performed by: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by: Wright, Simon
11. Sea Pictures, Op. 37: IV. Where Corals Lie 00:03:35
Grieg, Edvard
Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16: II. Adagio
Gimse, Havard, piano
Performed by: Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Conducted by: Engeset, Bjarte
12. Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16: II. Adagio 00:06:16
Handel, George Frideric
Bible - New Testament, lyricist(s)
Messiah, HWV 56: Part I: For unto a child is born
Performed by: Scholars Baroque Ensemble
13. Messiah, HWV 56: Part I: For unto a child is born 00:04:03
Haydn, Franz Joseph
Trumpet Concerto in E flat major, Hob.VIIe:1: III. Finale
Schuster, Jurgen, trumpet
Performed by: Cologne Chamber Orchestra
Conducted by: Muller-Bruhl, Helmut
14. Trumpet Concerto in E flat major, Hob.VIIe:1: III. Finale 00:04:39
Janacek, Leos
Sinfonietta, JW VI/18: IV. Allegretto
Performed by: Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by: Lenard, Ondrej
15. Sinfonietta, JW VI/18: IV. Allegretto 00:02:38
Liszt, Franz
2 Concert Etudes, S145/R6: No. 2. Gnomenreigen
Wolfram, William, piano
16. 2 Concert Etudes, S145/R6: No. 2. Gnomenreigen 00:03:09
Mahler, Gustav
Bethge, Hans, lyricist(s)
Das Lied von der Erde: III. Von der Jugend
Harper, Thomas, tenor
Performed by: Ireland National Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by: Halasz, Michael
17. Das Lied von der Erde: III. Von der Jugend 00:03:10
Disc 2
Mendelssohn, Felix
Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor, Op. 49: II. Andante con moto tranquillo
Performed by: Gould Piano Trio
1. Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor, Op. 49: II. Andante con moto tranquillo 00:06:39
Monteverdi, Claudio
Guarini, Giovanni Battista, lyricist(s)
Occhi, un tempo mia vita
Performed by: Delitiae Musicae
Conducted by: Longhini, Marco
2. Occhi, un tempo mia vita 00:03:03
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
Clarinet Quintet in A major, K. 581: II. Larghetto
Balogh, Jozsef, clarinet
Performed by: Danubius Quartet
3. Clarinet Quintet in A major, K. 581: II. Larghetto 00:05:57
Palestrina, Giovanni Pierluigi da
Motet: Hodie Christus natus est
Performed by: Oxford Schola Cantorum
Conducted by: Summerly, Jeremy
4. Hodie Christus natus est 00:02:47
Prokofiev, Sergey
Piano Concerto No. 4 in B flat major, Op. 53: IV. Vivace
Paik, Kun Woo, piano
Performed by: Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by: Wit, Antoni
5. Piano Concerto No. 4 in B flat major, Op. 53: IV. Vivace 00:01:33
Puccini, Giacomo
Forzano, Giovacchino, lyricist(s)
Gianni Schicchi: O mio babbino caro
Gauci, Miriam, soprano
Performed by: Belgian Radio and Television Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by: Rahbari, Alexander
6. Gianni Schicchi: O mio babbino caro 00:02:27
Rachmaninov, Sergei
10 Preludes, Op. 23: No. 5 in G minor
Nebolsin, Eldar, piano
7. 10 Preludes, Op. 23: No. 5 in G minor 00:03:51
Rossini, Gioachino
Il Signor Bruschino: Sinfonia
Performed by: Virtuosi Italiani
Conducted by: Desderi, Claudio
8. Il Signor Bruschino: Sinfonia 00:04:34
Schoenberg, Arnold
6 Little Piano Pieces, Op. 19: II. Langsam
Hill, Peter, piano
9. 6 Little Piano Pieces, Op. 19: II. Langsam 00:00:53
Schubert, Franz
Piano Quintet In A major, Op. 114, D. 667, "Die Forelle" (Trout): IV. Thema with Variations
Toth, Istvan, double bass
Jando, Jeno, piano
Performed by: Kodaly Quartet
10. Piano Quintet In A major, Op. 114, D. 667, "Die Forelle" (Trout): IV. Thema with Variations 00:07:12
Schumann, Robert
String Quartet No. 2 in F major, Op. 41, No. 2: I. Allegro vivace
Performed by: Fine Arts Quartet
11. String Quartet No. 2 in F major, Op. 41, No. 2: I. Allegro vivace 00:04:41
Shostakovich, Dmitry
Jazz Suite No. 1: I. Waltz
Performed by: Russian State Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by: Yablonsky, Dmitry
12. Jazz Suite No. 1: I. Waltz 00:02:29
Strauss, Richard
Hesse, Hermann, lyricist(s)
4 Letzte Lieder (4 Last Songs), TrV 296: No. 1. Fruhling
Merbeth, Ricarda, soprano
Performed by: Weimar Staatskapelle
Conducted by: Halasz, Michael
13. 4 Letzte Lieder (4 Last Songs), TrV 296: No. 1. Fruhling 00:03:41
Stravinsky, Igor
Petrushka (1946 version): Tableau I: Russian Dance
Performed by: Philharmonia Orchestra
Conducted by: Craft, Robert
14. Petrushka (1946 version): Tableau I: Russian Dance 00:02:46
Tchaikovsky, Pyotr Il'yich
Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64: III. Valse
Performed by: Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by: Wit, Antoni
15. Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64: III. Valse 00:05:39
Telemann, Georg Philipp
Viola Concerto in G major, TWV 51:G9: IV. Presto
Kyselak, Ladislav, viola
Performed by: Capella Istropolitana
Conducted by: Edlinger, Richard
16. Viola Concerto in G major, TWV 51:G9: IV. Presto 00:02:46
Verdi, Giuseppe
Piave, Francesco Maria, lyricist(s)
Rigoletto, Act III: La donna e mobile
Ramiro, Yordy, tenor
Performed by: Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by: Rahbari, Alexander
17. Rigoletto, Act III: La donna e mobile 00:02:16
Vivaldi, Antonio
Bassoon Concerto in B flat major, RV 501, "La notte" (excerpts)
Benkocs, Tamas, bassoon
Performed by: Nicolaus Esterhazy Sinfonia
Conducted by: Drahos, Bela
18. III. Il sonno 00:01:46
19. IV. Sorge l'aurora 00:02:49
Wagner, Richard
Tristan und Isolde, Act III: Isolde's Liebestod
Performed by: Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by: Wildner, Johannes
20. Tristan und Isolde, Act III: Isolde's Liebestod 00:07:14
Total Playing Time: 02:33:01
NAXOS 8.558212-13 [2 CDs: 2:33:01] 
