The Most Relaxing Classical Album in the World...Ever!

In response to the person above who stated that one misses out on great works with only the slow movements...i AGREE with you. HOWEVER, this is sold as a RELAXING CD set, not as a collection of everything ever written. it does just that--it takes timeless classics, and puts them together in a wonderful blend of soothing music. i've had over 10 years of formal music training, and i have a high appreciation of every genre of classical music. i've played everything under the sun (i play french horn)--from baroque artists to modern music, such as music for prague by korel husa. i know the thrill of these pieces, and i hope others can discover the splendor of the entire realm of classical music. but this CD was not meant to be that. it was meant to be a calm, soothing blend. a lot of people don't find it easy to relax to pieces such as the bombing of dresden (another fine piece), as i do. i also agree with above person, who stated that this is a good CD for the classical beginner. and i hope that those of you that are the beginners discover the wonders of all the classical music genres.

This is a really nice collection of "quiet" classical music. Okay, purists...it's excerpts and we all know how you feel about that. Give it a rest, snobs! I bought the special with both volumes and both are incredible. There are different styles of music throughout (orchestral, piano, choral) but there is one central theme - every piece is beautiful. Sound quality is excellent and the editing was well done...the main themes of the pieces are intact. You'll find very familiar classical melodies throughout the collection. I was skeptical but delighted! Yes. I'm a former musician, have an elaborate sound system and an extensive collection of all types of music from Puccini to Pink Floyd.

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Editorial Reviews You want relaxing classical music that'll soothe your soul but won't lull you into sleep? Here's a double CD for you. The Most Relaxing Classical Album in the World ... Ever! does its best to cover both well-worn classical favorites (Bach's "Air on the G String," Pachelbel's "Cannon," Debussy's "Clair de Lune") and some eclectic left-field choices (an excerpt from Górecki's Symphony No. 3, Jocelyn Pook's "Blow the Wind," and Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings. The performances of most of these excerpts are top-notch--artists include Sir Neville Marriner, James Galway, Jacqueline du Pré and the Philadelphia Orchestra--and there's enough variety here for everyone. --Edward Garabedian

Disc: 1 
1. Air 'On the G String' - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
2. Morning - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
3. Canon In D - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
4. Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
5. Gymnopedie No.1 - City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
6. II. Andante - Stephen Hough
7. Viens, Mallika - Mady Mesple
8. In Paradisum - Choir Of King's College, Cambridge
9. Clair De Lune - Dame Moura Lympany
10. II. Andate - Yehudi Menuhin
11. The Swan - Osian Ellis
12. II. Lento E Largo - Tranquillissimo - Zofia Kilanowicz
13. II. Andantino - James Galway
14. II. Largo - Yehudi Menuhin
15. Nimrod - London Symphony Orchestra
16. Blow the Wind - Pie Jesu - Jocelyn Pook
17. Variation 18 - Cecile Ousset
18. Pavane Op.50 - Gareth Morris

Disc: 2
1. Zion Hort Die Wachter Singen - South German Madrigal Choir
2. Adagio In G Minor - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
3. Minuet - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
4. II. Largo - Andrei Gavrilov
5. Meditation - Hans Kalafusz
6. I. Adagio Sostenuto - Dame Moura Lympany
7. Belle Nuit, O Nuit D'amour (Barcarolle) - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
8. II. Andante - Nigel North
9. II. Adagio - Jack Brymer
10. Intermezzo - Philharmonia Orchestra
11. I. Moderato - London Chamber Orchestra
12. O Mio Babbino Caro - Montserrat Caballe
13. Fantasia On 'Greensleeves' - Sinfonia Of London
14. II. Adagio Sostenuto (Opening) - Cecile Ousset
15. Nocturne - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
16. II. Adagio (Opening) - Julian Bream
17. Adagio For Strings Op.11a - The Philadelphia Orchestra
18. Entr'acte To Act III - Orchestre National De France

The Most Relaxing Piano Album in the World...Ever!

These CDs are so much more than I expected! There are the classics you hear on all piano compilations, but also some additions that I've never heard before but really enjoyed. I don't hear background noise on any of the tracks--just pure & simple piano with the ocassional accompaniment of a few other instruments. If you're looking for something to get you to relax or to play during dinner, this is it. As a pianist, I enjoy it even more for those times when I'm not able to play the songs myself!

If you're bothered by stress and insominia, (These days, who isn't?), this music will help. These selections are carefully arranged to follow each other effortlessly and to create a soothing, relaxing mood in the listener without being boring or too bland. Each note falls on the ear with a certain clarity that makes the listener aware of so many degrees of softness and nuance. One selection after the other offers escape from worries and the mundane events of everyday life. Negative thoughts dissolve and nerve endings untangle as gentle, persuasive rhythms redefine the moment. Very nice indeed.

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The Most Relaxing Classical Music in the Universe

This two CD set is a tremendous bargain--both CDs have some of the most beautiful classical music ever written. Great performance of each piece--a joy to listen to.

On Disc One: Pachelel Canon; Mozart Eine Kleine Nachtmusik; Beethoven Fur Elise; Tchaikovsky String Quaret #1; Debussey Claire de Lune; Janacek Idyll for Strings; Albinone Adagio in G Minor; Debussy The Girl with the Flaxen Hair; Bach Air on a G String; Williams Greensleeves; Handel Largo from Xerxes; Bach Fugue in C Minor; Holst The Planets; Bach Goldberg Variations and Barber Adagio for Strings.

On Disc Two: Debussy Prelude in the Afternoon of a Faun; Grieg Holberg Suite; Sibelius Valse triste; Bach Concerto in F Minor; Dvorak Serenade for String; Liszt Liebestraume; Bach/Gounod Ava Maria; Chopin Etude in E major; Borodin String Qartet No. 2; Debussy Arabesque; Ravel Pavane for Dead Princess; Vivaldi The Four Seasons-Largo; Satie Gymnopedic; Beethoven Moonlight Sonata; and Mozart Piano Concerto No. 21.

A fantastic set of two CDs for anyone who loves beautiful melodic classical music. I intend to order a second set to keep loaded in my car's CD player.

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Vanessa Perez Chopin: The Complete Preludes

Vanessa Perez Chopin: The Complete Preludes The Venezuelan-American pianist Vanessa Perez "returns home" with a recording of Chopin's Preludes. "The idea of recording all the Chopin Preludes came to me one night as I was playing them at home this past January," said Perez from her home in New Jersey. "Chopin brings me back to my childhood [in Venezuela]. It connects me to every possible emotion, and to so many memories. It is music I have always loved, and that reminds me how truly blessed I am to be a pianist."

Perez debuted at age 11 playing Grieg's Piano Concerto with Orquesta Sinfonica Municipal under the direction of Carlos Riazuelo in Caracas; and was later awarded the Jose Felix Ribas Prize from the President of Venezuela in 1998, the highest honor for a young performer based on their contribution to the artistic enhancement of the country. Her studies began in Venezuela with Luminita Duca and then in the US with Claudio Arrau, Ena Bronstein, Daniel Epsteinand Rosalina Sackstein. At the age of 17, she was awarded a full scholarship by the Royal Academy of Music (London) to study with Christopher Elton. Thereafter she continued her studies at the Italian Accademia Pianistica Incontri Col Maestro in Imola with pianists Lazar Berman, and Franco Scala and later completed postgraduate work at Yale University with Hungarian pianist Peter Frankl.

Perez has performed frequently across the Americas and Europe, including at Puerto Rico's Casals Festival with the Orquesta de La Juventud Simon Bolivar and Conductor Diego Matheuz, in Germany with conductor John Axelrod and the Luzerner Sinfonie Orchester and in Caracas with the Orquesta de la Juventud Simon Bolivar and conductor Gustavo Dudamel in 2007. Recent concerto performances took place with conductor Ligia Amadio and the USP at the Sala Sao Paulo, Brazil, Carlos Riazuelo and the Sinfonica de la Juventud Simon Bolivar in Caracas, Rafael Gintoli in Buenos Aires, Enrique Batiz and the Orquesta del Estado de Mexico, and David Gimenez Carreras at the Palau de la Musica Catalana in Barcelona, Spain.

In addition to her orchestral performances, she has given solo and chamber music recitals at the Wigmore Hall, London, Schnittke Festival at the RAM and the Montpellier Festival. Perez has recorded Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major with the Berlin Symphoniker, and Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 20 in d minor (K466) with Venezuelan conductor Eduardo Marturet and among her chamber music recordings, she was the pianist for Jan Vogler's "Tango" CD and the Moritzburg Ensemble released by Sony Classical in August 2008, and in 2009 collaborated with Joshua Bell and Bandoneon player Carel Kraayenhoff on Bell's recording "At Home With Friends."