The 50 Most Essential Pieces of Classical Music

The 50 Most Essential Pieces of Classical Music is a collection of famous selections from operas, concertos, symphonies, ballets, and other popular compositions that almost every casual listener will recognize and certainly all serious classical fans know well. The great masters are well represented here, and the themes by Bach, Pachelbel, Vivaldi, Mozart, Beethoven, Wagner, Brahms, Dvorák, Tchaikovsky, and many others are among the most beloved melodies of all time. This program is certainly helpful to anyone trying to get acquainted with classical music, and quite easy to use for identifying names, though it really is just an introduction and the excerpts should encourage listeners to seek out the complete works. The performances are by soloists and orchestras from around the world, including a few with international reputations. While some listeners will use this album as a starting point for pursuing classical studies, others will enjoy it simply as pleasant background music.