Album

Ultimate Classical Chill Out: The Essential Masterpieces basically delivers what it promises: a large selection of mellow classical music appropriate for unobtrusive background listening. The pieces are from a variety of genres, including orchestral, symphonic, vocal, chamber, and keyboard music. Most are gently lyrical and are from the Romantic and post-Romantic periods, but there are also pieces from the Baroque, Classical, and Modern eras. The performances come from Decca's extensive archive and are consistently top-notch in quality, and the notes identify the performers of each piece. The sound ambience varies somewhat from track to track, but it is never less than very good. This five-disc set with over six hours of music is a good bargain for anyone looking for a broad assortment of quiet classical pieces.

© Stephen Eddins, Rovi

CD 1 of 5
Achille-Claude Debussy Composer Suite Bergamasque, L.75 (includes 'Clair de lune')...Suite Bergamasque, L.75 (arr. orchestra) Work London Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Bernard Herrmann Conductor
1	3.Clair de lune	5:53			$0.99
Frédéric François Chopin Composer 3 Nocturnes, Op.9 (includes the famous 'Nocturne in Eb') Work Joseph Cooper Piano
2	No.2 in Eb	4:27			$0.99
Edvard Grieg Composer Lyric Suite (orchestration of Op.54) Work Stanley Black Conductor, London Symphony Orchestra Orchestra
3	3.Nocture	4:37			$0.99
Sir Edward Elgar Composer Dream Children, for small orchestra, Op.43 Work Raymond Agoult Conductor, New Symphony Orchestra of London Orchestra
4	Dream Children, for small orchestra, Op.43	7:46			$1.49
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer Piano Sonata No.14 in C#-, Op.27, No.2 ('Moonlight') Work Radu Lupu Piano
5	1.Adagio sostenuto	7:08			$1.49
Jules Massenet Composer La navarraise (opera)...Act 1 Work Richard Bonynge Conductor, London Symphony Orchestra Orchestra
6	14.Nocturne	3:24			$0.99
Alexander Borodin Composer String Quartet No.2 in D...String Quartet No.2 in D (various arrangments) Work Stanley Black Conductor, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
7	3.Nocturne: Andante (arr. string orchestra)	7:38			$1.49
Frédéric François Chopin Composer 2 Nocturnes, Op.55 Work Ileana Vered Piano
8	No.1 in F-	5:44			$0.99
Erich Wolfgang Korngold Composer Much Ado About Nothing, suite from the incidental music for violin and piano, Op.11 Work London Festival Orchestra Orchestra, Josef Sakonov Violin
9	1.Garden scene	4:37			$0.99
Jules Massenet Composer La Vierge (oratorio) Work Raymond Agoult Conductor, New Symphony Orchestra of London Orchestra
10	1.The Last Sleep of the Virgin	5:05			$0.99
Edvard Grieg Composer 6 Lyric Pieces (v), Op.54 Work Alicia de Larrocha Piano
11	4.Notturno	4:10			$0.99
Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy Composer A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op.61 Work New Philharmonia Orchestra Orchestra, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos Conductor
12	7.Notturno: Con moto tranquilo	6:44			$0.99
Gabriel Fauré Composer Pavane, Op.50 Work London Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Bernard Herrmann Conductor
13	Pavane, Op.50 (arr. flute and orchestra)	8:17			$1.49
CD 2 of 5
George Frideric Handel Composer Water Music Suite No.2 in D, HWV349 Work Sir Neville Marriner Conductor, Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields Orchestra
1	2.Alla Hornpipe	4:03			$0.99
George Frideric Handel Composer Water Music Suite No.1 in F, HWV348 Work Sir Neville Marriner Conductor, Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields Orchestra
2	5.Air	3:23			$0.99
George Frideric Handel Composer Water Music Suite No.3 in G, HWV350 Work Sir Neville Marriner Conductor, Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields Orchestra
3	5.Gigue 1 and 2	1:28			$0.49
Achille-Claude Debussy Composer Images, Book 1, L.110 Work Pascal Rogé Piano
4	1.Reflets dans l'eau	5:00			$0.99
Johann Strauss II Composer Lagunen-Walzer (Lagoon Waltz), Op.411 Work Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Willi Boskovsky Conductor
5	Lagunen-Walzer (Lagoon Waltz), Op.411	7:21			$1.49
Maurice Ravel Composer Jeux d'eau Work Pascal Rogé Piano
6	Jeux d'eau	5:52			$0.99
Antonio Vivaldi Composer L'inverno (Winter) in F-, RV297, Op.8, No.4 Work Sir Neville Marriner Conductor, Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields Orchestra, Alan Loveday Violin
7	2.Largo	2:21			$0.99
Bedrich Smetana Composer Má vlast (My Fatherland), JB 1:112 Work Walter Weller Conductor, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
8	2.Vltava (The Moldau)	11:44			$1.99
Frédéric François Chopin Composer 24 Preludes, Op.28 Work Vladimir Ashkenazy Piano
9	15.Sostenuto in Db ('Raindrop')	5:20			$0.99
Franz Liszt Composer 6 Melodies of Franz Schubert, S.563 Work Varda Nishry Piano
10	6.Die Forelle (D. 550)	3:45			$0.99
Pyotr Ilich Tchaikovsky Composer The Swan Lake (suite from the ballet), Op.20a Work Mincho Minchev Violin, Richard Bonynge Conductor, Francisco Garbarro Cello, National Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
11	4.Scène: Danse des cygnes (Dance of the Swans)	7:32			$1.49
Frederick Delius Composer 2 Aquarelles (arr. of 'To be Sung of a Summer Night on the Water') Work English Chamber Orchestra Orchestra, Benjamin Britten Conductor
12	2.Gaily, but not quick	2:34			$0.99
Franz Liszt Composer 12 Lieder, S.558, R.243 Work Jorge Bolet Piano
13	2.Auf dem Wasser zu Singen (D.774)	5:11			$0.99
Johann Strauss II Composer An der schönen, blauen Donau (Blue Danube Waltz), Op.314 Work Vienna State Opera Choir Chorus/Choir, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Willi Boskovsky Conductor
14	An der schönen, blauen Donau (Blue Danube Waltz), Op.314	7:57			$1.49
CD 3 of 5
Ralph Vaughan Williams Composer Fantasia on Greensleeves, for harp, flute and strings Work William Bennett Flute, Sir Neville Marriner Conductor, Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields Orchestra
1	Fantasia on Greensleeves, for harp, flute and strings	4:19			$0.99
Joseph Canteloube Composer Chants d'Auvergne, Series 1 Work English Chamber Orchestra Orchestra, Jeffrey Tate Conductor, Kiri Te Kanawa Soprano
2	2.Baïlèro	6:44			$0.99
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer Symphony No.6 in F, Op.68 ('Pastoral') Work Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt Conductor
3	2.Andante molto mosso: Szene am Bach (Scene by the brook)	12:30			$1.99
Franz Peter Schubert Composer Piano Quintet in A, D.667, Op.posth.114 ('The Trout') Work Lukas Hagen Violin, Andras Schiff Piano, Clemens Hagen Cello, Veronika Hagen Viola, Alois Posch Double Bass
4	4.Theme: Andantino and 5 Variations. Allegretto	8:16			$1.49
Emmanuel Chabrier Composer Suite pastorale (orch. of 10 Pièces pittoresques, for piano solo, Nos.4, 6, 7 and 10) Work L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande Orchestra, Ernest Ansermet Conductor
5	1.Idylle	4:53			$0.99
Edward MacDowell Composer 10 Woodland Sketches, Op.51 Work Joseph Cooper Piano
6	10 Woodland Sketches, Op.51	2:11			$0.99
Edvard Grieg Composer 2 Nordic Melodies, for string orchestra, Op.63 Work National Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Willi Boskovsky Conductor
7	2.Kulokk (Cow Call); Stabbelåten (Peasant Dance)	2:35			$0.99
Jules Massenet Composer Suite No.7 ('Scènes alsaciennes) Work Richard Bonynge Conductor, National Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
8	3.Sous les tilleuls	4:11			$0.99
Achille-Claude Debussy Composer Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune, L.86 Work Montréal Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, Charles Dutoit Conductor, Timothy Hutchins Flute
9	Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune, L.86	10:43			$1.99
Edward MacDowell Composer 10 Woodland Sketches, Op.51 Work Joseph Cooper Piano
10	6.To a Water Lily	2:46			$0.99
Franz Peter Schubert Composer Rosamunde, Fürstin von Cypern, D.797, Op.26 (incidental music) Work 5:35 Vienna State Opera Choir Chorus/Choir, Karl Munchinger Conductor, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
11	8.Shepherd's Melody	1:29			$0.49
12	9.Shepherds' Chorus	4:06			$0.99
Johann Strauss II Composer Geschichten aus dem Wienerwald (Tales from the Vienna Woods), Op.325 Work Anton Karas Zither, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Willi Boskovsky Conductor
13	Geschichten aus dem Wienerwald (Tales from the Vienna Woods), Op.325	11:16			$1.99
CD 4 of 5
Pyotr Ilich Tchaikovsky Composer Romeo and Juliet (fantasy overture) Work Herbert von Karajan Conductor, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
1	Romeo and Juliet (fantasy overture; excerpt)	3:12			$0.99
Fritz Kreisler Composer Liebesfreud ('Love's Joy') Work Philharmonia Orchestra of London Orchestra, Erich Gruenberg Violin, Elgar Howarth Conductor
2	Liebesfreud ('Love's Joy'; arr. violin and orchestra)	3:29			$0.99
Frederick Delius Composer A Village Romeo and Juliet (opera)...Scene 5 Work Sir Neville Marriner Conductor, Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields Orchestra
3	5.Interlude: The Walk to the Paradise Garden	8:46			$1.49
Franz Liszt Composer Liebestraum, 3 notturnos, S.541 Work Jorge Bolet Piano
4	3.O lieb, so lang du lieben kannst	4:50			$0.99
Hector Berlioz Composer La Damnation de Faust, Op.24 (légende dramatique)...Part 4 Work Frederica Von Stade Mezzo-Soprano, Chicago Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, Georg Solti Conductor
5	29.Romance de Marguerite: D'amour l'ardente flamme	8:34			$1.49
Sergey Prokofiev Composer Romeo and Juliet (ballet) Op.64...Act 1 Work L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande Orchestra, Ernest Ansermet Conductor
6	19.Balcony Scene; 20.Romeo's Variation	7:39			$1.49
Sir Edward Elgar Composer Salut d'amour (Liebesgrüss), Op.12 Work Kyung-Wha Chung Violin, Phillip Moll Piano
7	Salut d'amour (Liebesgrüss), Op.12 (arr.violin and piano)	3:00			$0.99
Henri Duparc Composer Extase Work Leopold Stokowski Conductor, London Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, David Gray Horn
8	Extase	3:14			$0.99
Joseph Canteloube Composer Chants d'Auvergne, Series 4 Work English Chamber Orchestra Orchestra, Jeffrey Tate Conductor, Kiri Te Kanawa Soprano
9	5.Pastorale	3:23			$0.99
Aram Khachaturian Composer Spartacus (ballet)...Suite No.2 Work Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Aram Khachaturian Conductor
10	1.Adagio of Spartacus and Phrygia	9:08			$1.49
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer Bagatelle in A- ('Für Elise'), WoO59 Work Vladimir Ashkenazy Piano
11	Bagatelle in A- ('Für Elise'), WoO59	2:59			$0.99
Fritz Kreisler Composer Liebesleid ('Love's Sorrow') Work Philharmonia Orchestra of London Orchestra, Erich Gruenberg Violin, Elgar Howarth Conductor
12	Liebesleid ('Love's Sorrow'; arr. violin and orchestra)	3:40			$0.99
Camille Saint-Saëns Composer Samson et Dalila (opera), Op.47...Act 2 Work Henry Lewis Conductor, Marilyn Horne Mezzo-Soprano, Orchestra of the Vienna Opera Orchestra
13	9.Mon coeur s'ouvre à ta voix	6:31			$0.99
Hector Berlioz Composer Roméo et Juliette, for alto, tenor, bass, chorus and orchestra , H.79, Op.17 (symphonie dramatique)...Part 2 Work Lorin Maazel Conductor, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
14	4.Scène d'amour (original version)	4:58			$0.99
CD 5 of 5
Jacques Offenbach Composer Les contes d'Hoffmann (opera)...Act 4 (performed as Act 3 in some version) Work Huguette Tourangeau Mezzo-Soprano, Richard Bonynge Conductor, Radio Suisse Romande Chorus/Choir, Joan Sutherland Soprano, L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande Orchestra, Pro Arte de Lausanne et du Brassus Chorus/Choir
1	1.Belle nuit, o nuit d'amour ('Barcarolle')	4:11			$0.99
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Composer Serenade in D, K.239 ('Serenata notturna') Work Sir Neville Marriner Conductor, Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields Orchestra
2	2.Menuetto. Trio	3:49			$0.99
Antonín (Leopold) Dvořák Composer Serenade for Strings in E, Op.22 Work London Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Christopher Hogwood Conductor
3	4.Larghetto	6:06			$0.99
Frédéric François Chopin Composer 2 Nocturnes, Op.27 Work Vladimir Ashkenazy Piano
4	No.2 in Db	5:51			$0.99
Josef Suk Composer Serenade for strings in Eb, Op 6 Work Sir Neville Marriner Conductor, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra Orchestra
5	3.Adagio	8:39			$1.49
Hector Berlioz Composer Béatrice et Bénédict, H.138 (opera) Work April Cantelo Soprano, London Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, Helen Watts Contralto, Sir Colin Davis Conductor
6	Vous soupirez, madame? ... Nuit paisible et sereine!	4:38			$0.99
Frédéric François Chopin Composer 24 Preludes, Op.28 Work Vladimir Ashkenazy Piano, Marisa Robles Piano
7	7.Andantino in A	0:52			$0.49
Frédéric François Chopin Composer 5 Mazurkas, Op.7 Work Marisa Robles Piano
8	No.1 in Bb	2:58			$0.99
Roman Hoffstetter Composer String Quartet in F, (prev. attr. Haydn, Op.3, No.5) Work Karl Munchinger Conductor, Stuttgarter Kammerorchester Orchestra
9	2.Andante cantabile (Serenade)	4:00			$0.99
Amy Marcy Cheney Beach Composer 4 Sketches, Op.15 Work Alan Feinberg Piano
10	3.Dreaming	6:28			$0.99
George Frideric Handel Composer Concerto Grosso in G-, Op.6, No.6, HWV324 Work Karl Munchinger Conductor, Stuttgarter Kammerorchester Orchestra
11	3.Musette	3:46			$0.99
Francisco Tárrega Composer Recuerdos de la Alhambra, for guitar Work Eduardo Fernandez Guitar
12	Recuerdos de la Alhambra, for guitar	4:46			$0.99
Engelbert Humperdinck Composer Hänsel and Gretel (opera)...Act 2 Work Brigitte Fassbaender Mezzo-Soprano, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Lucia Popp Soprano, Georg Solti Conductor
13	5.Sc.2: Abends, will ich schlafen gehn	3:06			$0.99
Johannes Brahms Composer Serenade for Orchestra No.2 in A, Op.16 Work Istvan Kertesz Conductor, London Symphony Orchestra Orchestra
14	4.Quasi menuetto	5:01			$0.99
Antonín (Leopold) Dvořák Composer Czech Suite, Op.39 Work Detroit Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, Antal Dorati Conductor
15	4.Romanza	5:24			$0.99
Carlos Salzedo Composer Chanson dans la Nuit (Song in the Night), versions for 1 or 2 harps Work Marisa Robles Harp
16	Chanson dans la Nuit (Song in the Night), versions for 1 or 2 harps	3:46			$0.99
Joseph Canteloube Composer Chants d'Auvergne, Series 3 Work English Chamber Orchestra Orchestra, Jeffrey Tate Conductor, Kiri Te Kanawa Soprano
17	4.Brezairola	3:30			$0.99