Classic Experience: 135 of the greatest classical tracks

First launched by EMI UK in 1988, The Classic Experience took Britain by storm, riding high in the UK charts alongside the top rock and pop albums of the day. The recently launched CD format was just beginning to take off and there was a new hunger for discovery of great classical music amongst the mass market.

Three more volumes appeared over the following years, making it one of the most successful classical compilation series of all time. The album covers were a particular point of interest, featuring specially commissioned artworks which included visual references from the music featured on the discs. Listeners would spend hours searching the cover artwork looking to recognise the smallest of details!

To mark the 25th anniversary of the launch of this series, all four volumes are brought together into one attractive 8CD clamshell box set, and featuring all the original album artworks.

Contents:
CD 1
1. Solomon, HWV 67 - Sinfonia: The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba
Ian Watson
2. Karelia Suite, Op.11 - I. Intermezzo
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
3. Karelia Suite, Op.11 - Boléro
Franck Pourcel Orchestre
4. 4 Orchestral Suites, BWV 1066-9 - Air on the G string from Suite No.3 in D
Owain Arwel Hughes
5. Spartacus - Adagio of Spartacus and Phrygia (extract)
Yuri Temirkanov
6. Spartacus - Rhapsody in Blue (extract)
André Previn
7. Divertissement - Dance of the Reed Flutes
André Previn
8. Act II - Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy - Coda
André Previn
9. Peer Gynt, Incidental Music, Op.23 - Prelude, Act IV, Morning
Sir Neville Marriner
10. Concerto No.1 in E Major, RV 269, "La primavera" - I. Allegro
Nigel Kennedy
11. Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op.43 - Variation XVIII (Andante cantabile, a tempo vivace)
Sir Simon Rattle
12. Symphony No.9 in E Minor, Op.95 'From the New World' - II. Largo (opening)
Zdenek Mácal
13. Variations on an Original Theme, Op.36 'Enigma' - IX. Nimrod (A J Jaeger)
Sir Adrian Boult
14. Meditation from Thaïs
Lorin Maazel
15. Fantasia on Greensleeves
Sinfonia of London
16. Canon in D
Sir Neville Marriner

CD 2
1. Fanfare for the Common Man
Orquesta Filarmónica de la Ciudad de México
2. William Tell - Overture
Riccardo Muti
3. Die Walküre - The Ride of the Valkyries (concert version)
Sir Adrian Boult
4. Suite No.2, Op.64 b - Montagues and Capulets (Dance of the Knights) (extract)
Philadelphia Orchestra
5. A Night on the Bare Mountain
Georges Prêtre
6. The Planets - Suite, Op.32 - Mars, the Bringer of War
André Previn
7. Radetzky March Op.228
Wiener Johann Strauss-Orchester
8. 1812 Overture, Op.49 (conclusion)
Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra
9. Troika from Lieutenant Kijé - Suite, Op.60
André Previn
10. The Blue Danube - Waltz, Op.314
Wiener Johann Strauss-Orchester
11. Minuet from String Quintet in E, Op.13 No.5
Sir Neville Marriner
12. Marche Turque
Franck Pourcel Orchestra
13. Barcarolle from The Tales of Hoffmann, Act II
Vilem Tausky
14. The Sleeping Beauty - Ballet Suite, Op.66 - Waltz
Philadelphia Orchestra
15. Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana
Vilem Tausky
16. Dance of the Little Swans from Swan Lake, Op.20
André Previn
17. Pomp and Circumstance - Military Marches, Op.39 - No.1 in D
David Bell

CD 3
1. Carmina Burana - O Fortuna
Riccardo Muti
2. ACT 2 - Scene: Swan theme (Moderato)
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
3. Lakmé (Act I) - Flower Duet (1987 Digital Remaster)
Orchestre du Théâtre National de I'Opéra-Comique
4. Peer Gynt - In the Hall of the Mountain King
Sir John Barbirolli
5. Act I - Overture
Orchestre de l'Opéra National de Paris
6. Act I - Chanson boheme: "Les tringles des sistres tintaient"
Maria Callas
7. Serenade No.13 in G 'Eine kleine Nachtmusik' K525 - IV. Rondo (Allegro)
Sir Neville Marriner
8. Act I - Largo al factotum
Tito Gobbi
9. Horn Concerto No.4 in E Flat, K.495  - III. Rondo (Allegro vivace)
Barry Tuckwell
10. Adagio in G Minor (Excerpt)
Sir Neville Marriner
11. The Nutcracker Op.71a - Waltz of the Flowers (Valse des fleurs)
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
12. 25 Bagatelles - No.25 in A Minor, WoO 59 'Für Elise'
Dame Moura Lympany
13. Cello Concerto in E minor Op.85 - I. Adagio - Moderato (excerpt)
Jacqueline du Pré
14. Pavane Op.50
Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Française
15. Sylvia - Pizzicati
New Philharmonia Orchestra
16. Gymnopédies - I. Lent et douloureux (orch. Debussy)
Louis Frémaux
17. Turandot (Act III) - Nessun dorma
Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg
18. Adagio for Strings, Op.11
Eugene Ormandy
19. Gianni Schicchi - O mio babbino caro
Montserrat Caballé

CD 4
1. Water Music Suite (arr. Harty) - Hornpipe (1988 Digital Remaster)
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
2. Concerto No.2 in G Minor, RV 315, 'L'estate' - III. Presto
David Miller
3. "Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme" Kantate BWV 140 - IV. Zion hört die Wächter singen (Choral) [Sleepers, wake]
Süddeutscher Madrigalchor
4. Symphony No.6 in F, Op.68 'Pastoral' - V. Allegretto (Shepherds' Hymn)
Philadelphia Orchestra
5. The Skaters - Waltz (arr. Norman Bates)
Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte Carlo
6. Suite No.2 in B Minor, BWV 1067 (flute and strings) - Badinerie
Sir Neville Marriner
7. Rigoletto - La donna è mobile
Francesco Molinari Pradelli
8. A Musical Joke, K.522 - IV. Presto
Guido Cantelli
9. Part III - 2. Lever du jour
London Symphony Chorus
10. Symphony No.6 in E minor - I. Allegro (excerpt)
New Philharmonia Orchestra
11. Also sprach Zarathustra, Op.30 (opening)
David Bell
12. Lohengrin - Prelude - Act III
New Philharmonia Orchestra
13. The Planets - Suite for large orchestra Op.32 - IV. Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity (Allegro giocoso)
New Philharmonia Orchestra
14. Romeo and Juliet - Fantasy Overture (excerpt) (1973 Digital Remaster)
André Previn
15. La gazza ladra - Overture
Carlo Maria Giulini
16. Pathétique & Manfred Symphonies (excerpts)
Riccardo Muti
17. Finlandia Op.26
Sir John Barbirolli

CD 5
1. Symphony No.9 in E minor 'From the New World' Op.95 - I. Allegro molto
Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra
2. Má vlast - Vltava (opening)
Staatskapelle Dresden
3. The Barber of Seville - Overture (abbrev.)
Riccardo Muti
4. Act I - Brindisi: Libiamo ne' lieti calici
John McCarthy
5. Die Fledermaus - Overture (abbrev.)
Münchner Rundfunkorchester
6. Symphony No.4 in A 'Italian' Op.90 - I. Allegro vivace (abbrev.)
Klaus Tennstedt
7. No.12 - Divertissement: - Tea (Chinese Dance)
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
8. Waltzes - No.6 in D flat 'Minute' Op.64 No.1
Dmitri Alexeev
9. Symphony No.40 in G Minor, K.550 - I. Molto allegro (abbrev.)
Sir Neville Marriner
10. Chanson de matin, Op.15 No.2 (1985 Digital Remaster)
Sir Adrian Boult
11. Concierto de Aranjuez - II. Adagio (abbrev.)
Angel Romero
12. Symphony No.1 in A flat Op.55 - I. Andante: nobilmente e semplice [i.e. opening only]
Sir Adrian Boult
13. Bachianas Brasileiras No.5 (for soprano and 8 cellos) - I. Aria (Cantilena): Adagio
Enrique Bátiz
14. Les Pêcheurs de perles - Zurga, quand tous deux....Au fond du temple saint (Nadir, Zurga)
Ernest Blanc
15. Suite bergamasque - Clair de lune
Daniel Adni
16. Pagliacci - Recitar!...Vesti la giubba (Act I)
José Carreras
17. Nabucco - Va, pensiero (Chorus of Hebrew Slaves)
Ambrosian Opera Chorus
18. Cantata No.208 'Sheep may safely graze' (arr. Marinner)
Ian Watson

CD 6
1. Piano Concerto No.5 in E flat 'Emperor' Op.73 (arr. Norman Bates) - I. Allegro (abbrev.)
Cleveland Orchestra
2. The Hebrides (Fingal's Cave) - Overture Op.26 (abbrev.)
André Previn
3. Scheherazade Op.35 - III. The Young Prince and the Young Princess (abbrev.)
Philadelphia Orchestra
4. Peter and the Wolf Op.67 - Medley of themes
Sian Edwards
5. L'Arlésienne - Suite No.2 - Farandole
Herbert von Karajan
6. No.12 - Divertissement: - Trepak (Russian Dance)
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
7. Ballet egyptien Op.12 - Suite No.1 - I. Allegro non troppo (1959 Digital Remaster)
Anatole Fistoulari
8. The Tale of Tsar Saltan - The Flight of the Bumble-Bee (Act III)
Sir Neville Marriner
9. La Gioconda - Dance of the Hours (abbrev.)
Robert Irving
10. Gayaneh - Ballet highlights - Sabre Dance
Aram Il'yich Khachaturian
11. The Sorcerer's Apprentice (extract)
Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra
12. The Rite of Spring (Le Sacre du printemps) - extract
Philadelphia Orchestra
13. España
Philadelphia Orchestra
14. Capriccio italien Op.45 (excerpt)
Paul Kletzki
15. Symphony No.9 in D Minor, Op.125 'Choral' - Ode to Joy
Westminster Choir

CD 7
1. Ruslan and Ludmilla - Overture
Bayerisches Staatsorchester
2. Prelude from Holberg Suite, Op.40
Sir Neville Marriner
3. O sole mio
Franco Ferraris
4. The Carnival of the Animals - Aquarium
Scottish National Orchestra
5. Danse macabre Op.40 (abbrev.)
Luben Yordanoff
6. Triumphal Chorus & Grand March (abbrev.)
Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
7. Dolly Suite, Op.56 - Dolly, six pièces pour piano à quatre mains, Op.56 : I Berceuse
Bruno Rigutto
8. Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis (abbrev.)
Sinfonia of London
9. Light Cavalry - Overture
Sir Andrew Davis
10. The Carnival of the Animals - The Swan
Shuku Iwasaki
11. III. Nocturne (abbrev.) from String Quartet No.2 in D
Denis Vigay
12. Piano Sonata No.14 in C-Sharp Minor, Op.27 No.2, "Moonlight" - I. Adagio sostenuto (Excerpt)
Dame Moura Lympany
13. Baïlèro (abbrev.) (Chants d'Auvergne, Series 1 No.2)
Jill Gomez
14. Tosca (Act III) - E lucevan le stelle
James Levine
15. Recuerdos de la Alhambra
Christopher Parkening
16. String Quartet in F - II. Assez vif: très rythmé
Chilingirian Quartet
17. Act I - Che gelida manina (Rodolfo)
Thomas Schippers
18. The Planets, Op.32 - Neptune, the Mystic
Geoffrey Mitchell Choir

CD 8
1. Violin Concerto in D Op.35 - I. Allegro moderato (abbrev.) (arr. Norman Bates)
Christian Ferras
2. Karelia Suite Op.11 - III. Alla marcia
Sir John Barbirolli
3. Il Trovatore (Act II) - Vedi! le fosche (Anvil Chorus)
Ambrosian Opera Chorus
4. La Damnation de Faust Op.24 - Hungarian March
Herbert von Karajan
5. Symphony No.1 in D 'Classical' Op.25 - IV. Finale (Molto vivace)
André Previn
6. Coppélia - Waltz
New Philharmonia Orchestra
7. La Wally - Ebben? Ne andro lontano
Münchner Rundfunkorchester
8. Hungarian Rhapsody No.2 in C sharp minor (abbrev.)
Herbert von Karajan
9. Piano Concerto in A minor Op.16 - I. Allegro molto moderato (abbrev.)
Sir Neville Marriner
10. Die Ruinen von Athen Op.113 - Turkish March
Efrem Kurtz
11. Der fliegende Holländer - Overture (abbrev.)
Sir Adrian Boult
12. The Bartered Bride B143 - Dance of the Comedians (Skocná)
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
13. La forza del destino - Overture (abbrev.)
Riccardo Muti
14. The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra Op.34 - Theme and Fugue
Minnesota Orchestra
15. Pictures at an Exhibition - Promenade and The Great of Kiev
Philadelphia Orchestra