Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Suite No. 3 in D, BWV 1068/Air 'on the G String'
2. Peer Gynt Incidental Music, Op. 23/Morning
3. Canon in D
4. Cantata No. 147/Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
5. Gymnopédie No. 1
6. Piano Concerto No. 21 in C 'Elvira Madigan', K. 467/2. Andante
7. Lakmé/Viens, Mallika
8. Requiem, Op. 48/In Paradisum
9. Suite Bergamasque/Clair de Lune
10. Violin Concerto in E Minor, Op. 64/2. Andante
11. Carnival of the Animals/The Swan
12. Symphony No. 3 'Symphony of Sorrowful Songs'/2. Lento E Largo - Tranqui
13. Flute and Harp Concerto in C, K. 299/2. Andantino
14. Four Seasons. Concerto No. 4 in F Minor 'Winter'/2. Largo
15. 'Enigma' Variations, Op. 36/Nimrod
16. Blow the Wind - Pie Jesu
17. Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini/Variation 18
18. Pavane, Op. 50

Disc 2:

1. Cantata No. 140 (Sleepers, Wake!)/Zion Hört Die Wächter Singen
2. Adagio in G Minor
3. String Quintet in E, Op. 13/5/Minuet
4. Keyboard Concerto No. 5 in F Minor, BWV 1056/2. Largo
5. Thaïs/Méditation
6. Piano Sonata No. 14 in C Sharp Minor 'Moonlight', Op. 27/2/1. Adagio So
7. Contes d'Hoffmann/Belle Nuit, Ô Nuit d'Amour (Barcarolle)
8. Concerto for Two Mandolins in G, RV 532/2. Andante
9. Clarinet Concerto in A, K. 622/2. Adagio (Opening)
10. Cavalleria Rusticana/Intermezzo
11. String Serenade, Op. 22/1. Moderato
12. Gianni Schicchi/O Mio Babbino Caro
13. Sir John in Love/Fantasia on 'Greensleeves'
14. Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 18/2. Adagio Sostenuto (Opening)
15. String Quartet No. 2 in D#/Nocturne
16. Concierto de Aranjuez/2. Adagio (Opening)
17. Adagio for Strings, Op. 11a
18. Carmen/Act 3. Entr'acte

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2167 in Music
• Released on: 1999-03-30
• Number of discs: 2
• Dimensions: .26 pounds

Amazon.com
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

Customer Reviews

READ MY REVIEW!
Okay, I just read trough almost all the 30 reviews for this CD, and I dont ever write a review but I feel that I should for this one.
First of all, I am a piano player of over 14 years, I understand where many of the negative reviews are coming from. The point that is being missed though is that this CD is a collection of BEAUTIFUL music, whether or not you want to critic it to the bone. Very few people are professional "classical" musicians and very few people would really know that is CD has only bits of entire pieces of work on it. I think this CD did what it said, its relaxing. A lot of "classical" music can make you feel like your in a race or in a argument between lovers, and thats all fine and dandy if thats the mood you want, If you turn on your classical music station on your radio most likely you will hear what I am talking about. But for those of us out there that want to hear the "classic" Classical music thats soothing and mellow ( compared to a lot if it) this is a great CD. Now if you want to skin it dry and make it rigid and "100% untampered with" It wont be "relaxing" and thats the whole point of the CD (thus the title). If you are wanting to use this for your labor, i would suggest not using "classical" music to do so, there is too much emotion in even the very most mellow classical music, but thats me, ??
Bottom line- This CD is good and worth the 14$. Happy Hunting

This One is Really Good
There are so many compilations out there like this that for the lay classical listener it's difficult to rummage through them all and choose the best one that will really live up to its title. I can't stop listening to the two CDs that are in this compilation. They have so many of the great soothing classics---the soft gentle melodies that everyone knows and loves but many don't know what they are called. This CD is most likely marketed towards people that are wanting a broad view of classical music with a slant towards the relaxing side of it. All the publicity is worth it, because this album is great. It will associate you with all the soft melodies and get you interested in hearing more. The beauty of Pachelbel's Canon, the haunting serenity of Barber's Adagio for Strings, the tranquility of O Mio Babbino Caro, the very recognizable theme Nimrod from Elgar's Enigma Variations, etc. There's also all that great piano music. It's hard to listen to the adagio of some of those piano concertos and not hear the rest of the concerto. Regardless, this compilation is great. Follow what the TV commercials have said and buy this CD.

Wholesome, soothing magic
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.