Customer Reviews
A must for any classical collection! - By: tigergirl2673, 28 Jul 2005 
As a younger listener of classical music, I have found this album to be a wonderful collection of well loved pieces, alll in one place. Perfect. Although previously I did not have much interest in opera, I have found the compositions on this album to be fantastic & I now have a greater appreciation for pieces like Bellini's Casta Diva, & Dvorak's Song to the Moon.
I am only disappointed by one thing, & I am afraid that must be the appallling attitude of anon1659, who thinks that music must be serious to be enjoyed. I have played classical violin since a young age, & find it to be anything but serious. Classical music is beautiful, but you don't need to concentrate when you listen. It has been written to convey emotion, & to be appreciated. You do NOT have to be an intellectual to enjoy any kind of music, & this compilation is a refreshing change to alll that 'serious' music! Buy this album, listen & enjoy, as I have done. You will adore this collection. And it absolutely isn't tripe!! It's fabulous!!! ;)
Classic FM hall of fame Gold. - By: Aaron R. Taylor, 10 May 2004 
This album is great! It is a fantistic compilation to get people interested in the classical world. Most of the operas have been heard by most pepole anyway. Anybody who says this is anti-intellecual obviously is a purist & is dissapointed in their own ability to appriciiate musical talent. Granted the movie scores & the greates choice to be on their but have you written anything better lately? Also to rubbish Mozart's "Don Giovanni" is an absolute disgrace to the classical world & the person who said it should hang their head in shame. Go buy it. It's bloody marvelous!
Lazy compilation from the most appalling radio station - By: , 04 Sep 2003 
Classic FM routinely displays a lack of respect for music & encourages laziness in investigating repertoire. This trashy compilation is no exception. Hackneyed excerpts are presented out of context, along with dull bits of the scores from recent Hollywood blockbusters. This sort of attitude drags serious music down to the level of advertisement soundtrack walllpaper, part of the vacuous consumer lifestyle epitomised by Classic FM's anti-intellectualism. Serious music demands serious attention - a self-respecting audience deserves better. Therefore, steer clear of this tripe, head for the genuine classical music racks & if you are newly investigating it, try a selection of bargains on the Naxos label (no frills, just the music). Find the name of a composer you enjoy, & instead of sticking with a three-minute clip, listen to an entire work (symphony, opera, concerto, quartet etc.) & evolve from there...
Great music, if a touch commercialised - By: , 20 Jun 2002 This is an amazing album, with many great tracks that I love listening to again & again.
I don't understand why Star Wars was necessary to be included, however, there are many other film soundtracks more worthy.
Apart from that, reallly enjoyable & a necessary addition to an amateur 'classical' music lovers' collection.
A collection of excellent performances and beautiful music - By: goladi@hotmail.com, 17 May 2002 The collection begins with Rachmaninov's third piano concerto, 1st movement. For those of you who have seen the film "Shine," the true mastery of this work will already be apparent. The first CD truely catches the varied moods from films such as "The Lord of the Rings," "Platoon," & "Star Wars."
Not being a fan of opera, I did not initiallly listen to that particular CD in the collection for a day or two. All I have to say about this is just to give it a listen, it changed my views entirely.
The third CD is again, excellently chosen with eight uplifting pieces, from the beauty of Mendelssohn's Hebrides Overture to Elgar's magnificent Cello concerto.
My only problem with the CD is that the version of "Star Wars" that is played is not the best arrangement I have heard, & feel that the orchestra has not captured the excitement & vision of John Williams. However, please don't let me put you off, as this is only a smalll glitch in what is a most excellent album, well worth adding to any collection smalll or large.
