The Best Classical Album in the World...Ever!

• 100 Classical Hits
• The Only Classical Album You'll Ever Need
• The Essential Classics Collection
• The Most Relaxing Classical Music in the World
• The Only Opera Album You'll Ever Need

OK that's a very trite comment, but you get my point. Pure enjoyment, without the intervention of the tracks in a single classical album which you have to pretend to appreciate if you're not to look like a Philistine.

An absolute belter..an education, and a gateway to composers you'd never heard of, (neither had I).

There is a lot on offer on these four CD's, but ask yourself what you hope to get. There are, as I say, a lot of samplers on the market, and this is one of the more expensive box sets. You may feel this package may not offer you the best value for money - (see my review of "The Essential Classics Collection" - ASIN: B000038I67).

Here, well, you do get a broad, eclectic range of the more popular classics. Of course, what you get is a selection of the highlights from classic works - one of Pachabel's best loved melodies, one of Orff's more dramatic moments, and these CD's seem to contain quite a lot of Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart.

This sampler is largely restricted to the more melodic tunes. I do like to have some background music playing when I'm reading or writing, and this collection provides an adequate supply. The four CD's, here, will give you a lot of very enjoyable music which you can have playing while you relax or concentrate on some task.

But if, like me, you're trying to learn a bit more about classical music, if you're prepared to experiment and listen a bit more widely, the real joy of a selection like this is that it should give you the confidence to delve deeper. There is so much pretension in the music world, if you have little musical knowledge to begin with, it can be a bit daunting trying to explore the mysteries of the classics.

My advice is to ignore all the hype and all the flowery language. Allow yourself to sit back and listen to these tracks, then take yourself out and listen to the longer, full versions of your favourites. Let your ear be your guide - maybe have a listen to Radio 3 instead of Classic FM (the BBC plays a much broader range and you're not constantly interrupted by adverts)!

This is an entertaining selection ... but there are better value options on the market (i.e., ones which offer more tracks for less money), and you may feel it is worthwhile looking to see which tracks the respective selections offer.

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