Ascent of middle England sees Vaughan Williams soar to top of the classical chart

Published on Monday 24 March 2008 20:06

IT WAS a piece of music that conveyed pastoral beauty at a time of mechanised destruction and death.

The Lark Ascending, written by Ralph Vaughan Williams after he served as a stretcher-bearer during the First World War, has been voted Britain's favourite classical composition.

In a triumph of middle England over the European continent's great litany of classical giants, Vaughan Williams, whose great-uncle was Charles Darwin and who hailed from Gloucestershire, has been awarded the top spot in Classic FM's Hall of Fame for the second year in a row.

The Lark Ascending, which features a prominent solo violin part and was intended to convey the eternal beauty of a skylark rising into the heavens above a sunny English down, trumped Rachmaninov's Second Piano Concerto and Beethoven's Fifth Piano Concerto. Yet further proof of the continued adoration of Vaughan Williams's work 50 years after his death was the fact that his composition Fantasia On A Theme Of Thomas Tallis came in third place.

On the list of 300 favourite pieces of music as voted by 100,000 listeners of Classic FM and published yesterday were 22 pieces by Mozart, the most popular composer, followed by 20 by Beethoven and 14 by Bach. By comparison, Vaughan Williams had 12 pieces on the list, which also included a classical work by Sir Paul McCartney.

Last night, Darren Henley, of Classic FM, said: "The British public has spoken and declared Vaughan Williams their champion. Vaughan Williams has cemented his position as among the best-loved English composers of all time."

As a student, Ralph Vaughan Williams studied the piano, "which I could never play, and the violin, which was my musical salvation". It was also at the heart of his most beloved piece.

Vaughan Williams, whose mother was the great-granddaughter of the potter Josiah Wedgwood, began writing The Lark Ascending in 1914, but he was interrupted by the First World War. An egalitarian who worked tirelessly all his life to promote democratic rights, he choose to enlist as a private in the Royal Army Medical Corps, before being commissioned in the Royal Garrison Artillery, where he served bravely on the front line.

On one occasion he was too ill to stand, but continued to direct his battery while on the ground. The incessant noise of gunfire was to diminish his hearing, leading to deafness in old age, but he revised and completed The Lark Ascending in 1920.

Vaughan Williams was also acclaimed for rescuing many old English folk songs from extinction, and he went on to write a number of acclaimed film scores, including Scott of the Antarctic (1948). However, The Lark Ascending, inspired by George Meredith's poem, was to become his most popular work. The piece was used as the main theme for the Australian film The Year My Voice Broke (1987).

In May, the piece will be performed by Nicola Benedetti, the Scottish violinist, who recorded it on a recent album, when she tours China with the BBC Scotland Symphony Orchestra.

Last night, Ken Walton, The Scotsman's classical music critic, described The Lark Ascending as a "safe choice".

He said: "It's a difficult choice. We can draw from 600 years of classical music, thousands of composers and there is a lot of historical baggage, but Vaughan Williams is a very safe choice. His is the kind of work that is regularly played on the likes of Classic FM, so people vote for what they regularly hear. The Lark Ascending was recorded by Nicola Benedetti on her recent album, and that may explain its continued popularity.

"I don't think we should look down on Vaughan Williams; he is an influential composer who established an English school of writing that reconnected people to the old folk songs, but it is fair to say that he is loved by middle England."

The full list of 300 pieces of music

1 (1) Vaughan Williams: The Lark Ascending

Hear it on: Nicola Benedetti with Andrew Litton and the London Philharmonic Orchestra - Vaughan Williams & Taverner

2 (3) Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 2

Hear it on: Lang Lang with Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre and Valery Gergiev

- Rachmaninov

3 (10) Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis

Hear it on: Andr Previn & London Symphony Orchestra - Elgar: Enigma Variations & Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis

4 (5) Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 'Emperor'

Hear it on: Hlne Grimaud, Staatskapelle Dresden & Vladimir Jurowski - Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 & Piano Sonata No. 28

5 (8) Beethoven:Symphony No. 6 'Pastoral'

Hear it on: Bernard Haitink & London Symphony Orchestra - LSO Live Beethoven: Symphonies No. 6 & 2

6 (4) Mozart: Clarinet Concerto

Hear it on: Emma Johnson - Mozart: Clarinet Concerto in A - Clarinet Quintet in A

7 (2) Elgar: Cello Concerto

Hear it on: Jacqueline Du Pre, London Symphony Orchestra & Sir John Barbirolli - Elgar: Cello Concerto & Sea Pictures

8 (7) Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1

Hear it on: Janine Jansen, Leipzig Gewandhaus-Orchester & Riccardo Chailly - Mendelssohn & Bruch: Violin Concertos (Bonus Track Version)

9 (6) Elgar: Enigma Variations

Hear it on: London Symphony Orchestra & Sir Colin Davis - Elgar: Enigma Variations, Introduction & Allegro

10 (9) Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 'Choral'

Hear it on: Bernard Haitink & London Symphony Orchestra - Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 - "Choral"

11 (13) Pachelbel: Canon in D

Hear it on: Harmonie Universelle - Pachelbel: Canon & Gigue

12 (15) Barber: Adagio for Strings

Hear it on: Leonard Bernstein & New York Philharmonic - Barber's Adagio and other Romantic Favorites for Strings

13 (12) Jenkins: The Armed Man 'A Mass for Peace'

Hear it on: National Youth Choir of Great Britain - The Armed Man (A Mass for Peace)

14 (46) Vivaldi: Four Seasons

Hear it on: Nigel Kennedy - Vivaldi: The Four Seasons

15 (37) Rachmaninov: Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini

Hear it on: Lang Lang - Rachmaninov, with Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre and Valery Gergiev

16 (31) Holst: The Planets

Hear it on: Berliner Philharmoniker & Sir Simon Rattle - Holst: The Planets

17 (11) Grieg: Piano Concerto in A minor

Hear it on: Eugene Ormandy, Philadelphia Orchestra & Van Cliburn - Grieg: Peer Gynt; Piano Concerto

18 (25) Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture

Hear it on: Berliner Philharmoniker & Claudio Abbado - Tchaikovsky: "1812" Overture; Solennelle

19 (20) Mozart: Requiem

Hear it on: London Symphony Orchestra & Sir Colin Davis - Mozart: Requiem (LSO Live)

20 (23) Handel: Messiah

Hear it on: Anne Sofie von Otter, English Concert, The English Concert Choir & Trevor Pinnock - Handel: Messiah

21 (14) Sibelius: Finlandia

Hear it on: Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra & Neeme Jrvi - Sibelius: Finlandia, Luonnotar, Karelia Suite

22 (26) Ungar: The Ashokan Farewell

Hear it on: Blake - Blake

23 (32) Saint-Sans: Symphony No.3 in C minor 'Organ'

Hear it on: Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Daniel Barenboim, Gaston Litaize & Orchestre de Paris - Saint-Sans: Symphony No. 3, "Organ"

24 (21) Allegri: Miserere

Hear it on: Harry Christophers & The Sixteen - Allegri - Miserere & Palestrina - Missa Papae Marcelli

25 (22) Rodrigo: Concerto de Aranjuez

Hear it on: Daniel Barenboim, English Chamber Orchestra & John Williams - Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez, Villa-Lobos: Concerto for Guitar and Small Orchestra

26 (40) Mascagni: Cavalleria Rusticana

Hear it on: Julia Varady, Luciano Pavarotti, Piero Cappuccilli & Terry Edwards - Mascagni: Cavalleria Rusticana

27 (16) Beethoven: Symphony No.7 in A

Hear it on: Carlos Kleiber & Wiener Philharmoniker - Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 5 & 7

28 (19) Dvorak: Symphony No.9 in E minor 'New World'

Hear it on: Swedish Chamber Orchestra & Thomas Dausgaard - Dvor(k: Symphonies Nos. 6 and 9

29 (35) Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.14 in C sharp minor 'Moonlight'

Hear it on: Daniel Barenboim - Beethoven: "Moonlight", "Appassionata" & "Pathtique" Sonatas

30 (17) Rachmaninov: Symphony No.2 in E minor

Hear it on: Andr Previn & London Symphony Orchestra - Great Recordings of the Century - Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 2

31 (33) Bizet: The Pearl Fishers – Duet

Hear it on: Andrea Bocelli - Aria: The Opera Album

32 (34) Bach: Double Violin Concerto in D minor

Hear it on: Hilary Hahn, Jeffrey Kahane & Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra - J.S. Bach: Violin Concertos

33 (70) Bach: Toccata and Fugue in D minor

Hear it on: Simon Preston - Bach: Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, BWV 565

34 (18) Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 in C minor

Hear it on: Gustavo Dudamel & Simn Bolvar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela - Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 5 & 7

35 (28) Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No.1 in B flat minor

Hear it on: Berliner Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado, Martha Argerich & Nicolas Economou - Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1; Nutcracker Suite

36 (30) Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E minor

Hear it on: Academy of St. Martin in the Fields & Nicola Benedetti - Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto

37 (38) Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue

Hear it on: Jeff Tyzik, Jon Nakamatsu & Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra - Gershwin: Piano Concerto In F, Rhapsody In Blue, Cuban Overture

38 (41) Faur: Requiem

Hear it on: Harry Christophers, Elin Manahan Thomas, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields & The Sixteen - Faur: Requiem

39 (24) Shostakovich: Piano Concerto No.2 in F

Hear it on: Dimitry Shostakovich, Jr., I Musici De Montreal & Maxim Shostakovich - Shostakovich: Piano Concerto No. 2 - Symphony for Strings

40 (44) Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade

Hear it on: Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert Von Karajan & Michel Schwalb - Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade

41 (27) Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No.3 in D minor

Hear it on: Riccardo Chailly & Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks - Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 3

42 (43) Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake

Hear it on: Charles Dutoit & L'Orchestre Symphonique de Montral - Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake

43 (93) Grieg Peer Gynt Suite No.1

Hear it on: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra & Sakari Oramo - Grieg: Peer Gynt Suites 1 & 2 - In Autumn - Symphonic Dances

44 (66) Bach: 6 Brandenburg Concertos

Hear it on: European Brandenburg Ensemble & Trevor Pinnock - Bach: Six Concertos for the Margrave of Brandenburg

45 (36) Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D

Hear it on: Carlo Maria Giulini, Itzhak Perlman & Philharmonia Orchestra - Great Recordings of the Century - Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 61

46 (55) Shore: Lord of the Rings

Hear it on: Howard Shore - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King - The Complete Recordings

47 (64) Mendelssohn: Hebrides Overture 'Fingal's Cave'

Hear it on: Bernard Haitink & London Philharmonic Orchestra- Mendelssohn: Symphonies Nos.3 & 4 - Hebrides Overture

48 (48) Mahler: Symphony No. 5 in C sharp minor

Hear it on: Gustavo Dudamel & Simn Bolvar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela - Mahler: Symphony No. 5

49 (39) Mozart: Piano Concerto No.21 in C 'Elvira Madigan'

Hear it on: Daniel Barenboim & English Chamber Orchestra - Mozart: Piano Concerto Nos. 21 & 27

50 (83) Mozart: The Marriage of Figaro

Hear it on: Collegium Vocale Gent, Concerto Koln & Ren Jacobs - Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro

51 (80) Mozart: Ave Verum Corpus

Hear it on: Barry Wordsworth, Bryn Terfel & London Symphony Orchestra - Simple Gifts

52 (71) Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet

Hear it on: Kirov Orchestra & Valery Gergiev - Prokofiev: Romeo & Juliet

53 (68) Mozart: The Magic Flute

Hear it on: Christa Ludwig, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Gundula Janowitz, Nicolai Gedda, Otto Klemperer & Philharmonia Orchestra - Great Recordings of the Century - Mozart: Die Zauberflte (The Magic Flute)

54 (53) Faur: Cantique de Jean Racine

Hear it on: English Voices, London Festival Orchestra & Ross Pople - Faur: Requiem; Cantique de Jean Racine; Messe basse

55 (63) Handel: Solomon – Arrival of the Queen of Sheba

Hear it on: Akademie fr Alte Musik Berlin, Daniel Reuss & Sarah Connolly - Handel: Solomon

56 (77) Verdi: Nabucco

Hear it on: Ambrosian Opera Chorus, Philharmonia Orchestra & Riccardo Muti - Verdi: Nabucco

57 (107) Williams: Schindler's List

Hear it on: John Williams - Greatest Hits 1969-1999

58 (104) Mozart: Eine Kleine Nachtmusik

Hear it on: James Levine, Walter Singer & Wiener Philharmoniker - Mozart: Eine Kleine Nachtmusik

59 (57) Albinoni: Adagio in G minor

Hear it on: Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert Von Karajan & Michel Schwalb - Vivaldi: Le Quattro Stagioni; Albinoni: Adagio; Corelli: Christmas Concerto

60 (29) Smetana: M Vlast – Vltava

Hear it on: London Symphony Orchestra & Sir Colin Davis - LSO Live - Smetana: M vlast

61 (95) Puccini: La Bohme

Hear it on: Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert Von Karajan, Luciano Pavarotti & Mirella Freni - Puccini: La Bohme (2 CDs)

62 (60) Morricone: The Mission – Gabriel's Oboe

Hear it on: Ennio Morricone - The Mission (Original Soundtrack from the Film)

63 (109) Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker Suite

Hear it on: Orchestra Of The Kirov Opera St. Petersburg, Valery Borisov & Valery Gergiev - Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker

64 (51) Debussy: Suite Bergamasque – Clair de Lune

Hear it on: Jean-Yves Thibaudet - Atonement (Music from the Motion Picture)

65 (69) Einaudi: Le Onde

Hear it on: Ludovico Einaudi - Le Onde

66 (56) Widor: Organ Symphony No. 5 – Toccata

Hear it on: Simon Preston Vierne: Carillon de Westminster - Widor: Symphony No. 5

67 (45) Elgar: Pomp and Circumstance 4 in G

Hear it on: London Philharmonic Orchestra & Vernon Handley - Elgar: Pomp & Circumstance Marches 1-5 & Sea Pictures

68 (62) Shostakovich: The Gadfly – Romance

Hear it on: Radio Symphony Orchestra of Berlin - Shostakovich: Hamlet & the Gadfly

69 (92) Puccini: Madame Butterfly

Hear it on: Christa Ludwig, Herbert Von Karajan, Luciano Pavarotti, Mirella Freni & Wiener Philharmoniker - Puccini: Madama Butterfly

70 (50) Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 in E flat 'Eroica'

Hear it on: Jukka-Pekka Saraste & Scottish Chamber Orchestra - Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 "Erioica"

71 (74) Verdi: Requiem

Hear it on: Dame Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, Marilyn Horne, Martti Talvela, Sir Georg Solti & Wiener Philharmoniker - Verdi: Requiem

72 (97) Orff: Carmina Burana

Hear it on: Berliner Philharmoniker & Sir Simon Rattle - Orff: Carmina Burana

73 (58) Sibelius: Karelia Suite

Hear it on: Sir Colin Davis - Karelia Suite, Tapiola, Nightride and Sunset

74 (86) Vaughan Williams: 5 Variants of Dives and Lazarus

Hear it on: Academy of St. Martin in the Fields & Sir Neville Marriner - Vaughan Williams: Tallia Fantasia; Fantasia on Greensleeves; The

Lark Ascending etc.

75 (188) Bach: Cello Suites

Hear it on: Steven Isserlis - Bach J S: Cello Suites

76 (101) Vaughan Williams: English Folksongs Suite

Hear it on: Barry Wordsworth, Sir Adrian Boult & Sir Neville Marriner - Vaughan Williams: Orchestral Works

77 (47) Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6 in B minor 'Pathtique'

Hear it on: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky - Symphony No.6 'Pathetique'

78 (114) Zimmer: Gladiator soundtrack

Hear it on: Hans Zimmer - Gladiator (Soundtrack from the Motion Picture)

79 (228) Delibes: Lakm

Hear it on: All Angels - All Angels

80 (65) Chopin: Piano Concerto No.1 in E minor

Hear it on: Boris Berezovsky, Ensemble Orchestral de Paris & John Nelson - Chopin: Concertos pour Piano Nos. 1 & 2

163 (300) Vaughan Williams - The Wasps – Overture

Hear it on: Hall Orchestra, Henry Goodman & Mark Elder Hall - Vaughan Williams: The Wasps

164 (191) Addinsell - Warsaw Concerto

Hear it on: Jean-Yves Thibaudet - Warsaw Concerto

165 (111) Barber - Violin Concerto

Hear it on: Andr Previn, Gil Shaham & London Symphony Orchestra - Barber: Violin Concerto - Korngold: Violin Concerto

166 (256) Debussy - Prelude a l'apres-midi d'un faune

Hear it on: Cleveland Orchestra & Pierre Boulez - Debussy: Images, Printemps & Prlude l'aprs-midi d'un faune

167 (91) Elgar - Violin Concerto

Hear it on: Hilary Hahn, London Symphony Orchestra & Sir Colin Davis Elgar: Violin Concerto; Vaughan Williams: The Lark Ascending

168 (100) Gounod - Mors et Vita: Judex

Hear it on: Michel Plasson & Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse - Gonoud: Mors et Vita

169 (254) Liszt - Hungarian Rhapsody No.2

Hear it on: Marc-Andre Hamelin - Liszt: Marc-Andr Hamelin Plays Liszt

170 (207) Rossini - William Tell: Overture

Hear it on: Ambrosian Opera Chorus, National Philharmonic Orchestra & Riccardo Chailly Rossini: Gugliemo Tell

171 (105) Beethoven - Piano Concerto No. 4 in G

Hear it on: Alfred Brendel, Sir Simon Rattle & Wiener Philharmoniker - Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 4

172 (–) Barry - Out of Africa

Hear it on: John Barry - Out of Africa (Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack)

173 (132) Brahms - Piano Concerto No.2 in B flat

Hear it on: Rudolf Buchbinder - Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2 & Two Rhapsodies

174 (150) Mahler - Symphony No.1 in D

Hear it on: Berliner Philharmoniker & Claudio Abbado - Mahler: Symphony No. 1

175 (177) Tarrega - Memories of the Alhambra

Hear it on: Pepe Romero - Trrega: Recuerdos De La Alhambra / Albniz: Asturias / Jeux Interdits

176 (129) Handel - Sarabande

Hear it on: Sir Neville Marriner & Yehudi Menuhin - Sarabande - Baroque Favorites

177 (197) Bach - Orchestral Suite No. 3 – Air on the G String

Hear it on: Bach Collegium Japan & Masaaki Suzuki - Bach: 4 Orchestral Suites, BWV 1066-1069

178 (208) Haydn - The Creation

Hear it on: English Baroque Soloists & John Eliot Gardiner - Haydn: The Creation

179 (–) Mozart - Horn Concerto No.2

Hear it on: David Pyatt, London Philharmonic Orchestra & Nicholas Braithwaite - British Horn Concertos: Jacob, Arnold, Bowen, Gipps & Vinter

180 (–) Rutter - A Gaelic Blessing

Hear it on: John Rutter & The Cambridge Singers - John Rutter: The Choral Collection

181 (275) Chopin - Nocturne in E flat Op.9 No.2

Hear it on: Daniel Barenboim - Chopin: Nocturnes

182 (98) Beethoven - Romance No.2 in F major

Hear it on: Anne-Sophie Mutter, Kurt Masur & New York Philharmonic Beethoven: Violin Concerto - Romances

183 (–) Mozart - Exsultate jubilate

Hear it on: John Constable, Kiri Te Kanawa, London Symphony Orchestra & Sir Colin Davis - Mozart: Exsultate, Jubilate

184 (192) Copland - Appalachian Spring

Hear it on: Leonard Bernstein & New York Philharmonic Bernstein Century - Copland: Appalachian Spring; Rodeo; Billy the Kid; Fanfare for the Common Man

185 (220) Haydn - Trumpet Concerto in E flat

Hear it on: Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Hakan Hardenberger & Sir Neville Marriner Haydn, Hummel & Richter: Virtuoso Trumpet Concertos

186 (135) Mendelssohn - Symphony No. 4 in A 'Italian'

Hear it on: Berliner Philharmoniker & Herbert Von Karajan - Mendelssohn: "Scottish" & "Italian" Symphonies

187 (126) Mozart - Piano Concerto No.20 in D minor

Hear it on: Stanislaw Wislocki & Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra - Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 20, K. 466; Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3

188 (267) Vaughan Williams - Symphony No.5 in D

Hear it on: Atlanta Chamber Chorus, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Robert Spano - Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 5, Fantasia On a Theme By Thomas Tallis, Serenade to Music

189 (257) Vaughan Williams - Symphony No.1 ('A Sea Symphony')

Hear it on: Bournemouth Symphony Chorus & Orchestra, Christopher Maltman & Joan Rodgers - Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 1, "A Sea Symphony"

190 (193) Parry - Jerusalem

Hear it on: BBC Concert Orchestra & Various Artists - Pomp and Circumstance

191 (165) Walton - Crown Imperial

Hear it on: Andre Previn & Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - Walton: Symphony No. 1 - Orb & Sceptre - Crown Imperial

192 (120) Tchaikovsky - Symphony No. 4

Hear it on: Berliner Philharmoniker & Herbert Von Karajan - Tchaikovsky: Symphonies Nos. 4 & 5 & 6

193 (137) Elgar - Introduction and Allegro for strings

Hear it on: London Symphony Orchestra & Sir Colin Davis - Elgar: Enigma Variations, Introduction & Allegro

194 (265) Lauridsen - O Magnum Mysterium

Hear it on: Chamber Choir Of Europe, Morten Lauridsen & Nicol Matt - Lauridsen: O Magnum Mysterium

195 (138) Schumann - Piano Concerto in A minor

Hear it on: Berliner Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado & Maurizio Pollini - Schumann: Piano Concerto

196 (279) Bruch - Violin Concerto No.2

Hear it on: Itzhak Perlman - Bruch: Scottish Fantasy & Violin Concerto No. 2

197 (233) Parry - I Was Glad

Hear it on: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra & Various Artists - Parry: Blest Pair of Sirens, I Was Glad

198 (163) Elgar - Salut d'amour

Hear it on: Natalie Clein, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra & Vernon Handley - Elgar: Cello Concerto

199 (200) Mendelssohn - A Midsummer Night's Dream

Hear it on: Andr Previn & London Symphony Orchestra - Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night's Dream

200 (204) Ravel - Pavane pour une infante dfunte

Hear it on: Boston Symphony Orchestra & Seiji Ozawa - Ravel: Bolro

201 (262) Williams - Jurassic Park soundtrack

Hear it on: John Williams - Music from the Film of Steven Spielberg

202 (245) Hess - Ladies in Lavender soundtrack

Hear it on: Joshua Bell, Marcia Crayford & Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - Ladies in Lavender (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

203 (176) Albinoni - Oboe Concerto in D minor Op.9 No 2

Hear it on: Heinz Holliger - Albinoni: 6 Oboe Concertos

204 (124) Elgar - Symphony No.1 in A flat

Hear it on: London Symphony Orchestra & Sir Colin Davis - Elgar: Symphony No. 1

205 (273) Mussorgsky - A Night on the Bare Mountain

Hear it on: Cleveland Orchestra & Oliver Knussen - Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition

206 (–) McCartney - Ecce Cor Meum

Hear it on: Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields & Various Artists - Classical 2008

207 (285) Chopin - Fantaisie-Impromptu

Hear it on: Antoni Wit, Olga Kern & Warsaw Philharmonic - Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 1

208 (–) Saint-Saens - Samson et Delilah

Hear it on: Colin Davis, London Symphony Chorus & London Symphony Orchestra - Saint-Sans: Samson et Dalila

209 (146) Stanley - Trumpet Voluntary

Hear it on: Wynton Marsalis - The Essential Wynton Marsalis

210 (–) Berg - Violin Concerto

Hear it on: BBC Symphony Orchestra, Daniel Hope & Paul Watkins Berg & Britten - Violin Concertos

211 (118) Beethoven - Fantasia for Piano, Chorus & Orchestra in C minor

Hear it on: Andr Previn, Emanuel Ax & Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Beethoven: The Piano Concertos

212 (182) Stravinsky - The Firebird Suite

Hear it on: Cleveland Orchestra & Pierre Boulez Stravinsky: Le Sacre du Printemps, The Firebird

213 (134) Mozart - Piano Concerto No.23 in A

Hear it on: Academy Of St Martin In The Fields, Alfred Brendel & Sir Neville Marriner - Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 20, 23 & Concert Rondos

214 (251) Rossini - The Thieving Magpie Overture

Hear it on: Machael Halasz & Zagreb Festival Orchestra - Rossini: Overtures

215 (–) Mozart - Mass No.18 in C minor 'Great'

Hear it on: Gabrieli Consort & Players & Paul McCreesh - Mozart: Great Mass In C Minor

216 (236) Grieg - Wedding Day at Troldhaugen (from Lyric Pieces, Book 8)

Hear it on: Leif Ove Andsnes - Grieg: Lyric Pieces

217 (–) Johann Strauss II - Die Fledermaus

Hear it on: Bayerisches Straatsopernorchester & Carlos Kleiber - Strauss: Die Fledermaus

218 (144) Rachmaninov - Piano Concerto No.1 in F# minor

Hear it on: Boston Symphony Orchestra, Krystian Zimerman & Seiji Ozawa - Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2

219 (263) Delius - A Village Romeo and Juliet –The Walk to the Paradise Garden

Hear it on: Unicorn Kanchana Souvenir UKCD2073

220 (–) Vaughan Williams - Symphony No.2 ('A London Symphony')

Hear it on: Andre Previn & London Philharmonic Orchestra - Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 2 - The Lark Ascending

221 (186) Beethoven - Triple Concerto in C

Hear it on: Bernard Haitink & London Symphony Orchestra - Beethoven Symphony No. 7 & Triple Concerto

222 (175) Mozart - Horn Concerto No.4 in E flat

Hear it on: Academy Of St Martin In The Fields, Garrick Ohlsson and Sir Neville Marriner - Mozart: Horn Concertos & Horn Quintet

223 (–) Debussy - Preludes Book I

Hear it on: Krystian Zimerman - Debussy: Preludes

224 (239) Elgar - Sea Pictures

Hear it on: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Sarah Connolly & Simon Wright - Edward Elgar: Sea Pictures

225 (–) Arnold - Clarinet Concerto No.2

Hear it on: Bournemouth Sinfonietta, Norman Del Mar & Ronald Thomas - British Composers: Arnold: Wind Concertos

226 (225) Bellini - Norma: 'Casta Diva'

Hear it on: Sutherland, Pavarotti, Caballe, Ramey, Welsh National Opera - Bellini: Norma

227 (258) Wagner - The Mastersingers of Nuremberg

Hear it on: Eugen Jochum & Orchester der Deutschen Oper Berlin - Wagner: Die Meistersinger von Nrnberg

228 (248) Tchaikovsky - Piano Concerto No. 2 in G

Hear it on: Academy Of St Martin In The Fields, Garrick Ohlsson and Sir Neville Marriner - Piano Concertos

229 (–) Nyman - The Piano

Hear it on: Michael Nyman - The Piano (Original Music From The Film)

230 (178) Dvorak - Symphony No. 8 in G

Hear it on: Berliner Philharmoniker & Herbert Von Karajan - Dvorak: Symphonies Nos. 8 & 9

231 (87) Hawes - Quanta Qualia

Hear it on: Patrick Hawes - Towards the Light

232 (NE) Beethoven - Piano Concerto No. 3

Hear it on: Daniel Barenboim & Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper - Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3; Choral Fantasy

233 (153) Canteloube - Songs of the Auvergne

Hear it on: Natania Davrath & Pierre De La Roche - Canteloube: Songs of the Auvergne

234 (222) Britten - Peter Grimes

Hear it on: Bernard Haitink & Orchestra of the Royal Opera House - Britten: Peter Grimes

235 (–) MacCunn - Land of the Mountain and the Flood

Hear it on: Alexander Gibson & Royal Scottish National Orchestra - Scottish Overtures

236 (141) Brahms - Symphony No. 4 in E Minor

Hear it on: Bernard Haitink & London Symphony Orchestra - Brahms: Symphony No. 4

237 (–) Prokofiev - Lieutenant Kije

Hear it on: Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra & Paavo Jrvi - Prokofiev: Lieutenant Kije Suite, Symphony No. 5

238 (291) Finzi - Eclogue

Hear it on: Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Andrew Marriner & Sir Neville Marriner - Finzi: Clarinet Concerto, Nocturne, Eclogue

239 (168) Mozart - Symphony No.41 in C 'Jupiter'

Hear it on: Lorin Maazel & New York Philharmonic - Mozart: The Last Symphonies

240 (189) Delius - La Calinda from 'Koanga'

Hear it on: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir & Orchestra & Sir Charles Groves - Delius: Koanga; The Song Of The High Hills

241 (203) Pergolesi - Stabat Mater

Hear it on: Andreas Scholl, Barbara Bonney, Christophe Rousset & Les Talens Lyriques - Pergolesi: Stabat mater

242 (269) Clarke - The Prince of Denmark's March

Hear it on: Wynton Marsalis - Classic Wynton

243 (284) Bruch - Kol Nidrei

Hear it on: Jacqueline Du Pre, Daniel Barenboim & The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra - Brahms: Cello Sonatas No. 1 & 2; Bruch: Kol Nidrei

244 (218) Schubert - Ave Maria

Hear it on: Andreas Delfs, Renee Fleming & Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - Sacred Songs

245 (–) Barry - The Girl with the Sun in Her Hair

Hear it on: City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra & Philharmonic - Zulu: The Film Music of John Barry

246 (202) Schubert - Symphony No. 9 in C 'Great'

Hear it on: Nikolaus Harnoncourt & Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra - Schubert: The Symphony No. 9

247 (243) Brahms - Piano Concerto No.1 in D minor

Hear it on: Helene Grimaud, Kurt Sanderling & Staatskapelle Berlin Strauss: Burleske - Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 1

248 (–) Bach - Cantata No.140

Hear it on: John Eliot Gardiner, English Baroque Soloists & Monteverdi Choir - Bach: Cantatas, BWV 140 & 147

249 (253) Mahler - Symphony No. 8 'Symphony of a Thousand'

Hear it on: Sir Simon Rattle & City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra - Mahler: Symphony No. 8

250 (240) Litolff - Concerto Symphonique No.4 in D minor – Scherzo

Hear it on: Andrew Litton, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra & Peter Donohoe - Litolff: Concertos Symphoniques Nos. 2 & 4

251 (205) Monteverdi - Vespers

Hear it on: Gabrieli Consort, Gabrieli Players & Paul McCreesh - Monteverdi: Vespers della Beata Vergine

252 (274) Berlioz - L'enfance du Christ

Hear it on: London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis & Yann Beuron - Berlioz: L'enfance du Christ

253 (244) Copland - Rodeo

Hear it on: Leonard Bernstein & New York Philharmonic - Copland: Appalachian Spring; Rodeo; Billy the Kid; Fanfare for the Common Man

254 (–) Vaughan Williams - Serenade to Music

Hear it on: London Philharmonic Orchestra & Vernon Handley - Vaughan Williams: The Wasps Overture & Serenade to Music; Delius: 2 Pieces for Small Orchestra

255 (–) Wagner - Lohengrin

Hear it on: Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks & Sir Colin Davis - Wagner: Lohengrin

256 (230) Ravel - Piano Concerto in G

Hear it on: Berliner Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado & Martha Argerich - Ravel: Piano Concerto in G, Gaspard de las Nuit, Sonatine

257 (–) Shostakovich - Piano Concerto No.1

Hear it on: Martha Argerich, Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana & Sergei Nakariakov - Shostakovich: Piano Concerto No. 1, Piano Quintet, Concertino for Two Pianos

258 (296) Vaughan Williams - Towards the Unknown Region

Hear it on: David Lloyd-Jones, Roderick Williams & The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir & Orchestra - Vaughan Williams: Willow-Wood; The Sons of Light; Toward the Unknown Region; Five Variants of Dives; Lazarus

259 (283) Rachmaninov - Vocalise

Hear it on: Mischa Maisky & Pavel Gililov - Vocalise (Russian Romances)

260 (162) Beethoven - Piano Concerto No.1 in C

Hear it on: Pierre-Laurent Aimard, Nikolaus Harnoncourt & The Chamber Orchestra Of Europe - Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos 1-5

261 (–) Bach - Magnificat

Hear it on: Choir Of King's College, Cambridge & Academy of Ancient Music & Stephen Cleobury - Bach:

262 (196) Rodrigo - Fantasia para un Gentilhombre

Hear it on: Pepe Romero, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields & Sir Neville Marriner - Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez; Fantasa Para Un Gentilhombre

263 (194) Dvorak - Slavonic Dances

Hear it on: Czech Philharmonic Orchestra & Vaclav Neumann - Dvorak: Slavonic Dances Op. 46

264 (227) Vivaldi - Concerto for 2 Mandolins

Hear it on: New London Consort & Academy Of Ancient Music - Vivaldi: 14 Concertos

265 (287) Purcell - Dido and Aeneas

Hear it on: Les Arts Florissants & William Christie - Purcell: Dido & Aeneas

266 (231) Gershwin - Piano Concerto in F

Hear it on: Jeff Tyzik, Jon Nakamatsu & Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra - Gershwin: Piano Concerto In F; Rhapsody In Blue; Cuban Overture

267(–) Walton - Spitfire Prelude and Fugue

Hear it on: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra & Sir Charles Groves - Walton: Spitfire Prelude & Fugue; Suite from Richard III

268 (237) Beethoven - Missa Solemnis

Hear it on: Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Arnold Schoenberg Chor, & The Chamber Orchestra of Europe - Beethoven: Missa Solemnis

269 (–) Mahler - Symphony No.10

Hear it on: Sir Simon Rattle & The Berliner Philharmoniker - Mahler: Symphony No. 10

270 (211) Borodin - String Quartet No.2 in D

Hear it on: Borodin String Quartet - Borodin: String Quartets Nos. 1 and 2

271 (223) Beethoven - Piano Sonata No.23 in F minor 'Appassionata'

Hear it on: Daniel Barenboim - Beethoven: Sonatas Moonlight, Appassionata & Pathetique

272 (259) Khachaturian - Masquerade Suite

Hear it on: Alicia de Larrocha & London Philharmonic Orchestra - Khachaturian: Piano Concerto; Violin Concerto; Masquerade Suite

273 (–) Vaughan Williams - Symphony No.3 'Pastoral'

Hear it on: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra - Vaughan Williams: Symphonies Nos 3 "Pastoral" and 6

274 (–) Sibelius - Lemminkainen Suite

Hear it on: Sir Colin Davis & London Symphony Orchestra - Sibelius: Lemminkinen Suite; Pohjola's Daughter; The Bard

275 (–) Bruch - Violin Concerto No.3

Hear it on: Chloe Hanslip - Bruch : Violin Concerto, No. 3

276 (–) Beethoven - Fidelio

Hear it on: London Symphony Orchestra & Sir Colin Davis - Beethoven: Fidelio

277 (221) Preisner - Requiem for My Friend

Hear it on: Jacek Kaspszyk, Sinfonia Varsovia & Zbigniew Preisner - Preisner: Requiem for my friend

278 (154) Zipoli - Elevazione

Hear it on: Gordon Hunt & Norrkoping Symphony Orchestra - Elevazione: The Magic of the Oboe

279 (42) Handel - Zadok the Priest

Hear it on: Academy of Ancient Music & Choir of New College, Oxford - Coronation

280 (280) Elgar - Symphony No.2

Hear it on: London Symphony Orchestra & Sir Colin Davis - Elgar: Symphony No. 2

281(272) Debussy - La Mer

Hear it on: Sir Simon Rattle & The Berliner Philharmoniker & Sir Simon Rattle - Debussy: La Mer

282 (–) Delibes - Coppelia

Hear it on: Mark Ermler & Orchestra of the Royal Opera House - Delibes: Copplia

283 (183) Brahms - Symphony No.1 in C minor

Hear it on: London Philharmonic Orchestra & Marin Alsop - Brahms: Symphony No. 1; Tragic Overture; Academic Festival Overture

284 (261) Shostakovich - Symphony No.7 in C 'Leningrad'

Hear it on: Mariss Jansons & Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra - Shostakovich: Symphony No. 7 in C Major; Op. 60 Leningrad (Live)

285 (–) Mozart - Horn Concerto No.1

Hear it on: Claire Briggs, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra & Stephen Kovacevich - Mozart: Horn Concertos Nos. 1-4; Haydn: Trumpet Concerto

286 (250) Barber - Agnus Dei

Hear it on: Harry Christophers & The Sixteen - Renaissance: Music for Inner Peace

287(–) Rossini - The Barber of Seville

Hear it on: James Levine & London Symphony Orchestra - Rossini: Il Barbiere Di Siviglia

288 (219) Schubert - Symphony No. 5 in B flat

Hear it on: Andrs Schiff & Philharmonia Orchestra - Schubert: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 5; Piano Sonata in A Major

289 (217) Mendelssohn - Elijah

Hear it on: London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra & Richard Hickox - Mendelssohn: Elijah

290 (212) Prokofiev - Symphony No.1 in D 'Classical'

Hear it on: Andr Previn & London Symphony Orchestra - Prokofiev: Cinderella; Ballet Op. 87; Symphony No. 1

291 (–) Bach - Christmas Oratorio

Hear it on: John Eliot Gardiner, English Baroque Soloists & Monteverdi Choir - J.S. Bach: Christmas Oratorio

292 (210) Mozart - Sinfonia Concertante in E flat for violin & viola

Hear it on: Maxim Vengerov, Lawrence Power & UBS Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra - Mozart: Violin Concertos No. 2 & 4; Sinfonia Concertante

293 (–) Glazunov - The Seasons

Hear it on: Cleveland Orchestra & Vladimir Ashkenazy - Prokofiev: Cinderella; Glazunov: The Seasons

294 (–) Williams - Raiders of the Lost Ark

Hear it on: John Williams & The Boston Pops Orchestra - Encore! Best of The Boston Pops

295 (–) Bach - Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C

Hear it on: Nikolai Demidenko - Bach: (Busoni) Piano Transcriptions 1

296 (–) Richard Strauss - Der Rosenkavalier

Hear it on: Herbert Von Karajan & Wiener Philharmoniker - Richard Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier

297 (199) Elgar - Serenade for Strings

Hear it on: BBC Symphony Orchestra & Sir Andrew Davis - Elgar: Enigma Variations; Serenade for Strings; Cockaigne Overture

298 (241) Schubert - Symphony No. 8 in B minor 'Unfinished'

Hear it on: Chamber Orchestra Of Europe & Claudio Abbado - Schubert: 8 Symphonies; Rosamunde; Grand Duo

299 (–) Bernstein - West Side Story Suite

Hear it on: Joshua Bell, David Zinman & Philharmonia Orchestra - Bernstein: West Side Story Suite

300 (234) Handel - Xerxes

Hear it on: Piero Bellugi - Handel: Serse (Xerxes)