When ABC Classic FM announced the original Classic 100 survey back in 2001, it was barely a month before the launch of the iPod, which has transformed the listening habits of the nation. Now, music – from the classics to pop to jazz, you name it – is in everyone’s pockets, travelling with us wherever we go. It has undoubtedly changed the way we listen to music, but more importantly, has it changed the music we love?
A decade on from the original survey, this latest Classic 100, as voted by listeners to ABC Classic FM, provides the answer. This 8CD set contains highlights from all 100 of the pieces on the list – over 10 hours of music – and represents the definitive anthology of the classical hits that Australians love, over and above all others.
VOL. I
CD1
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 9 ‘Choral’: IV. Allegro assai – excerpt: Ode to Joy
Sydney Philharmonia Symphonic and Motet Choirs, Sydney Philharmonia Orchestra, Antony Walker conductor
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 5 ‘Emperor’: II. Adagio un poco mosso
Gerard Willems piano, Sinfonia Australis, Antony Walker conductor
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 6 ‘Pastoral’: I. Allegro ma non troppo
Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, David Porcelijn conductor
MOZART Clarinet Concerto: II. Adagio
Craig Hill basset clarinet, Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, Paul Dyer director
DVOŘÁK Symphony No. 9 ‘From the New World’: II. Largo
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Tadaaki Otaka conductor
HANDEL Messiah: For Unto Us a Child is Born
Cantillation, Orchestra of the Antipodes, Antony Walker conductor
RACHMANINOFF Piano Concerto No. 2: I. Moderato
Alexander Lubiantsev piano, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, János Fürst conductor
MOZART Requiem: Dies irae
Cantillation, Orchestra of the Antipodes, Antony Walker conductor
BEETHOVEN Violin Concerto: III. Rondo
Richard Tognetti violin, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Anthony Halstead conductor
ELGAR Cello Concerto I. Adagio – Moderato
Li-Wei cello, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Nicholas Braithwaite conductor
CD2
BRUCH Violin Concerto No. 1: III. Finale
Niki Vasilakis violin, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, Sebastian Lang-Lessing conductor
VIVALDI The Four Seasons – Winter: II. Largo
Barbara Jane Gilby violin, Tasmanian Symphony Chamber Players, Geoffrey Lancaster director
SAINT-SAËNS Symphony No. 3 ‘Organ’: IIb. Maestoso – Allegro
Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, David Stanhope conductor
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS The Lark Ascending (excerpt)
Dimity Hall violin, Sinfonia Australis, Antony Walker conductor
JS BACH St Matthew Passion: Mache dich, mein Herze, rein
Teddy Tahu Rhodes bass-baritone, Orchestra of the Antipodes, Antony Walker conductor
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 7: II. Allegretto
Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Willem van Otterloo conductor
SCHUBERT Piano Quintet in A major ‘The Trout’: IV. Andantino – Allegretto
Kathryn Selby piano, Dimity Hall violin, Irina Morozova viola, Julian Smiles cello, Kees Boersma double bass
BEETHOVEN ‘Moonlight’ Sonata: I. Adagio sostenuto
Gerard Willems piano
HOLST The Planets: III. Mercury, the Winged Messenger
Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Nicholas Braithwaite conductor
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis (excerpt)
Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Patrick Thomas conductor
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 5: I. Allegro con brio
Australian Chamber Orchestra, Richard Tognetti conductor
RODRIGO Concierto de Aranjuez: I. Allegro con spirito
Karin Schaupp guitar, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, Benjamin Northey conductor
CD3
MOZART The Magic Flute: Der Vogelfänger bin ich ja
Teddy Tahu Rhodes bass-baritone, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, Ola Rudner conductor
ELGAR Enigma Variations: IX. Nimrod
Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Myer Fredman conductor
BIZET The Pearl Fishers: In the Depths of the Temple
David Hobson tenor, Teddy Tahu Rhodes bass-baritone, Sinfonia Australis, Thomas Woods conductor
FAURÉ Requiem: In paradisum
Cantillation, Sinfonia Australis, Antony Walker conductor
MOZART The Marriage of Figaro: Voi, che sapete
Sally-Anne Russell mezzo-soprano, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Nicholas Milton conductor
TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 6 ‘Pathétique’: II. Allegro con grazia
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Oleg Caetani conductor
TCHAIKOVSKY Piano Concerto No. 1: II. Allegro con grazia
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Oleg Caetani conductor
PÄRT Spiegel im Spiegel
Sally Maer cello, Sally Whitwell piano
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 3 ‘Eroica’: III. Scherzo
Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, David Porcelijn conductor
MENDELSSOHN Violin Concerto No. 2: III. Allegretto non troppo – Allegro molto vivace
Niki Vasilakis violin, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, Sebastian Lang-Lessing conductor
R STRAUSS Four Last Songs: I. Frühling (Spring)
Yvonne Kenny soprano, Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Johannes Fritzsch conductor
MOZART Piano Concerto No. 21 ‘Elvira Madigan’: II. Andante
Vera Kameneva piano, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Christopher Hogwood conductor
ALLEGRI Miserere (excerpt)
Jane Sheldon soprano, Cantillation, Antony Walker conductor
GERSHWIN Rhapsody in Blue (excerpt)
Isador Goodman piano, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Patrick Thomas conductor
RACHMANINOFF Piano Concerto No. 3: I. Allegro ma non troppo (excerpt)
Roberto Cominati piano, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Edvard Tchivzhel conductor
CD4
JS BACH Concerto for Two Violins: I. Vivace
Richard Tognetti violin I and director, Helena Rathbone violin II, Australian Chamber Orchestra
SIBELIUS Symphony No. 2: I. Allegretto
Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Arvo Volmer conductor
TCHAIKOVSKY Swan Lake: Dance of the Little Swans
Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Elyakum Shapirra conductor
BIZET Carmen: Près des remparts de Séville (Seguidilla)
Sally-Anne Russell mezzo-soprano, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Nicholas Milton conductor
SCHUBERT String Quintet in C major: II. Adagio (excerpt)
Takács String Quartet
MAHLER Symphony No. 2 ‘Resurrection’: IV. Urlicht
Elizabeth Campbell mezzo-soprano, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Stuart Challender conductor
PUCCINI La bohème: Sì, mi chiamano Mimì
Antoinette Halloran soprano, The Queensland Orchestra, Stephen Mould conductor
JS BACH Toccata in D minor
Michael Dudman organ
JS BACH Mass in B minor: Christe eleison
Sara Macliver soprano, Sally-Anne Russell mezzo-soprano, Orchestra of the Antipodes, Antony Walker conductor
PROKOFIEV Romeo and Juliet: Montagues and Capulets
West Australian Symphony Orchestra, Benjamin Northey conductor
JS BACH Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring from Cantata No. 147
Cantillation, Orchestra of the Antipodes, Brett Weymark conductor
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 4: II. Andante con moto
Gerard Willems piano, Sinfonia Australis, Antony Walker conductor
PACHELBEL Canon in D
Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, David Stanhope conductor
RACHMANINOFF Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini: 18th Variation
Ayako Uehara piano, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Edvard Tchivzhel conductor
TCHAIKOVSKY 1812 Overture (excerpt)
Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Stuart Challender conductor
JS BACH Goldberg Variations: Aria
Ian Munro piano
SIBELIUS Violin Concerto: III. Allegro, ma non tanto
Adele Anthony violin, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Arvo Volmer conductor
DEBUSSY Clair de lune
John Chen piano
VOL. II
CD1
RAVEL Boléro (excerpt)
Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Stuart Challender conductor
SIBELIUS Finlandia
Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Arvo Volmer conductor
MAHLER Symphony No. 5: IV. Adagietto
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Markus Stenz conductor
TCHAIKOVSKY Violin Concerto; III: Finale (Allegro vivacissimo)
Jane Peters violin, Australian Youth Orchestra, Christoph Eschenbach conductor
MOZART Ave verum Corpus
Cantillation, Orchestra of the Antipodes, Antony Walker conductor
SATIE Gymnopédie No. 1
Stephanie McCallum piano
ORFF Carmina burana: O Fortuna
Cantillation, Synergy Percussion, Australian Virtuosi, Antony Walker conductor
BARBER Adagio for Strings
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Jorge Mester conductor
GRIEG Piano Concerto: I. Allegro molto moderato
Simon Tedeschi piano, The Queensland Orchestra, Richard Bonynge conductor
SCHUBERT String Quartet No. 14 ‘Death and the Maiden’: II. Andante con moto (excerpt)
Tankstream Quartet
STRAVINSKY The Rite of Spring Part I (Adoration of the Earth): Introduction
Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Willem van Otterloo conductor
CD2
MAHLER Symphony No. 1: III. Feierlich und gemessen ohne zu schleppen
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Riccardo Chailly conductor
TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 5: III. Valse
West Australian Symphony Orchestra, Vladimir Verbitsky conductor
MUSSORGSKY Pictures at an Exhibition: The Old Castle
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Markus Stenz conductor
MENDELSSOHN A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Wedding March
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Leonard Dommett conductor
MASSENET Thaïs: Méditation
Barbara Jane Gilby violin, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, David Stanhope conductor
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV Scheherazade: I. The Sea and Sinbad’s Ship
Richard Roberts violin, Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Charles Dutoit conductor
TCHAIKOVSKY The Nutcracker: Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy
Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Werner Andreas Albert conductor
JS BACH Cello Suite No. 1: I. Prelude
Daniel Yeadon viola da gamba
GRIEG Peer Gynt: Solveig’s Song
Yvonne Kenny soprano, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Vladimir Kamirski conductor
MOZART Don Giovanni: Batti, batti, o bel Masetto
Sara Macliver soprano, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, Sebastian Lang-Lessing conductor
BEETHOVEN ‘Triple’ Concerto: III. Rondo alla Polacca
Myung-Whun Chung piano and conductor, Kyung-Wha Chung violin, Myung-Wha Chung cello, Philharmonia Orchestra
DVOŘÁK Cello Concerto: I. Allegro (excerpt)
Li-Wei cello, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, David Stanhope conductor
CD3
MENDELSSOHN The Hebrides (Fingal’s Cave)
Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Wilfred Lehmann conductor
BERLIOZ Symphonie fantastique: IV. March to the Scaffold
Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Willem van Otterloo conductor
PUCCINI Madama Butterfly: Humming Chorus
Opera Queensland Chorus, The Queensland Orchestra, Johannes Fritzsch conductor
BRAHMS Violin Concerto: III. Allegro giocoso, ma non troppo vivace
Vadim Repin violin, Gewandhaus Orchestra, Riccardo Chailly conductor
RACHMANINOFF Symphony No. 2: II. Allegro molto
Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Edo de Waart conductor
KHACHATURIAN Spartacus: Adagio of Spartacus and Phrygia
Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Patrick Thomas conductor
SCHUBERT Symphony No. 9 ‘The Great’: III. Scherzo
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Georg Solti conductor
SMETANA Má Vlast: Vltava (The Moldau – excerpt)
Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Patrick Thomas conductor
TALLIS Spem in alium
Cantillation, Antony Walker conductor
MASCAGNI Cavalleria rusticana: Intermezzo
West Australian Symphony Orchestra, David Measham conductor
PURCELL Dido and Aeneas: When I am laid in earth
Sally-Anne Russell mezzo-soprano, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Nicholas Milton conductor
CD4
BRAHMS Piano Concerto No. 2: II. Allegro appassionato
Vladimir Ashkenazy piano, London Symphony Orchestra, Zubin Mehta conductor
SIBELIUS Symphony No. 5: III. Allegro molto
Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Arvo Volmer conductor
HANDEL Zadok the Priest
Sydney Philharmonia Symphonic Choir, Sydney Philharmonia Orchestra, Antony Walker conductor
MOZART Clarinet Quintet: II. Larghetto
Kammer
CHOPIN Piano Concerto No. 1: II. Romance (excerpt)
Vladimir Ashkenazy piano and conductor, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin
ALBINONI Adagio in G minor
ABC Philharmonic Orchestra, William Motzing conductor
GÓRECKI Symphony of Sorrowful Songs: II. Lento e largo
Yvonne Kenny soprano, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Takuo Yuasa conductor
MOZART Cosí fan tutte: Come scoglio
Isobel Buchanan soprano, Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Richard Bonynge conductor
R STRAUSS Four Songs, Op. 27: IV. Morgen!
Yvonne Kenny soprano, Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Johannes Fritzsch conductor
SCHUBERT Nocturne
Macquarie Trio
MOZART Symphony No. 40: I. Molto allegro
Australian Chamber Orchestra, Richard Tognetti director