Chill with Tchaikovsky. Various. Naxos CD 8.556785.

Think of Tchaikovsky and you think of the 1812 Overture.

Just how do you chill with cannon going off in you ear?

However, both you and I know that Tchaikovsky wrote some of the most beautiful ballet music ever and some of the most romantic compositions for piano.

Although Russian, and unlike his contemporaries, Tchaikovsky didn't use his nation's folk music to influence everything. He westernised much of his music and was pilloried by the other great Russian composers of his day.

This collection has some of the best of his lyrical and expressive music.

The orchestras are various; this is a compilation from previous CDs. The strings are abundant and the whole effect is calm and soothing.

So, check it out.

There is ballet in the form of Sleeping Beauty Op. 66: Entrance of the Good Fairies; Nutcracker: Danse Arabe/Danse Chinoise/Danse des mirlitons/Danse de la fe and excerpt from Swan Lake.

There are excerpts too, from the Violin Concerto in D major, Op35: 2nd Movement and Piano Concerto No1 in B flat minor, Op. 23: 2nd movement.

Tchaikovsky also composed many pieces for the student learning to play the piano and two of these are among the 15 tracks on the CD - Nocturne in C sharp minor,Op.19, No 4 and Album for the young Op.39: Sweet Dreams.

Among the goodies you will also find Chanson triste in G minor and The Snow Maiden Op. 12: Declamation of the Fairy of Spring.

Chill with Tchaikovsky does what it sets out to do. It is tranquil, soothing and familiar in content. Listen before you drink your cocoa - you might just fall asleep!