The Sound of Classic FM

CLASSIC FM has been a boon to people who like a little bit of classical music but can't quite face being subjugated to something like a solid three hours of it on the likes of Radio 3.

And now there's more. Oh yes, three CDs bound together under the title of The Sound of Classic FM.

Little snippets of popular and less well-known classical works are performed by the likes of Sir Yehudi Menuhin, Lesley Garrett, Jose Carreras, and "our" own Nigel Kennedy.

A veritable selection box, a musical Miniature Heroes if you like.

The 28 tracks range from the everyone-knows-this works like the overture from Mozart's Marriage of Figaro, Vivaldi's Four Seasons, and Puccini's Nessun Dorma, to compositions from Smetana, Gounod, Spohr and Satie.

The recording also includes one of my own particular favourites, Parry's I Was Glad which was written for the coronation of Edward VII and is stirring stuff.

The pick 'n' mix variety of the box set means Classic FM can choose the best recordings of everything. The Royal Philharmonic, London Philharmonic, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, and Choir of Trinity College Cambridge.

And it makes for a very collectable...collection.

The benefits are huge, particularly for those with a short attention span who can dip in and out as they like, or just let the different musical textures of opera, concerto, symphony and oratorio drift over them.

Programme notes don't overburden you with information either, although if a particular work takes your fancy you will have to dig for further information yourself.

All in all, this is an excellent CD of its type, which will appeal to the classically interested.

Those of you with season tickets to Symphony Hall may want something a little more challenging.

CFMCD33