The Yellow Guide-Classical Music [Box set]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
This latest compilation release from Deutsche Grammophon, hot on the heels of The Yellow Guide to Opera, consists of not only three CDs, but also a 144-page booklet that provides biographies of 100 composers, a glossary explaining 100 musical terms, and notes on each of the 42 tracks on the discs. Aimed, clearly, at newcomers to classical music, the three discs cover almost five centuries of music, arranged chronologically from the Kyrie of Palestrina's Missa Papae Marcelli to Philip Glass's Violin Concerto. Orchestral, chamber, and vocal are all represented, performed by a roster of celebrated names: the Amadeus Quartet, Martha Argerich, the Vienna Philharmonic, and Herbert von Karajan, to name but a few. All in all, a value-for-your-money way to either become more familiar with classical music or glimpse some of the treasures of the DG archive. --Rebecca Agnew

The Yellow Guide-Classical Music, Music, Johann Sebastian Bach, Bela Bartok, Alban Berg, Hector Berlioz, Johannes Brahms, Anton Bruckner, Fryderyk Chopin, Claude Debussy, Antonin Dvorak, George Gershwin, Philip Glass, Edvard Grieg, Franz Joseph Haydn, Franz Liszt, Gustav Mahler, Felix Mendelssohn, Claudio Monteverdi, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Modest Mussorgsky, Niccolo Paganini, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Sergey Prokofiev, Giacomo Puccini, Sergey Rachmaninov, Maurice Ravel, Gioachino Rossini, Camille Saint-Saens, Erik Satie, Franz Schubert, Robert Schumann, Jean Sibelius, Bedrich Smetana, Johann II Strauss, Richard Strauss, Igor Stravinsky, Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky, Giuseppe Verdi, Antonio Vivaldi, Richard Wagner, Bychkov, Carlo Maria Giulini, Claudio Abbado, Ernst von Dohnányi, Giuseppe Sinopoli, Herbert von Karajan, James Levine, Lorin Maazel

Average customer rating: A Good Introduction to Opera

The Yellow Guide-Classical Music Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Pavanes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by J.S. Bach | Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Bartók, Béla | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Berg | Berg, Alban | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Berlioz | Berlioz, Hector | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Brahms | Brahms, Johannes | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Bruckner | Bruckner, Anton | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Chopin | Chopin, Frédéric | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Dvorák, Antonín | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Debussy | Debussy, Claude | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gershwin | Gershwin, George | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Grieg, Edvard | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Glass | Glass, Philip | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Franz Joseph Haydn | Haydn, Franz Joseph | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Liszt | Liszt, Franz | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mahler | Mahler, Gustav | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Monteverdi | Monteverdi, Claudio | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mussorgsky | Mussorgsky, Modest | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mendelssohn | Mendelssohn, Felix | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Paganini, Niccolò | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Prokofiev | Prokofiev, Sergei | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Ravel, Maurice | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Rossini | Rossini, Gioacchino | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Rachmaninov | Rachmaninov, Sergei | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Saint-Saëns, Camille | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Satie | Satie, Erik | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Schubert | Schubert, Franz | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Robert Schumann | Schumann, Robert | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Sibelius | Sibelius, Jean | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Smetana | Smetana, Bedrich | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Strauss Jr., Johann | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Strauss | Strauss, Richard | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Stravinsky | Stravinsky, Igor | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Tchaikovsky | Tchaikovsky, Peter Ilyich | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Vivaldi | Vivaldi, Antonio | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wagner | Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Romantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Incidental Music | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Overtures | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Tone Poems | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Requiems | Forms & Genres | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Ballets & Dances | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Contemporary | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Sacred & 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Bach | Bach, Johann Sebastian | A to B | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Vocal Works by Brahms | Brahms, Johannes | A to B | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Debussy, Claude | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Gershwin, George | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Chopin, Frederic | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Grieg, Edvard | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Dvorak, Antonin | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Haydn, Franz Joseph | H to L | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Liszt, Franz | H to L | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Mahler, Gustav | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Mendelssohn, Felix | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Monteverdi, Claudio | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Renaissance (c.1450-1600) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Requiems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Te Deum | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Freni, Mirella | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: The Yellow Guide: Opera The #1 Opera Album ASIN: B00000613R Release Date: 1998-03-17

Tracks:

1. Missa Papae Marcelli: Kyrie
2. L'Orfeo: 'In questo lieto e fortunato giorno' (Act 1)
3. The Four Seasons: 'Winter' RV 297 (Allegro non molto)
4. Messiah: 'Hallelujah Chorus'
5. Suite No. 3 In D Major BWV 1068: Air
6. String Quartet In C Major Op. 76 no. 3 ('Emperor'): Pocoadagio cantabile
7. Requiem K 626: 'Lacrimosa'
8. Symphony No.5 In C Minor Op. 67: 1st movement (Allegro con brio)
9. Caprice No. 24 In A Minor
10. William Tell: Overture (Excerpt)
11. Piano Quintet ('The Trout') D 667: 4th Movement (Adantino)
12. Symphonie Fantastique Op. 14: 2nd movement ('A Ball')
13. A Midsummer Night's Dream Op. 61: 'Wedding March'
14. ude en G Sharp Minor Op. 25 No. 6
15. Kinderszenen Op. 15: 'Traumerei'

Tracks:

1. Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6 In D Flat Major S 244
2. Die Walkure: 'Ride Of The Valkyries' (Act 3)
3. Nabucco: 'Va pensiero, su'II ali dorate' (Act 3)
4. The Bartered Bride: Overture - Bedrich Smetana
5. Te Deum: 1st Movement 'Te Deum' - Anton Bruckner
6. The Blue Danube Op. 314
7. Symphony No. 3 In F Major Op. 90: 3rd Movement (Poco allegretto)
8. Carnival Of The Animals: 'The Swan'
9. Carmen: 'Habanera'
10. Pictures At An Exhibition: 'The Great Gate Of Kiev'
11. Symphony N. 5 In E Minor Op. 64: 3rd Movement (Valse)
12. Symphony No. 9 In E Minor Op. 95 ('From The New World'): 2nd Movement (Largo) (Exerpts)
13. Peer Gynt Op. 23: 'In The Hall Of The Mountain King'

Tracks:

1. Madama Butterfly: Act II: Un bel di vedremo
2. Symphony No. 5: Fourth Movement: (Adagietto)
3. Preludes Book II: Feux d'artifice
4. Also Sprach Zarathoustra Op. 30: Introduction
5. Valse triste Op. 44: 1
6. Gymnopedie No. 1
7. Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini Op. 43: Variation No. 18
8. Pavane pour une Infante defunte
9. Concerto For Orchestra: Second Movement
10. The Firebird: Infernal Dance
11. Lulu Suite: Lied der Lulu
12. Romeo And Juliet Op. 64: Dance Of The Knights
13. Cuban Overture
14. Violin Concerto: First Movement

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

A Good Introduction to Opera.......2002-01-09

I keep listening to these CD's, and they always sound fresh and fun.

After listening to this album I find myself wanting to learn more about Opera.

Average customer rating: Not recommended because of competing products

The Yellow Guide: Opera Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Beethoven | Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Berg | Berg, Alban | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Berlioz | Berlioz, Hector | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Donizetti | Donizetti, Gaetano | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Leoncavallo | Leoncavallo, Ruggiero | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mascagni | Mascagni, Pietro | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Offenbach | Offenbach, Jacques | ( O ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Purcell, Henry | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Strauss Jr., Johann | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Strauss | Strauss, Richard | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Tchaikovsky | Tchaikovsky, Peter Ilyich | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wagner | Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Weber | Weber, Carl Maria von | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Rossini | Rossini, Gioacchino | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Incidental Music | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Marches | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Overtures | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Purcell, Henry | Composers | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra | ( B ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Hadley, Jerry | ( H ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Studer, Cheryl | ( S ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra | ( V ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Songs & Lieder | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: The Yellow Guide-Classical Music ASIN: B00000613S Release Date: 1998-04-14

Tracks:

1. Carmen: Overture
2. The Italian Girl In Algiers: Ouverture
3. Cavalleria Rusticana: Intermezzo
4. La forza del destino: Ouverture
5. The Damnation of Faust: Hungarian March
6. Die Fledermaus: Ouverture
7. Eugene Onegin: Polonaise
8. Twilight Of The Gods: Siegfried's Funeral March
9. Salome: Dance Of The Seven Veils
10. Fidelio: Ouverture
11. The Marriage Of Figaro: Overture

Tracks:

1. Don Giovanni: 'Madamina' (Catalogue Aria)
2. La Boheme: Che Gelida Manina
3. The Barber Of Seville: Largo Al Factotum
4. Carmen: Pres Des Remparts De Seville (Seguidilla)
5. La Traviata: Sempre Libera
6. Turandot: Nessun Dorma
7. Tristan und Isolde: Mild Und Leise (Liebestod)
8. TOSCA: Vissi D'Artea
9. The Magic Flute: Der Vogelfanger Bin Ich Ja
10. The Barber Of Seville: Una Voce Poco Fa
11. Pagliacci: Recitar! ...Vesti La Giubba
12. The Magic Flute: Der Holle Rache
13. Eugen Onegin: Lyubvi Vsye Vozrasti Pokorni
14. L'Elisir d'Amore: Romanze Una Furtiva Lagrima
15. The Marriage Of Figaro: Non Piu Andraia
16. Dido And Aeneas:: When l Am Laid In Earth

Tracks:

1. Der Freischas Gleicht Wohl Auf Erden
2. La Traviata: Libiamo Ne' Lieti Calici (Brindisi)
3. Cosi fan tutte: Soave Sia Il Vento
4. Lucia di Lammermoor: Chi Mi Frena In Tal Momento? (Sextett)
5. Fidelio: O Welche Lust (Prisoner's Chorus)
6. The Marriage Of Figaro: Crudel! Perche Finora Farrni Languir Cosi
7. King Arthur: Chor -See See We Assemble (Chorus Of Cold People)
8. Don Giovanni: Don Giovanni, A Cenar Teco
9. Lohengrin: Treulich gefuhrt (Wedding March)
10. La Boheme: O Mimi, Tu Piu Non Torni
11. Il travatore: Vedi! Le Fosche (Anvil Chorus)
12. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Belle Nuit,O Nuit D'Amour (Barcarolle)
13. Nabucco: Va' Pensiero, Sull'Ali Dorate (Chorus Of Hebrew Slaves)
14. Der Rosenkavalier: Marie Theres'!... Hab' Mir's Gelobt (Final Scene)
15. Wozzeck: Ringel, Ringel, Rosenkranz, Ringelreih'n!

Customer Reviews:

Not recommended because of competing products.......2003-11-30

"The Yellow Guide to Opera" is an excellent collection of 42 opera tracks that would please the ear of any novice or early-intermediate opera fan. In fact, the collection of tracks is to be commended for its richness and variety, including for example Russian composers. The sound quality is excellent, too.

The included booklet, however, is a real turkey, and seems to have been including for the purpose of getting you to buy more Deutsche Grammophon CDs. (Shame on them!)

Now let's talk competition. On Amazon.com, you can find two outstanding collections for under $20 each (these collections, each comprised of 2 CDs, are called "The Best Opera Album in the World Ever" by Virgin and "The #1 Opera Album" by Decca). These two do not come with an accompanying booklet, but their selection of tracks is outstanding and of very high sound quality. But the best one available, in my humble opinion, is put out by Naxos and is called "The A to Z of Opera." This one comes with a smart, thick, useful booklet, and two lovely CDs. Like the Deutsche Grammophon product, the Naxos collection scoots off the beaten path a little bit and scoops up some gems usually not found on this type of collection.

So, in brief, "The Yellow Guide to Opera" is a very pleasing collection of opera music, but its booklet is a dud and there are very fine, very similar collections to be had for half the price. I recommend the Naxos product.

Track Listings:

1. Thyepoleo: Orphic Mysterical Rites
2. Vagn Holmboe: Symphony Nos. 2; Sinfonia "In Memoriam"
3. Verdi: La Traviata; Rigoletto
4. Verdi: Messa Da Requiem
5. Walton: Symphony No. 2/Suite: Troilus And Cressida
6. Which Side Are You On?
7. Yuletide Fires
8. Yulia Ziskel-Violin
9. Acoustek [Live]
10. Antonín Dvorák: String Quartets Nos. 12 & 13

Track Listings

track listings

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Mo' Roots

Down to Earth [Import] [Limited Edition] [Original recording remastered]

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Marvin Gaye Live [Live]

Pop Classics in Symphony [Import]

Music of the Federal Era

One Step Away

My Destination

Sea Change

Manikkomio 2001

La PVC

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Holding Back the Years