The Greatest Last Night of The Proms - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (10 CDs)

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) is recognised as being the UK’s most in-demand orchestra, an accolade that would have pleased Sir Thomas Beecham, who founded the RPO in 1946. His mission was to lead a vital revival of UK orchestras after World War II and form an ensemble that comprised the finest musicians in the country. The Orchestra has since attracted a glittering list of principal conductors, including Rudolf Kempe, Antal Doráti, Walter Weller, André Previn, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Yuri Temirkanov, Daniele Gatti and Charles Dutoit. Performing approximately 200 concerts each season and with a worldwide audience of more than half-a-million people, the Orchestra embraces a broad repertoire that enables it to reach the most diverse audience of any British symphony orchestra.

As the RPO approaches its seventy-fifth anniversary in 2021, passion, versatility and uncompromising artistic standards still are the orchestra’s hallmarks, perfectly presented in this 10 CD box „The Greatest Last Night Of The Proms“, featuring a veritable „Best of“ of the symphonic repertoire, including some of the most popular works by composers such as Mozart, Beethoven, Tschaikovsky, Verdi, Wagner, Brahms, or Schubert, with a few fanfares and movie themes like „James Bond“ or „The Godfather“ thrown in for good measure – it is a spectacular (and absolutely hypothetical) climax to the world's greatest classical music festival, The Proms, more formally known as the Henry Wood Promenade Concerts, an eight-week summer season of daily orchestral classical music concerts and other events held annually, predominantly in the Royal Albert Hall in central London.

CD 1

■ THE ULTIMATE NIGHT OF THE PROMS
1. POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE MARCH No.1
(Elgar) 6,25
2. JUPITER, THE BRINGER OF JOLLITY
from the Suite „The Planets“ (Holst) 8,01
3. NIMROD
from the „Enigma Variations“ (Elgar) 4,11
4. FANTASIA ON GREENSLEEVES
(Williams) 4,54
5. POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE MARCH No.1
(Elgar) 5,06
6. ON HEARING THE FIRST CUCKOO IN SPRING
(Delius) 6,29
7. FANTASIA ON BRITISH SEA SONGS
(Wood) 18,32
8. RULE, BRITANNIA!
(Arne) 4,47
9. JERUSALEM
(Parry) 2,26
10. GOD SAVE THE QUEEN
(Arr. Elgar) 3,27

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor Richard Crooke
Recorded 1996
Total Time 64,37

HIGHLIGHTS FOR GREAT ORCHESTRA

Richard Strauss (1864 – 1949) THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA, Symphonic Poem, Op. 30
1. INTRODUCTION 1.52
2. OF THE BACKWORLDSMEN 3.24
3. OF THE LARGE LONGING 1.51
4. OF JOCE & PASSIONS 1.57
5. THE SONG OF THE GRAVE 2.34
6. OF SIENCE 4.25
7. THE CONVALESCENT 5.09
8. THE DANCE SONG 7.39
9. SONG OF THE NIGHT WANDERER 4.51

Dimitry Shostakovich (1906 – 1975)
10. FESTIVE OVERTURE, Op. 96 5.45

Pjotr I. Tchaikovsky (1840 – 1893)
11. CAPRICCIO ITALIEN, Op. 45 16,18

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827)
12. WELLINGTON’S VICTORY AT VITTORIA, Op. 91, „Battle Symphony“ 15.34

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductors Charles Mackerras (1-10), Yuri Simonov (11), Barry Wordsworth (12)
Recorded 1995 (1-10,12), 1994 (11)
Total Time 71.30

CD 3

■ OPERA WITHOUT TEARS CD 3
Michael Glinka (1804 – 1857)
RUSLAN AND LUDMILLA 1. OVERTURE 4.58
Pjotr I. Tchaikovsky (1840 – 1893)
EUGEN ONEGIN 2. WALTZ 7.51
Gioacchino Rossini (1792 – 1868)
IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA 3. OVERTURE 6.51
LA SCALA DI SIETA 4. OVERTURE 6.06
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 – 1791)
LE NOZZE DI FIGARO 5. OVERTURE 4.18
Giuseppe Verdi (1813 – 1901)
LA TRAVIATA 6. PRELUDE TO ACT 1 3.44
Giacomo Puccini (1858 – 1924)
MANON LESCAUT 7. INTERMEZZO, ACT 3 5.44
Pietro Mascagni (1863 – 1945)
CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA 8. INTERMEZZO SINFONICO 3.55
Ruggiero Leoncavallo (1857 – 1919)
PAGLIACCI 9. INTERMEZZO 4.01
Ambroise Thomas (1811 – 1896)
MIGNON 10. OVERTURE 9.02
Hector Berlioz (1803 – 1869)
BENVENUTO CELLINI 11. OVERTURE 10.27

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductors Yuri Simonov (1,2,6,10), Evelino Pido (3,4), Jane Glover (5),Andrea Licata (7-9), Alexander Gibson (11)
Recorded 1993 (5),1994 (1,2,6-10), 1995 (3,4,11)
Total Time 67.32

CD 4

■ ROMANTIC IN CONCERT
Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy (1809 – 1847) A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, Op. 21 & 61
1. OVERTURE, OP. 21 12.14
2. SCHERZO, OP. 61 NO.1 4.46
3. NOCTURNE, OP. 61 NO.2 6.29
4. INTERMEZZO 1.37
5. WEDDING MARCH, OP. 61 NO.9 5.37
6. INTERMEZZO 3.20
7. DANCE OF THE CLOWNS 1.33
Richard Wagner (1813 – 1883)
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, Op. 21 & 61
8. PRELUDE TO ACT 3 3.28
Johannes Brahms (1833 – 1897)
9. ACADEMIC FESTIVAL OVERTURE 9.29
Franz Schubert (1797 – 1828)
SYMPHONY No. 8 IN B MINOR, D 759, „Unfinished“
10. I. ALLEGRO MODERATO 13.10
11. II. ANDANTE CON MOTO 9.38

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductors Jane Glover (1-7), Vernon Handley (8), James Judd (9), Claire Gibault (9-11)
Recorded 1993 (8), 1994
Total Time 71.30

CD 5

■ THE DREAMS OF BALLET

Aram Khachaturian (1903- 1978) GAYANEH
1. SABRE DANCE 2.17
2. LULLABY 4.43
Pjotr I. Tchaikovsky (1840 – 1893)
THE NUTCRACKER
3. OVERTURE 3.32
4. MARCH 2.44
5. WALTZ OF THE FLOWERS 6.44
Amilcare Ponchielli (1834 – 1886)
LA GIOCONDA
6. DANCE OF THE HOURS 10.41
Léo Delibes (1836 – 1891)
COPPELIA
7. INTRODUCTION AND MAZURKA 6.30
8. MUSIC OF THE DOLLS AND WALTZ 5.13
9. CZARDAS 3.40
Pjotr I. Tchaikovsky (1840 – 1893)
SWAN LAKE, Suite
10. SCENE 2.54
11. WALTZ 7.42
12. SWAN DANCE 1.48
13. HUNGARIAN DANCE 2.59
Maurice Ravel (1875 – 1937)
14. BOLERO 13.21

The Royale Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductors Yuri Simonov (1-6, 10-14), Carl Davis (7-9), Barry Wordsworth (15)
Recorded 1996 (7-9), 1994 (1,2,6), 1993 (3-5,10-15)
Total Time 75.16

CD 6

■ PIANO PASSION
Pjotr I. Tchaikovsky (1840 – 1893) PIANO CONCERTO No.1 IN B-FLAT MINOR, Op. 23
1. I. ALLEGRO NON TROPPO E MOLTO MAESTOSO – ALLEGRO CON BRIO 21.30
2. II. ANDANTINO SEMPLICE – PRESTISSIMO – TEMPO I 7.18
3. III. ALLEGRO CON FUOCO 6.58
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827)
PIANO CONCERTO No.5 IN E-FLAT MAJOR, Op.73 (38), „Emperor“
4. I. ALLEGRO 19.18
5. II. ADAGIO UN POCO MOSSO 7.37
6. RONDO: ALLEGRO 9.55
Roman O’Hara (1-3), Michael Roll (4-6), piano

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductors James Judd (1-3), Howard Shelley (4-6)
Recorded 1994 (1-3), 1995 (4-6)
Total Time 72.44

CD 7

■ CLASSICS FOREVER
Carl Orff (1895 – 1982)
CARMINA BURANA 1. O FORTUNA 2.33
Georges Bizet (1838 – 1875)
CARMEN 2. SUITE 1 NO.5: LES TORÉADORS 2.14
3. SUITE 2 NO. 7: HABANERA 2.11
Pjotr I. Tchaikovsky (1840 – 1893)
SERENADE FOR STRINGS IN C MAJOR, Op. 48
4. VALSE: MODERATO. TEMPO DI VALSE 4.30
Joaquin Rodrigo (1901 – 1999)
CONCIERTO DE ARANJUEZ 5. ADAGIO 11.06
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 – 1791)
SERENADE No. 13 IN G MAJOR, K. 525,“A Little Night Music“
6. IV. ALLEGRO 6.03
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 – 1750)
BRANDENBURG CONCERTO No. 2 IN F MAJOR, BWV 1047
7. ALLEGRO ASSAI 2.47
Max Bruch (1838 – 1920)
VIOLIN CONCERTO No. 1 IN G MINOR, Op. 26
8. ADAGIO 9.44
Gioacchino Rossini (1792 – 1868)
L’ITALIANA IN ALGERI 9. OVERTURE 8.03
Hector Berlioz (1803 – 1869)
LA DAMNATION DE FAUST 10. HUNGARIAN MARCH 5.53
Richard Wagner (1813 – 1883)
DIE WALKÜRE 11. RIDE OF THE VALKYRIES 5.36

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Choral Society (1)
Carlos Bonell, guitar (5), Yuzuko Horigome, violin (8)
conductors Richard Cooke (1), Mark Ermler (2,3), Yuri Simonov (4,6,8,10), Jacek Kaspszyk (5),
Jonathan Carney (7), Evelino Pido (9), Vernon Handley (11)
recorded 1995 (1,9), 1994 (4-6,10), 1993 (2,3,7,11), 1996 (8)

Total Time 61.17

CD 8

■ DANCING AROUND THE WORLD
1. INVITATION TO THE DANCE
(C. M. von Weber) 10.19
2. SOMEWHERE
from „West Side Story“ (L. Bernstein) 4.15
3. I COULD HAVE DANCED ALL NIGHT
from „My Fair Lady“ (F. Loewe) 2.22
4. I’M SINGIN‘ IN THE RAIN
from „Singin‘ in the Rain“ (A. Freed) 3.17
5. POLONAISE
from „Eugen Onegin“ (P.I. Tchaikovsky) 4.36
6. MEPHISTO WALTZ
(F. Liszt) 12.34
7. VALSE TRISTE
(J. Sibelius) 5.00
8. ROSES FROM THE SOUTH
(Joh. Strauss Jr) 8.56
9. SLAVONIC DANCE Op. 46 No. 8 IN G MINOR: PRESTO
(A. Dvorák) 4.24
10. SLAVONIC DANCE Op. 72 No. 2 IN E MINOR: ALLEGRETTO GRAZIOSO
(A. Dvorák) 6.17
11. POLOVTSIAN DANCES
from „Prince Igor“ (A. Borodin) 14.04

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductors Yuri Simonov (1,5,6), Carl Davis (2), Mike Townend (3,4),
Ole Schmidt (7,11), Peter Guth (8), Douglas Bostock (9,10)
Recorded 1996 (2,7,11), 1995 (9,10), 1994 (1,5,6,8), 1993 (3,4)
Total Time 76.33

CD 9

■ THE STRAUSS FAMILY
Johann Strauss jr (1825 – 1899)
1. THE BLUE DANUBE, Waltz Op. 314 9.46
2. THUNDER AND LIGHTNING, Polka Op. 324 2.54
3. TALES FROM THE VIENNA WOODS, Waltz Op. 325 10.53
4. TRITSCH - TRATSCH, Polka Op.214 2.31
5. VOICES OF SPRING, Waltz Op. 410 6.00
6. ANNEN POLKA, Op. 117 4.05
7. EMPEROR WALTZ, Op. 437 10.29
8. AT THE HUNT, Polka Op. 373 2.08
9. VIENNA BLOOT, Waltz Op. 354 9.04
10. PERPETUUM MOBILE (A Musical Joke), Op. 257 2.57
Josef Strauss (1827 – 1870)
11. FIRE FESTIVAL, Polka Op. 269 2.57
12. CHATTERBOX, Polka Op. 245 3.13
Josef & Johann Strauss
13. PIZZICATO, Polka Op. 234 2.39
Eduard Strauss (1835 – 1916)
14. BAHN FREI!, Polka Op. 45 2.01
Johann Strauss sen. (1804 – 1846)
15. RADETZKY MARCH, Op. 228 2.27

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor Peter Guth
Recorded 1994
Total Time 74.36

CD 10

■ UNFORGETTABLE MOVIES
CASABLANCA
1. As Time Goes By (Hupfeld) 3.02
DOCTOR SHIVAGO
2. Lara’s Theme (Jarre) 6.23
LOVE STORY
3. Destiny Melody (Lai) 5.41
GODFATHER
4. Main Theme (Rota) 4.13
JAMES BOND 007
5. Introduction (Norman) 3.10
007 - GOLDFINGER
6. Goldfinger (Bricusse, Newley) 3.00
HIGH NOON
7. Do Not Forsake Me (Tiomkin) 3.16
ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST
8. Opening Theme 5.14
9. The Green Leaves of Summer 4.05
GONE WITH THE WIND
10. Tara‘s Theme (Steiner) 4.58
THE SOUND OF MUSIC
11. Edelweiss (Rodgers) 2.29
SOUTH PACIFIC
12. Some Enchanted Evening (Rodgers) 3.06
WEST SIDE STORY
13. Prologue (Bernstein) 4.12
AN AMERICAN IN PARIS
14. Prologue (Bernstein) 18.50

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor Carl Davis, Mike Townend
Recorded 1996, 1993
Total Time 72.10