Review by Adi Doyle

The album featuring works by Henry Purcell, Hector Berlioz, Jean Sibelius, Camille Saint-Saëns, Emmanuel Chabrier, Bedřich Smetana, Richard Wagner, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, and Johannes Brahms is a must-have for classical music enthusiasts. The collection includes some of the most iconic compositions from each of these legendary composers, spanning multiple eras and styles.

The album opens with Purcell's "Dido and Aeneas," a hauntingly beautiful opera that tells the tragic love story of Queen Dido and the Trojan hero Aeneas. The emotional intensity of the piece is palpable, and the music is executed flawlessly.

Moving on, Berlioz's "Symphonie Fantastique" is a tour-de-force of musical storytelling. The piece is a programmatic symphony that tells the story of an artist's self-destructive passion for a woman, and the music reflects the emotional highs and lows of the narrative with incredible precision and skill.

Sibelius' "Finlandia" is a stirring hymn to his native country, and the piece's soaring melodies and majestic orchestration make it an enduring favorite among classical music fans. Saint-Saëns' "Danse Macabre" is a playful and macabre dance of death, with a whimsical melody that belies its dark subject matter.

Chabrier's "España" is a vibrant and colorful piece that captures the energy and spirit of Spain, while Smetana's "The Moldau" is a stunning musical portrait of the river that runs through the composer's native Czech Republic.

Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries" is a thunderous and dramatic piece that has become synonymous with the composer's epic operas, and Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" is a rousing celebration of Russia's victory over Napoleon's army.

Finally, Brahms' "Symphony No. 1" is a masterpiece of the Romantic era, with its lush harmonies and sweeping melodies that capture the essence of the composer's musical style.

Summary by Adi Doyle

this album is a must-have for classical music lovers, with each piece expertly performed and showcasing the incredible talents of the composers featured.