1001 Classical Recordings You Must Hear Before You Die

1001 Classical Recordings You Must Hear Before You Die is the key to understanding and appreciating the entire body of classical music. From medieval madrigals to the latest important living composers such as Steve Reich or Philip Glass, it's all here, along with heavy-hitting greats that many have heard but maybe haven't listened to - Brahms, Bruckner, Dvorak, Mahler, Sibelius - all the greatest works by the finest composers past and present are surveyed and described in one handy volume.
Beguiling sonatas, moving arias and operas, uplifting choral works, and dramatic symphonies are all described in reviews that also explain why certain recordings of each one are the most inspiring, artistically successful, and satisfying. It is possible to browse in any number of ways through the 1001 selections, discovering new types of music, new composers, and new works to explore.
Selected by a team of 22 leading music critics from around the world, the 1001 classical recordings featured here are absolute "must hear" pieces that will delight discerning music fans who lake pleasure in exploring lesser known composers as well as beginning listeners who are just discovering the joy of unforgettable classics. The book features album cover illustrations, highlight's recommended releases, and includes quotations that shed light on the composers and their works. "That will make the ladies scream," remarked Haydn about the "surprise" he included in his Surprise Symphony No. 94. For the novice and seasoned aficionado alike, the passionately opinionated reviews, whimsical biographical information, and unexpected insights make this a unique and indispensable companion to the best of classical music.

Matthew Rye is a writer and journalist who worked for many years on the staff of BBC Music Magazine and more recently at The Strad magazine, where he is a reviews editor.  He is a music critic for the Daily Telegraph, writing regular reviews of CDs and concerts, and he has also contributed to a wide variety of other titles on classical music.  His publications include a chapter on twentieth-century opera for the Blackwell History of Music in Britain and contributions to the Rough Guide to Classical Music and Opera.

Steve Isserlis is one of the world's leading cellists.  He regularly plays in all the leading concert venues as a recitalist, chamber musician, and concerto soloist.  He has collaborated with top conductors and orchestras, including period-instrument ensembles.  Hist extensive list of recordings ranges from Bach to Tavener and he has published two different books for children on the lives of great composers.