1001 Classical Recordings You Must Hear Before You Die

Whether you're a classical music lover or looking for a way to enter the space, 1001 Classical Recordings You Must Hear Before You Die is an exquisite collection of reviews of a wide breadth of music.

Arranged chronologically, 1001 Classical Recordings You Must Hear Before You Die includes reviews of 1001 classical recordings, from the earliest hymns, to the modern avant-garde. Written by an international panel of distinguished music journalists, each entry highlights an outstanding recording, ranging from little-known solo pieces and chamber music, to the greatest concertos, symphonies, operas, and choral works.

The very best recorded performance of each piece is recounted accompanied by a list of recommended alternatives, quotations, and biographical information about the composers, conductors, and principal musicians. This guide is key to understanding and appreciating classical music as a whole; it highlights everything from medieval madrigals to key living composers such as Steve Reich and Philip Glass.  

Beguiling sonatas, moving arias and operas, uplifting choral works, and dramatic symphonies, they're all are described in reviews which identify why particular recordings stand out. Browse the 1001 selections and discover new types of music, new composers, and works to explore.

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.