1. Beethoven, Symphony No. 9 in d
Atlanta Symphony & Chorus, Donald Runnicles, Telarc 80603
2. Dvorák, Symphony No. 9 in e
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Václav Neumann, Supraphon 3705
3. Saint-Saëns, Symphony No. 3 in c
Boston Symphony Orchestra, Charles Munch RCA 82876
4. Rachmaninoff, Piano Concerto No. 2 in c
New York Philharmonic, Leonard Bernstein, CBS/SONY 36722
5. Beethoven, Symphony No. 6 in F
North German Symphony Orchestra, Günter Wand, RCA 61930
6. Beethoven, Violin Concerto in D
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, David Zinman, CBS/SONY 60584
7. Barber, Adagio for Strings
Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Marin Alsop, Naxos 559118
8. Vivaldi, Four Seasons (complete)
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Gil Shaham, violin, DG 439933
9. Handel, Messiah Highlights
Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Orchestra & Chorus,
Sir Neville Marriner, Philips 434723
10. Beethoven, Symphony No. 5 in C
New York Philharmonic, Leonard Bernstein, CBS/SONY 63079
11. Gershwin, Rhapsody In Blue
Boston Pops Orchestra, John Williams, Misha Dichter, piano
Philips 426404
12. Tchaikovsky, Piano Concerto No. 1 in b-Flat
Bavarian Radio Symphony, Kirill Kondrashin, Martha Argerich, piano
Philips 446673
13. Beethoven, Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-Flat
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Bernard Haitink
Murray Perahia, piano, CBS/SONY 42330
14. Tchaikovsky, Swan Lake: Suite
Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Sir Georg Solti, London 425516
15. Mozart, Symphony No. 41 in C
Staatskapelle Dresden, Sir Colin Davis, Time-Life 964
16. Tchaikovsky, Symphony No. 6 in b
Boston Symphony Orchestra, Pierre Monteux, RCA 61397
17. Beethoven, Symphony No. 7 in A
Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell, CBS/SONY 48158
18. Holst, The Planets
London Philharmonic, Sir Adrian Boult, Geoffrey Mitchell Choir
EMI 69045
19. Rimsky-Korsakov, Scheherazade
Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Fritz Reiner, Sidney Harth, violin
RCA 66377
20. Mozart, Requiem Mass in d
Concentus musicus Wien, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Teldec 42756
21. Grieg, Piano Concerto in a
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Neeme Järvi, Lilya Zilberstein, piano
DG 471300
22. Mozart, Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Raymond Leppard, MHS 11059
23. Bizet, Pearl Fishers: Au fond du temple saint
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, James Levine, DG 449177
24. Tchaikovsky, 1812 Overture
Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, Antal Dorati, Mercury 434360
25. Pachelbel, Canon and Gigue
Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner, Philips 416386
26. Debussy, Clair de lune
Samson François, piano, Philips 456778
Boston Pops Orchestra, John Williams, Philips 416361
27. Smetana, Ma Vlast: The Moldau
Boston Symphony Orchestra, Rafael Kubelik, DG 429183
28. Sibelius, Finlandia
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Paavo Berglund, EMI 74200
29. Schubert, Piano Quintet in A
Cleveland Quartet, John O’Conor, piano, Telarc 80225
30. Beethoven, Symphony No. 3 in E-Flat
Cleveland Orchestra, Christoph Von Dohnanyi, Telarc 80090
31. Dvorák, Symphony No. 8 in G
Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Neeme Järvi, Chandos 9008
32. Brahms, Symphony No. 4 in e
Berlin Philharmonic, Claudio Abbado, DG 435349
33. JS Bach, Toccata & Fugue in d
Marie-Claire Alain, organ, Erato 45976
34. Mozart, Symphony No. 40 in g
English Baroque Soloists, Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Philips 426315
35. Mendelssohn, Violin Concerto in e
Montréal Symphony Orchestra, Charles Dutoit,
Leila Josefowicz, violin, Philips 464059
36. Fauré, Requiem
Royal Philharmonic, London Symphony Chorus, Sir Richard Hickox
RPO 7007
37. Shostakovich, Symphony No. 5 in d
Leningrad Philharmonic, Evgeny Mravinsky, JVC 1007
38. Copland, Appalachian Spring
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Robert Spano, Telarc 80596
39. JS Bach, Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D
English Chamber Orchestra, Benjamin Britten, London 443847
40. Dvorák, String Quartet No. 12 in F
Emerson String Quartet, DG 429723
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2006 Classical Countdown.
1. BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 9 in d minor
Cleveland Orchestra and Chorus, George Szell, conductor
Adele Addison, soprano
Jane Hobson, mezzo-soprano
Richard Lewis, tenor
Donald Bell, baritone
Sony Classical 46533
2. DVORAK: Symphony No. 9 in e minor, “From the New World”
Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Neeme Jarvi, conductor
Chandos 9008
3. BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 6 in F, “Pastoral”
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Walter Weller, conductor
Musical Heritage Society 532 476
4. RACHMANINOFF: Piano Concerto No. 2 in c minor
Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Andrew Litton, conductor
Stephen Hough, piano
Hyperion 67501
5. SAINT-SAENS: Symphony No. 3 in c minor, “Organ”
Boston Symphony Orchestra, Charles Munch, conductor
Berj Zamkochian, organ
RCA 82876
6. BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 5 in c minor
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Carlos Kleiber, conductor
Deutsche Grammophon 415 861
7. GRIEG: Piano Concerto in a minor
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Kazuyoshi Akiyama, conductor
Andre Laplante, piano
Orpheum 801
8. VIVALDI: The Four Seasons
Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Gerard Schwarz, conductor
Elmar Oliveira, violin
Delos 3007
9. GERSHWIN: Rhapsody in Blue
St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Leonard Slatkin, conductor
Jeffrey Siegel, piano
Vox 5007
10. BACH: Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D
Academy of Ancient Music, Christopher Hogwood, conductor
Oiseau-Lyre 414 187
11. TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 6 in b minor, “Pathetique”
Kirov Orchestra, Valery Gergiev, conductor
Philips 456 580
12. HANDEL: Highlights from “Messiah”
Chorus and Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Sir Neville Marriner, conductor
Sylvia McNair, soprano
Anne Sofie von Otter, mezzo-soprano
Jerry Hadley, tenor
Robert Lloyd, bass
Philips 434 723
13. COPLAND: Appalachian Spring
Los Angeles Philharmonic, Leonard Bernstein, conductor
Deutsche Grammophon 439 521
14. BACH: Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G
Lucerne Festival Strings, Rudolph Baumgartner, conductor
RCA 60745
15. BARBER: Adagio for Strings
St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Leonard Slatkin, conductor
Telarc 80059
16. BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-Flat, “Emperor”
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Hans Knappertsbusch, conductor
Sir Clifford Curzon, piano
London 452 302
17. TCHAIKOVSKY: Violin Concerto in D
New Philharmonia Orchestra, Jan Krenz, conductor
Arthur Grumiaux, violin
Philips 442 287
18. HOLST: The Planets
London Philharmonic Orchestra and Geoffrey Mitchell Choir, Sir Adrian Boult, conductor
EMI Classics 69045
19. PACHELBEL: Canon and gigue
Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Sir Neville Marriner, conductor
Philips 416 386
20. BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 3 in E-Flat, “Eroica”
Berlin Philharmonic, Eugen Jochum, conductor
Deutsche Grammophon 474 018
21. BACH: Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F
English Chamber Orchestra, Raymond Leppard, conductor
Philips 420 345
22. TCHAIKOVSKY: “1812” Overture
Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, Antal Dorati, conductor
Mercury 434 360
23. MAHLER: Symphony No. 3 in D
Boston Symphony Orchestra and New England Conservatory Chorus, Erich Leinsdorf, conductor
Shirley Verrett, mezzo-soprano
RCA 63469
24. RESPIGHI: The Pines of Rome
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Kazuyoshi Akiyama, conductor
Orpheum 801
25. MENDELSSOHN: Violin Concerto in e minor
New York Chamber Symphony, Gerard Schwarz, conductor
Nadia Salerno-Sonnenberg, violin
EMI Classics 49276
26. RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: Scheherazade
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Robert Spano, conductor
Telarc 80568
27. BRAHMS: Symphony No. 1 in c minor
New York Philharmonic, Leonard Bernstein, conductor
Sony Classical 60970
28. MOUSSORGSKY / RAVEL: Pictures at an Exhibition
Minnesota Orchestra, Eiji Oue, conductor
Reference 79
29. BEETHOVEN: Violin Concerto in D
Camerata Salzburg, Sir Roger Norrington, conductor
Joshua Bell, violin
Sony Classical 89505
30. DVORAK: Symphony No. 8 in G
Philadelphia Orchestra, Wolfgang Sawallisch, conductor
EMI Classics 49948
31. BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 7 in A
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Carlos Kleiber, conductor
Deutsche Grammophon 447 400
32. FAURE: Requiem
Chorus and Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Sir Neville Marriner, conductor
Sylvia McNair, soprano
Sir Thomas Allen, baritone
Philips 446 084
33. MOZART: Symphony No. 40 in g minor
Berlin Philharmonic, Karl Bohm, conductor
Deutsche Grammophon 457 524
34. SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 5
Kirov Orchestra, Valery Gergiev, conductor
Philips 0002487
35. TCHAIKOVSKY: Serenade for Strings
Moscow Chamber Orchestra, Constantine Orbelian, conductot
Delos 3255
36. BACH: Concerto in d minor for Two Violins
English Chamber Orchestra, Salvatore Accardo, conductor
Anne-Sophie Mutter and Salvatore Accardo, violins
EMI Classics 47005
37. MOZART: Piano Concerto No. 21 in C
English Chamber Orchestra, Jeffrey Tate, conductor
Mitsuko Uchida, piano
Philips 438 634
38. BACH: Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G
Chamber Orchestra of Europe
Deutsche Grammophon 431 660
39. SIBELIUS: Violin Concerto in d minor
Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Sir Neville Marriner, conductor
Leila Josefowicz, violin
Philips 446 131
40. ENESCO: Roumanian Rhapsody No. 1
Boston Pops Orchestra, Arthur Fiedler, conductor
RCA 62698
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2005 Classical Countdown.
1. BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 9 in d minor
Berlin Philharmonic and Vienna Singverein, Herbert von Karajan, conductor , Anna Tomowa-Sintow, soprano , Agnes Baltsa, mezzo-soprano , Peter Schreier, tenor and Jose Van Dam, baritone (DG 474 260)
2. DVORAK: Symphony No. 9 in e minor, From the New World
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Paavo Jarvi, conductor (Telarc 80616)
3. BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 6 in F, Pastoral
Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell, conductor ( Sony Classical 46532)
4. RACHMANINOFF: Piano Concerto No. 2 in c minor
Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Andrew Litton, conductor , Stephen Hough, piano ( Hyperion 67501)
5 BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 7 in A
Berlin Philharmonic, Eugen Jochum, conductor (DG 474 018)
6. COPLAND: Appalachian Spring
London Symphony Orchestra, Aaron Copland, conductor (Sony Classical 42430)
7. HANDEL: Highlights from Messiah
Chorus and Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Sir Neville Marriner, conductor, Sylvia McNair, soprano , Anna Sofie von Otter, mezzo-soprano , Jerry Hadley, tenor , Robert Lloyd, bass ( Philips 434 723)
8. BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-Flat, Emperor
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, William Steinberg, conductor, Rudolf Firkusny, piano (Seraphim 69018)
9. BARBER: Adagio for Strings
New York Philharmonic, Leonard Bernstein, conductor ( Sony Classical 38484)
10. MAHLER: Symphony No. 2 in c minor, Resurrection
London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Gilbert Kaplan, conductor , Benita Valente, soprano , Maureen Forrester, contralto ( MCA 11011)
11. SAINT-SAENS: Symphony No. 3 in c minor, Organ
Boston Symphony Orchestra, Charles Munch, conductor, Berj Zamkochian, organ (RCA 82876)
12. BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 5 in c minor
Cleveland Orchestra, George szell, conductor (Sony Classical 47651)
13. GERSHWIN: Rhapsody in Blue
St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Leonard Slatkin, conductor, Jeffrey Siegel, piano (Vox 5007)
14. VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: Symphony No. 5 in D
London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Adrian Boult, conductor (EMI Classics 64018)
15. VIVALDI: The Four Seasons
I Musici, Federico Agostini, violin (Philips 426 847)
16. SMETANA: The Moldau
Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Rafael Kubelik, conductor (Mercury 434 379)
17. BACH: Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G
English Chamber Orchestra, Benjamin Britten, conductor ( London 443 847)
18. TCHAIKOVSKY: Nutcracker Suite
Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado, conductor (Sony Classical 48056)
19. BRAHMS: Symphony No. 4 in e minor
Vienna Philharmonic, Carlos Kleiber, conductor ( DG 457 706)
20. PACHELBEL: Canon and gigue
Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields , Sir Neville Marriner, conductor (Philips 416 386)
21. RACHMANINOFF: Symphony No. 2 in e minor
St. Petersburg Philharmonic, Mariss Jansons, conductor (EMI Classics 105 799)
22. BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 3 in E-Flat, Eroica
Columbia Symphony Orchestra, Bruno Walter, conductor (Sony Classical 42599)
23. RACHMANINOFF: Piano Concerto No. 3 in d minor
Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, Riccardo Chailly, conductor, Martha Argerich, piano (Philips 456 700)
24. SIBELIUS: Finlandia; Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Paavo Berglund, conductor (EMI Classics 74200)
25. MENDELSSOHN: Symphony No. 4 in A, Italian
New Philharmonia Orchestra, Wolfgang Sawallisch, conductor (Musically Speaking 208)
26. RACHMANINOFF: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Fritz reiner, conductor , Artur Rubinstein, piano (RCA 61851)
27. BRAHMS: German Requiem
Royal Philharmonic and Ambrosian Singers, Andre Previn, conductor, Dame Margaret Price, soprano, Samuel Ramey, bass (Musical Heritage Society 512 318)
28. HOVHANESS: Symphony No. 2, Mysterious Mountain
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Gerard Schwartz, conductor (Telarc 80604)
29. HANDEL: Water Music
Orchestra of St. Luke's, Sir Charles Mackerras, conductor (Telarc 80279)
30. TCHAIKOVSKY: 1812 Overture
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Kiev Symphony Chorus, and Children's Choir of Greater Cincinnati, Erich Kunzel, conductor (Telarc 80541)
31. BRAHMS: Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-Flat
Boston Symphony Orchestra, Charles Munch, conductor, Artur Rubinstein, piano (RCA 63022)
32. ASHFORD: Heroes and Heroines
Various artists (Nigel Classics 10101)
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2004 Classical CountDown Winners were...
1. BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 6 in F, "Pastoral", Cleveland Orchestra; George Szell, conductor (Sony Classical 46532)
2. DVORAK: Symphony No. 9 in e minor, "From the New World"; Royal Scottish Orchestra, Neeme Jarvi, conductor (Chandos 9008)
3. BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 9 in d minor; Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and Vienna State Opera Chorus, Karl Bohm, conductor; Jessye Norman, soprano;Brigitte Fassbaender, contralto; Placido Domingo, tenor; Walter Berry, bass (DG 413 721)
4. BARBER: Adagio for Strings; St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Leonard Slatkin, conductor (Telarc 80059)
5. BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 5 in c minor; North German Radio Symphony Orchestra, Gunter Wand, conductor (RCA 61930)
6. HANDEL: Highlights from "Messiah"; Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, Sir Andrew Davis, conductor; Kathleen Battle, soprano; Florence Quivar, mezzo-soprano; John Aler, tenor; Samuel Ramey, bass (EMI 49407)
7. MOZART: Symphony No. 40 in g minor; Prague Chamber Orchestra, Sir Charles Mackerras, conductor (Telarc 80139)
8. SAINT-SAENS: Symphony No. 3 in c minor, "Organ"; Boston Symphony Orchestra, Charles Munch, conductor; Berj Zamkochian, organ (RCA 5750)
9. BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 7 in A; Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Carlos Kleiber, conductor (DG 447 400)
10. RACHMANINOFF: Piano Concerto No. 2 in c minor; Vladimir Ashkenazy, piano; Moscow Philharmonic, Kiril Kondrashin, conductor (London 466 375)
11. SIBELIUS: Symphony No. 2 in D; Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Neeme Jarvi, conductor (Telarc 80585)
12. GRIEG: Piano Concerto in a minor; Lilya Zilberstein, piano; Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Neeme Jarvi, conductor (DG 437 524)
13. BACH: Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 in F; Festival Strings of Lucerne, Rudolf Baumgartner, conductor (RCA 60475)
14. VIVALDI: The Four Seasons; Viktoria Mullova, violin; Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Claudio Abbado, conductor (Philips 420 216)
15. TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 5 in e minor; Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Valery Gergiev, conductor (Philips 462 905)
16. BACH: Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F; English Chamber Orchestra, Benjamin Britten, conductor (London 443 847)
17. HANDEL: Music for the Royal FireworksThe English Concert, Trevor Pinnock, conductor (Archiv 453 451)
18. BACH: Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G; English Chamber Orchestra, Raymond Leppard, conductor (Philips 420 345)
19. BRAHMS: A German Requiem; Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and Vienna State Opera Chorus, Carlo Maria Giulini, conductor; Barbara Bonney, soprano; Andreas Schmidt, bass (DG 423 574)
20. BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-Flat, "Emperor"; Alfred Brendel, piano; London Philharmonic Orchestra, Bernard Haitink, conductor (Musical Heritage Society 532 660)
21. BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 7 in E; Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra, Gunter Wand, conductor (EMI 47748)
22. GERSHWIN: Rhapsody in Blue; Los Angeles Philharmonic, Leonard Bernstein, pianist and conductor (DG 439 521)
23. HOVHANESS: Symphony No. 2, "Mysterious Mountain"; Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Fritz Reiner, conductor (RCA 61957)
24. COPLAND: Appalachian Spring Suite; Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Robert Spano, conductor (Telarc 80596)
25. BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 9 in d minor; Royal Scottish Orchestra, Georg Tintner, conductor (Naxos 554 268)
26. BEETHOVEN: Choral Fantasy; L'Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique and Monteverdi Choir, Sir John Eliot Gardiner, conductor; Robert Levin, fortepiano (Archiv 447 771)
27. ASHFORD: Heroes and Heroines; Various artists (Nigel 10101)
28. MOZART: Piano Concerto No. 21 in C; Mitsuko Uchida, piano; English Chamber Orchestra, Jeffrey Tate, conductor (Philips 438 634)
29. MOZART: Eine Kleine Nachtmusik; Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Sir Neville Marriner, conductor (Philips 416 386)
30. RACHMANINOFF: Piano Concerto No. 3 in d minor; Martha Argerich, piano; Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, Riccardo Chailly, conductor (Philips 456 700)
31. MOUSSORGSKY, orch. RAVEL: Pictures at an Exhibition; Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Kazuyoshi Akiyama, conductor (Orpheum 801)
32. BRAHMS: Symphony No. 4 in e minor; Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Carlos Kleiber, conductor (DG 457 706)
33. PROKOFIEV: "Lt. Kije" Suite; Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Fritz Reiner, conductor (RCA 61957)
34. RACHMANINOFF: Symphony No. 2 in e minor; Kirov Orchestra, Valery Gergiev, conductor (Philips 438 864)
35. MENDELSSOHN: Symphony No. 3 in a minor, "Scottish"; New Philharmonia Orchestra, Wolfgang Sawallisch, conductor (Musically Speaking 208)
36. ORFF: Carmina Burana; Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Donald Runnicles, conductor; Hei-Kyung Hong, soprano; Stanford Olsen, tenor; Earle Patriarco, baritone (Telarc 80575)
37. VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: Symphony No. 5 in D; London Symphony Orchestra, Bryden Thomson, conductor (Musical Heritage Society 512 674)
38. TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 6 in b minor, "Pathetique; London Symphony Orchestra, Igor Markevitch, conductor (Philips 426 848)
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Suite 1945
