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Romantic

As the Classical period reached its zenith, it was becoming increasing clear (especially with the late works of Beethoven and Schubert) that the amount and intensity of expression composers were seeking to achieve was beginning to go beyond that which a Classically sized/designed orchestra/piano could possibly encompass. The next period in musical history therefore found composers attempting to balance the expressive and the formal in music with a variety of approaches which would have left composers of any previous age utterly bewildered. As the musical map opened up, with nationalist schools beginning to emerge, it was the search for originality and individuality of expression which began here that was to become such an over-riding obsession in the present century.

The Romantic era was the golden age of the virtuoso, where the most fiendishly difficult music would be performed with nonchalant ease, and the most innocuous theme in a composition would be developed at great length for the enjoyment of the adoring audience. The emotional range of music during this period was considerably widened, as was its harmonic vocabulary and the range and number of instruments which might be called upon to play it. Music often had a ‘programme’ or story-line attached to it, sometimes of a tragic or despairing nature, occasionally representing such natural phenomena as rivers or galloping horses. The next hundred years would find composers either embracing whole-heartedly the ideals of Romanticism, or in some way reacting against them.

Of the early Romantic composers, two Nationalists deserve special mention, the Russian Glinka (of Russlan and Ludmilla fame) and the Bohemian Smetana (composer of the popular symphonic poem Vltava or ‘The Moldau’). However, the six leading composers of the age were undoubtedly Berlioz, Chopin, Mendelssohn, Schumann, Liszt and Verdi.

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Album Title Catalogue No.
A LA DECOUVERTE DU CLASSIQUE 8.550037-38
A Lover's Gift / From Her To Him 8.553620
A NEW YEAR'S CONCERT 8.571097
A TO Z OF CLASSICAL MUSIC (The) (2nd Expanded Edition, 2000) 8.555319-20
A TO Z OF CLASSICAL MUSIC (The) (3rd Expanded Edition, 2009) 8.558212-13
A TO Z OF CONDUCTORS 8.558087-90
A TO Z OF OPERA 8.555037-38
A TO Z OF OPERA (The) (2nd expanded edition) 8.558216-17
A TO Z OF PIANISTS 8.558107-10
A TO Z OF SINGERS 8.558097-100
A TO Z OF STRING PLAYERS 8.558081-84
A Viennese New Year 8.554466-67
ABBADO, Claudio: Last Years (The) (2010-2013) (6 Blu-ray Disc Box Set, Full-HD) ACC-60461
ABBADO, Claudio: Last Years (The) (2010-2013) (6-DVD Box Set) (NTSC) ACC-70461
ABERT, J.J.: Ekkehard [Opera] (Kaufmann, Gerhaher, Ingen, H. Böhm, South West German Radio Kaiserslautern Orchestra, Falk) C5392
ABERT, J.J.: Ekkehard [Opera] (Kaufmann, Gerhaher, Ingen, H. Böhm, South West German Radio Kaiserslautern Orchestra, Falk) C60080
ABIDE WITH ME AND OTHER FAVOURITE HYMNS 8.557578
ABRAHAMSEN, H.: Wind Quintets (Facer, Ensemble MidtVest) 8.226090
ACCARDO, Salvatore: Accardo and Friends - Chamber Works CDS207
Accordion Recital: Laketic, Bogdan - HAYDN, J. / LISZT, F. / SCHOENBERG, A. / D'ASE, D. (Made in Vienna) Gramola99264
ACKTÉ, Aino: Collected Recordings, 1902-1913 ODE883-2
ACOSTA, Carlos: Dances Royal Ballet Classics (3 Blu-ray Disc Box Set, HD) OABD7186BD
ACOSTA, Carlos: Dances Royal Ballet Classics (3-DVD Box Set) (NTSC) OA1169BD
ACROSS THE POND 75442204012
ADAGIO 7168