Product Description

The Gramophone Classical Music Guide 2011 is the essential guide for music-lovers collecting their music on CD, DVD or as a download, drawing on Gramophone magazine's 85-year experience of reviewing classical music on record. The Guide reviews 3,500 recordings of music that covers the full spectrum of classical music, from the Middle Ages to the brand new, from Grand Opera to Lieder and song, from string quartets to organ music. Whether it's a set of the Beethoven symphonies, or a Wagner opera you're after, The Guide is the place to start. Gramophone's unrivalled panel of critics offer expertise, experience and enthusiasm and not only guide you to the finest recordings, but also inspire you to explore. Their opinions are distilled into hundreds of reviews that help you make those important decisions whether you're in a record store or shopping online. The Classical Music Guide 2011 also offers a beginner's guide to downloading, with help on file formats and the best places to find and buy your music. With many thousands of recordings available to buy online, downloading may be the best way for you to build your classical music collection quickly and easily. To support the thousands of reviews, The Guide also contains an overview of the history of Western music, listings of Gramophone Award winners, basic collections and 100 Great Recordings, as well as the short-list for Gramophone's Artist of the Year Award. Whether you're just dipping a toe into the huge, but rewarding, world of classical music, or already have a substantial collection, The Classical Music Guide 2011 is an invaluable companion.