The composers are: Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Wagner, J. Strauss, Verdi, Schubert, Chopin, Tchaikovsky, and Vivaldi.


So good i bought it twice   June 10, 2003
 19 out of 20 found this review helpful

This set was actually purchased by my father when it first came out years ago for the price of about 50 dollars. I was about 12 yrs old and had no clue about classical music. Though i was hesitant at first to listen to classical when all my friends listened to rap and stuff, i gave it a shot, and fell in love. I have made many attempts to find other collections that are even as close to the quality that this one is, and have not been happy with any of them. Over time these cds have gotten scratched or lost, so i took it upon myself to find this set again, and when i did, i bought two.


Excellent introduction to classical music!   July 1, 2001
 17 out of 20 found this review helpful

I received this boxed set of CDs for my eleventh birthday. Before, I really hadn't heard a variaty of classical music, but I understood classical music better after listening to this set. I am a piano student, so this set was beneficial to me in that area, as well. I was exposed to music of three of the four eras, Baroque, Classical, and Romantic. This set gives some of the most famous works of some of the millenium's best composers. It's a good, basic introduction to classical music, and I would recommend it to any person who is just discovering the centuries-old magic of this genre. My collection of CDs grew rapidly after listening to this collection because my music appreciation grew. Now, three years later, I am very fond of classical music and own over fifty classical CDs. I'd like to think that this set is what sparked my interest.


Excellent introduction into the world of classical music   May 2, 2003
 9 out of 10 found this review helpful

I've been listening to classical music throughout my whole life...Can't stop listening to Vivaldi, one of my favorite composers. Can't stop listening to Mozart, Bach with his purely baroque soothing and relaxing style (even the Toccata and Fugue), Beethoven (maestro). The only composer that just broke the feeling was Chopin, which, in my very humble opinion, tends to be quite chaotic sometimes. Anyway, don't hesitate and get this box. It'll do you good either you're listening to it on the comfort of your home or you're letting yourself go off some tension on the road (get an MP3-CD player so you'll have to carry 1 CD instead of the whole box). Oh, and I'd also recommend the 10-disc box set "Meditation: Classical Relaxation".


A great and affordable collection   March 28, 2005
 9 out of 9 found this review helpful

I got this 10 cd set from a friend last christmas. This is truly a wonderful collection of works from very well known composers. The 10 cds cover a wide range of classical eras and styles, and they come in excellent packaging. Each disc is in its own seperate case, and all ten cases are put in a small yet sturdy cardboard box. The length of playing time on each disc varies from ~57 min to ~67 min, with most discs lasting longer than an hour. In addition, the inner flap of the cover case also provides a short yet informative biography of each composer. This disc set serves as a great way to begin for new classical music listeners. All the composers are well known and also new listeners of classical music may have even listened to a few pieces of the works.

While I frequently listen to classical music, there were some works by a few composers that I did not listen to (I also listen to pop, rock, french, russian, country, jazz..., so apparently Wagner and Verdi have eluded me). For example, I did not listen to Wagner's works, and most of Verdi's work were unknown to me. However, I listened to all of the cds and was quite pleased. The quality and performances on the discs are excellent, making this 10 cd set a definite steal considering its affordability. I also found that I really enjoy Verdi and Wagner's works, and now I will begin to look into other works of these composers.

If you are new to classical music and wish to start listening and enjoying this type of music, then this is a great way to get a full flavor of this genre without investing too much money. However, please understand that classical music usually takes time to appreciate. Play the cds, and if you dont like a piece, dont disregard it at first. Play it in the background or listen to it everyday--the point is to constantly listen. Over time, you will find that you can now detect nuances and certain parts that you particularly enjoy, and you will probably begin to like that piece. However, if you are already well versed in classical music, still consider buying this set, as it is a great addition to any library, and the price is certainly not exorbitant.