Favourites,
Gifts for... Children (and grandchildren)
In our latest gift guide, you'll find the perfect presents to introduce children to the wonderful world of classical music. We've selected some great albums and collections featuring some of the most popular works for children - from Peter and the Wolf to Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, some family-friendly ballets to watch together, and some entertaining and informative books introducing the instruments of the orchestra and the lives of some of the world's greatest composers.
CDs and Collections Introducing Classical Music
Children's Classics Box Set
Narrators include Bernard Cribbins, Prunella Scales, Angela Rippon, June Whitfield and Dame Edna Everage
Naxos's Children's Classics series includes some of the most popular pieces of classical music for younger listeners. With narration from British actors including Bernard Cribbins, Brian Cant, Dame Edna Everage and Prunella Scales, this 7-CD box set includes Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf, Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker, Poulenc's L'histoire de Babar and Dukas's The Sorcerer's Apprentice among others.
Available Format: 7 CDs
Fairy Tales: Poems and Music for Children
Matthew Trusler (violin), Martin Roscoe (piano), Maya Koch (violin), Alexander Taylor (piano)
This album from Orchid Classics combines much-loved poems for children interspersed with music on children's themes, such as excerpts from Prokofiev's Cinderella and Debussy's Children's Corner. A starry line-up of actors read the selected poems, from Clive Owen to Simon Pegg and Kenneth Branagh. A fabulous album of words and music for children.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC
My First Classical Music Albums Series
The 'My First...' series from Naxos features albums devoted to specific instruments, composers and types of music including the violin, the piano, ballet, the orchestra and Christmas. Each release gives an interesting overview, with popular pieces across a broad spectrum of classical music - and occasionally incorporating some other styles. A great introduction to the exciting world of music, ideal for younger listeners.
This new release is an album of eloquent contemporary music for children performed by Mr. E and Me and The Norwegian Radio Orchestra. New Orchestral Hits 4 Kids aims to open young ears to the wonderful sounds of the orchestra through whimsical, imaginative songs about friendships, forests, wet socks, dancing, space, a robot, a birthday, and a girl on the moon.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Klára Würtz performs a selection of piano music for children, including Schumann's Kinderszenen, Tchaikovsky's Album for the Young, and Debussy's Children's Corner as well as pieces by Mozart, Bartók and Beethoven. 'A nice idea, very nicely executed' (BBC Music Magazine).
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC
Prokofiev: Peter and the Wolf
Alexander Armstrong (narrator), Richard Casey, Ian Buckle (piano duet), Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Vasily Petrenko
This 2017 recording, narrated by presenter Alexander Armstrong, features Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf, Saint-Saëns's Le carnaval des animaux and Alan Rawsthorne's setting of six poems from T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats. Vasily Petrenko conducts the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in invigorating performances of these popular pieces.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Saint-Saëns: The Carnival of the Animals (DVD)
Britten-Pears Orchestra, Marin Alsop (conductor/narrator)
Marin Alsop and the Britten-Pears Orchestra present live performances of popular classical works for younger audiences. The programme includes Saint-Saëns's Carnival of the Animals, Ravel's Mother Goose, Peter and the Wolf and The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra by Britten.
Available Format: DVD Video
Family-friendly Ballets on DVD and Blu-ray
This unique collection brings together four jewels of the Royal Ballet repertoire that will delight and captivate viewers of all ages. Included in the set are full performances of Tchaikovsky's festive treat The Nutcracker, the enchanting Tales of Beatrix Potter, Joby Talbot's imaginative treatment of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and a beguiling production of Peter and the Wolf.
Available Format: 4 DVD Videos
Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (DVD)
The Royal Ballet, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Barry Wordsworth
The latest revival of Peter Wright’s timeless and enchanting production of Tchaikovsky’s Hoffmann-inspired Christmas classic comes up as fresh as paint here, with an outstanding performance from Marianela Nuñez as The Sugar-Plum Fairy. A festive treat for all the family.
Available Format: DVD Video
Raymond Briggs's book The Snowman has become a seasonal favourite, and Howard Blake's enchanting score adds to the charm of this magical story. Now running for decades, the 80-minute stage show version has become a festive must-see, and is now released on DVD and Blu-ray - so you can relive the magic at home.
Available Format: DVD Video
Books about Music
A delightfully colourful introduction to classical music, aimed at children aged between 5 and 7. With an accompanying audio CD featuring excerpts from popular works, the major composers and musical instrument families are brought to life in a vivid and enchanting way.
Available Format: Book + CD
This delightfully colourful introduction to the orchestra, aimed at children aged 4-9, follows a little green creature called Tormod on his search to find music that will help him to find his way home, to the top of a mountain in Norway. Along the way readers learn about the different instruments of the orchestra, listening to examples on an accompanying CD.
Available Format: Book + CD
What instruments make up an orchestra? What does the conductor do? How are orchestras different around the world? Discover all the answers in this engaging and easy-to-access book. The lively text is illustrated by lots of photographs, showing all the components of the orchestra and more.
Available Format: Book
With cheery narrator Orchestra Bob as their guide, children are encouraged to listen, learn, and enjoy as they are introduced to the most powerful works from the greatest composers throughout history whilst listening to musical examples of what they are learning about. Illustrated in exquisite and colourful detail with over 100 original drawings and photographs, this is the perfect introduction to the magical world of classical music.
Available Format: Book
Discover the magic of Swan Lake in this musical retelling of the ballet - push the button on each scene to hear the sound of an orchestra playing from Tchaikovsky's score. The book also includes a biography of the composer, details about the composition of the piece, and a discussion of the instruments, rhythms and musical techniques that make it so powerful.
Available Format: Book
Chris O'Reilly - Chief Executive
