The division of the world into the four elements fire, water, air and earth is one of the oldest principles of all. Fire: powerful, dynamic; Water: flowing, animating; Air: moving, connecting; Earth: manifesting, fertile. This fine 4-CD album contains classical works which take up the qualities of the four elements in form and expression, each CD representing one of the four elements. Together they show the whole cosmos of classical music. Its appealing cover design and important recordings make this unique boxed set a harmonious introduction to the forces of the four elements.

Artists

Thomas Zehetmair (soloist), Hartmut Haenchen, Kammerorchester Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, Cécile Ousset (piano), Theo Adam (bass baritone), Staatskapelle Berlin, Otmar Suitner, Václav Neumann, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Marc Laforet (piano), Berlin Rundfunk Symphonie Orchester, Paavo Berglund, Gustav Schmahl, Günter Kootz, Berliner Rundfunkchor, Helmut Koch, Herbert Blomstedt, Staatskapelle Dresden, Dieter Zechlin (soloist), Uta Priew (alto), Peter Rösel (piano), Jutta Zoff (piano), Andreas Pistorius, Günther Herbig, Berlin Symphonie Orchester, Fritz Rucker (flute), Dresdner Philharmoniker, Jörg-Peter Weigle, Kurt Sanderling, Camerata Bern, MDR Sinfonieorchester, Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, Herbert Kegel, Rudolf Kempe, Heinz Rögner, Gerhard Wiesenhutter, Carl von Garaguly