The series MASTERS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC presents great composers, masters of all epochs and musical genres. The first two programmes that have been released include instrumental pieces by Grieg, Sibelius, Haendel, Suppe, Dvorak, Mozart, Schubert, Liszt (GD 245, GD 246).
The third CD begins with Ponchielli and Dance of the Hours from the popular opera "La Gioconda" (1876). Then follow two overtures by the Austrian composer Franz von Suppe - "Beautiful Galathea" and "Leicht Kavallerie", Brahms' Hungarian Dances Nos 1, 5 and 6 (created during the period 1869-80). After that come the founder of the Czech national composers school Smetana and his symphonic poem The Moldau, and Weber - the founder of the German romantic and legendary-knights opera, with his famous Invitation to the Dance. The programme ends with one of the greatest masters of polyphonic music and founder of the classical type of oratorio - Haendel, who has written 32 oratorios, one of which is Judas Maccabaeus, an excerpt of which is included in this release. The CD thus features representatives of the pre-classical, classical and romantic periods, and some European national composers' schools.