Classic Fm Hall of Fame

What are the greatest pieces of music ever composed? 'The Classic FM Hall of Fame' celebrates classical music's unique ability to stir the emotions of a listener - whether it's the haunting melodies of Gorecki's 'Symphony of Sorrowful Songs' or Purcell's 'Dido and Aeneas'; the passionately charged opening bars of Beethoven's 'Symphony No. 5'; dramatic operas such as Puccini's 'La boheme'; the moving sounds of Rachmaninov's 'Piano Concerto No. 2' and Mozart's 'Clarinet Concerto'; beautiful ballet scores from Prokofiev and Tchaikovsky; or blockbuster film soundtracks composed by John Williams and Howard Shore. Based in fifteen years of selections by Classic FM's millions of listeners for the radio station's annual countdown of the nation's 300 favourite works, this definitive collection encompasses a rich variety of classical greats, contemporary masters, lesser-known treasures and great British composers to provide a fascinating insight into our relationship with the music we love. Darren Henley, Sam Jackson and Tim Lihoreau guide us through the world of classical music and the people responsible for creating and performing it.Combining fascinating histories and biographies, recommended recordings and the ranking of the 300 pieces themselves, this book is as relevant to a new listener discovering the joys of classical music as it is to long-time lovers of the genre. 'The Classic FM Hall of Fame' is a beautifully illustrated testament to the enduring power of classical music to inspire, entertain, relax and invigorate us.

'We all need classical music. There's something here for every fan, from the casual listener to the serious aficionado.' Sir Simon Rattle 'The Classic FM Hall of Fame has undoubtedly caught the imagination, passion and enthusiasm of its listeners. This book is full of delightful stories, recommended recordings and hidden treasures.' Bryn Terfel 'A superb introduction to the UK's best loved classical works.' Nicola Benedetti 'The Classic FM Hall of Fame means so much to so many and this beautiful book more than does it justice.' Alison Balsom 'The stories behind these favourite pieces and the composers are fascinating - and written with Classic FM's genuine passion for classical music.' Vasily Petrenko

Darren Henley is the Managing Director of Classic FM. Responsible for producing the first Classic FM Hall of Fame in 1996, he looked after the chart for the next eleven years of the its life. He was named Commercial Radio Programmer of the Year in 2009. Darren advises ministers in the Department for Education and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on music and cultural education. He studied politics at the University of Hull and is currently undertaking postgraduate research in Music at the University of York. He is an Honorary Fellow of Canterbury Christ Church University. This is his twentieth book about classical music and musicians. Sam Jackson is the Executive Producer at Classic FM in charge of all aspects of the station's music policy. He has been the producer of the Classic FM Hall of Fame since 2008 and is closely involved with the station's large-scale music events and with the network of Classic FM orchestras around the country. After graduating from the University of York with a first class degree in music, Sam worked as the producer of many of Classic FM's biggest programmes. He is a proficient piano and clarinet player and writes regularly for Classic FM Magazine. Tim Lihoreau is Classic FM's Creative Director, but will be better known to many listeners as the presenter of the station's Brighter Breakfast programme each weekend morning. Tim has won a multitude of awards for his radio writing and production on both sides of the Atlantic, as well as being the author of eleven books. His Modern Phobias has been translated into eleven languages. With a degree in music from the University of Leeds, he was a professional pianist before moving into radio. Along with his wife, he runs three amateur choirs in his home village in Cambridgeshire and regularly plays the organ at his local church.