Decca's two-disc set,
The Classical Album 2011, features 40 tracks of some of the world's most popular and familiar classical music. The selections are widely varied and include vocal music (operatic arias and songs), chamber music, keyboard works (piano, harpsichord and organ), and a broad assortment of orchestral music. The majority are from the standard repertoire, ranging from the Baroque through the Classical, Romantic, and early 20 century periods. Besides the soloists pictured on the album cover, the album features artists such as tenor
Plácido Domingo, baritone
Bryn Terfel, pianist
Daniel Barenboim, violinist
Anne-Sophie Mutter, and conductors
Gustavo Dudamel,
Neville Marriner, and
Georg Solti, so the performances are reliably excellent. Although some of the recordings date as far back as 1960, the vast majority are of a more recent vintage, so the sound is usually excellent and never less than adequate. The album would make a terrific starting point for listeners looking for a broad introduction to the world of classical music.