To the present-day listener one of the most notable aspects of European concert music in the 19th century is the degree to which it became far less the preserve of the Church and the ruling classes. Many composers working in the early years of the century, Beethoven among them, were, to a lesser or greater extent, still working as employees of the Church or the wealthy aristocratic classes. This system of patronage was soon to break down and the role of the composer took on a more professional and academic character. The new-found freedom, and the advent of Romanticism in the arts as a whole, revitalised music throughout Europe; composers began to experiment with new forms, making their music more personal and innovative. This change of musical climate is clearly illustrated in this 17-CD set made up of works from most of the great composers of the time. From Beethoven to Schoenberg this set will take the listener on a fascinating chronological journey through the music of the nineteenth century by way of some of its greatest musical monuments: works such as Beethoven’s wonderful and ever-popular Fifth Symphony and the massive First Piano Concerto by Brahms, can be heard against the delights of Rossini’s Barber of Seville Overture and the melodic sensuousness of Puccini’s La bohème. Being arranged in strict order of composition, the programmes throw up some interesting juxtapositions that, even to the seasoned listener, will be pleasantly surprising. Also surprising to many listeners will be the little gem of a symphony by the Spanish composer Juan Crisstomo de Arriaga that starts CD 5 in the set. This was one of the last of only a few works completed by Arriaga, who died in 1826 just a few days before his twentieth birthday. This recording is now making its first appearance on CD. Arriaga’s music has all the joy and exuberance to be found in the similarly youthful Symphony by Bizet on disc 9 The recordings have all, of course, been taken from EMI Classics’ incomparable back catalogue and every one is an artistic and technological masterpiece in its own right.