Naxos Blog

Naxos Educational is a bold venture in a fairly traditional marketplace, with the purpose of broadening the horizons and understanding of music lovers who may be new to classical music or want to go into greater depth. Since the millennium, various series have been developed, nearly all containing multiple CDs and booklets of 100+ pages showcasing some of the best writers on classical music. 

Portrait Series 

The vibrant, contemporary arm of the label. Begun with John Tavener, which contains a world premiere of Prayer of the Heart, written for and performed by Björk, and a fascinating 40-minute interview with the composer himself.   Available: John Tavener, Arvo Pärt, Peter Maxwell Davies, Shostakovich, Béla Bartók  

Discover Series 

Visually arresting and mentally engaging; now branching out from periods in musical history.  Available: Early, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Twentieth-Century, Opera 

Opera Explained 

Light-hearted, narrated introductions to major operas.  Available: Over 20 operas, including La Bohème, The Marriage of Figaro,Rigoletto, Aida. 

Histories

Engaging, well-illustrated (music & pictures) surveys examining the history of various classical music genres and individual countries.  

History of Classical Music, History of Opera, History of the Musical, History of American Classical Music, History of British Music 

Life and Works 

A captivating audiobook series bringing to life the great composers and their music. Available: Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Dvofák, Haydn, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Verdi and more  “. . . these sets are a powerful learning resource for any inquisitive listener, for ears both innocent and already informed, in school, college or simply by the fireside.”  –BBC Music Magazine  

Also Available   

Classics Explained: Friendly, narrated analysis of popular works.Available: Schubert’s Piano Quintet ‘Trout’, Dvofák’s ‘New World’ Symphony and others

Art and Music: Explores the musical environment of great artists.Available: Bruegel, Canaletto, Cezanne, Degas, Leonardo da Vinci, Monet, Renoir, Rubens and others 

A—Z: Comprehensive texts with illustrative CDs.Available: A—Z of Classical Music, A—Z of Opera, A—Z of Pianists, A—Z of Conductors