The Orchestra

The Orchestra

Apple Music Classical

Updated 5 days ago

Since its invention in the 17th century, the orchestra has boasted a status as classical music’s biggest instrumental ensemble. From symphonies and tone poems to suites and concertos, the orchestra is capable of an extraordinary range of emotions, whether at a barely audible whisper or communicated through an overwhelming roar. From Bach to Berlioz, Brahms and beyond, the greatest composers have all written for the orchestra, crafting new sonorities, even challenging its musical possibilities. Marvel at Beethoven’s revolutionary soundworld and bask in Mahler’s dazzling colour palette as we guide you through some of the greatest works ever conceived for this miracle of musical ensembles. Plus listen out for some unexpected, thrilling contemporary gems, and beautiful symphonic works by under-represented composers.

IV. Finale. Presto

Il Giardino Armonico, Giovanni Antonini

5:21

The Banks of Green Willow "Idyll"

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Andrew Manze

6:02

VII. Bess, You Is My Woman Now

Göteborgs Symfoniker, Barbara Hannigan

4:52

Les Gitanos, Op. 15/3 (Arr. for Orchestra by Adolphe Gauwin)

Rumon Gamba, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra

3:38

Dreamscapes

Anna Handler, Eunike Tanzil, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin

1:58

III. Scherzo. Kräftig, nicht zu schnell: g-h. Molto moderato - Nicht eilen

Vienna Philharmonic, Andris Nelsons

3:28

II. Danza del molinero (Farruca)

Gustavo Dudamel, Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela

2:58

Overture to a Midsummer Night's Dream in E Major, Op. 21

Freiburger Barockorchester, Pablo Heras-Casado

11:28

III. Clair de lune (Orch. by John Wilson)

John Wilson, Sinfonia of London

4:34

Fugue. Allegro molto - Animato

London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle

3:02

III. Un sonnet d'amour

Anthony Parnther, Chineke! Orchestra

3:40

II. Andante moderato

Jakub Hrůša, Bamberg Symphony Orchestra

6:34

Heart of Ice: Frozen Tears

Eckehard Stier, London Symphony Orchestra

3:42

The Knight Ceremony

2:36

IV. Largo

Göteborgs Symfoniker, Santtu-Matias Rouvali

1:51

To April

BBC Philharmonic, John Andrews

7:12

Falling to Earth

Floating Points, San Francisco Ballet Orchestra

13:22

I. Allegro vivace

Andris Nelsons, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig

9:52

II. Scherzo. Allegro vivace

Pablo Heras-Casado, Munich Philharmonic

6:41

II. Second Floor

London Symphony Orchestra, Ricardo Jaramillo, Jorge Mejia

3:32

III. Dance of the Princesses

Gustavo Dudamel, Los Angeles Philharmonic

4:36

III. Andante moderato

Semyon Bychkov, Czech Philharmonic

15:35

III. Canción del amor dolido

Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela, Gustavo Dudamel, Pasión Vega

1:29

No. 2, All'esimio violinista prof. Augusto Michelangeli

John Wilson, Sinfonia of London

2:45

I. Allegro

Paavo Järvi, Die Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen

7:20

II. Andante cantabile

Yannick Nézet-Séguin, The Philadelphia Orchestra

7:18

II. Allegro

Philharmonia Orchestra, Santtu-Matias Rouvali

5:25

II. Mnemonic, Wheel of the Muses

Metropolis Ensemble, Andrew Cyr

1:41

III. Poco allegretto (Live)

Kent Nagano, Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra

6:28

III. Quip

Franz Welser-Möst, The Cleveland Orchestra

4:16

I. Introduzione. Maestoso ed adagio

Konzerthaus Orchester Berlin, Justin Doyle

5:05

VIII. La fille aux cheveux de lin (Arr. Spindler for Violin & Orchestra)

Gustavo Dudamel, Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela, María Dueñas Fernández

2:31

Short Ride in a Fast Machine

Berlin Philharmonic, Alan Gilbert

4:11

Ic. Sinfonia. Adagio religioso

Bach Collegium Japan, Masaaki Suzuki

6:28

No. 38, Romeo and Juliet (Juliet's Bedroom)

Los Angeles Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel

1:41

I. Andante

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Edward Gardner

15:15

III. Insistentemente

Iceland Symphony Orchestra, Eva Ollikainen

7:32

II. Air (Live)

Tugan Sokhiev, Vienna Philharmonic

3:40

IV. Molto allegro

Ottavio Dantone, Accademia Bizantina

9:29

Pavane pour une infante défunte, M. 19 (Version for Orchestra)

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Domingo Hindoyan

7:09

V. One Sunday in the South

Yannick Nézet-Séguin, The Philadelphia Orchestra

2:41

IV. Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity

Antonio Pappano, London Symphony Orchestra

8:12

III. Valse. Allegro moderato

Karina Canellakis, London Philharmonic Orchestra

5:33

Danzón No. 2 (1994)

Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas, Alondra de la Parra

9:26

II. Andante moderato (Live)

Hallé, Kahchun Wong

10:35

Nautilus

Anna Meredith, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Dalia Stasevska

5:31

II. Scherzo. Bewegt, lebhaft - Trio. Schnell

Iván Fischer, Budapest Festival Orchestra

9:38

Flying Theme (From "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial")

Berlin Philharmonic, John Williams

3:58

I. Lever de jour

Antwerp Symphony Orchestra, Elim Chan

6:06

II. Pantomime

Antwerp Symphony Orchestra, Elim Chan

6:02

VII. Dance of the Earth

Santtu-Matias Rouvali, Philharmonia Orchestra

1:20

I. Langsam, schleppend - Immer sehr gemächlich

Semyon Bychkov, Czech Philharmonic

16:39

Kauyumari

Los Angeles Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel

7:23

III. Adagio. Lento

John Wilson, Sinfonia of London

13:45

I. Allegro moderato

Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla, Kremerata Baltica

12:48

Fratres (Version for String Orchestra and Percussion)

Paavo Järvi, Estonian Festival Orchestra

9:28

I. Der Held (Live)

Mariss Jansons, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra

4:28

V. Finale

Susanna Mälkki, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra

10:05

Boléro, M. 81

Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela, Gustavo Dudamel

16:00

Merry-Go-Round of Life (From "Howl’s Moving Castle")

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Joe Hisaishi

2:49

II. Allegro molto

Berlin Philharmonic, Kirill Petrenko

9:38

I. Intrada

John Wilson, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra

4:46

II. Andante con moto

Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Chamber Orchestra of Europe

9:21

Still, Glowing

Dalia Stasevska, BBC Symphony Orchestra

7:04

I. Tempo molto moderato (Live)

Nicholas Collon, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra

13:25

III. Finale. Alla breve (Live from the 2022 Cliburn Competition)

Yunchan Lim, Marin Alsop, Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra

14:28

I. Allegro non Troppo

Marin Alsop, London Philharmonic Orchestra

12:46

II. The Story of the Kalendar Prince

Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Antonio Pappano

12:25

II. Plegaria (Chaconne)

Anne Akiko Meyers, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel

9:23

II. Allegretto

Antonio Pappano, London Symphony Orchestra

9:13

Summer Fantasy (From “Justice Online”)

Yu-Peng Chen, Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra

2:34

III. Scherzo. Allegro vivace - Trio

Iván Fischer, Budapest Festival Orchestra

5:55

II. Vltava

Semyon Bychkov, Czech Philharmonic

13:09

I. Andante nobilmente e semplice – Allegro

Mark Elder, Hallé

21:09

Princess Leia’s Theme (From “Star Wars: A New Hope”) [Live at Suntory Hall, Tokyo, 2023]

Saito Kinen Orchestra, John Williams

5:13

Prelude

Vienna Philharmonic, Franz Welser-Möst

11:32

IV. Allegro non troppo

London Symphony Orchestra, Gianandrea Noseda

11:43

IV. Adagietto. Sehr langsam

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Paavo Järvi

9:52

The Lover Friend's Love for the Beloved"

The Cleveland Orchestra, Franz Welser-Möst

13:28

II. Molto vivace - Presto - Molto vivace - Presto

Berlin Philharmonic, Sir Simon Rattle

13:33

III. Scherzo (Bewegt) - Trio (Nicht zu schnell. Keinesfalls schleppend) [Live]

Andris Nelsons, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig

10:54

III. Allegro

Gli Incogniti, Amandine Beyer

4:56

III. Seascape (Inspired by Hiroshi Sugimoto's "Caribbean Sea, Jamaica", 1980)

Marin Alsop, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

4:03

Finlandia, Op. 26

Esa-Pekka Salonen, San Francisco Symphony

8:59

I. De l’aube à midi sur la mer (Live)

Philippe Jordan, Vienna Philharmonic

8:45

IV. Allegro con spirito

Boston Symphony Orchestra, Andris Nelsons

9:48

I. Allegro assai

Sinfonia of London, John Wilson

13:35

Leviathan, Op. 59

Rumon Gamba, Bill Anderson, BBC Philharmonic

5:01

I. Allegretto (Live)

Colin Davis, London Symphony Orchestra

9:39

Remembering

Eunike Tanzil, Anna Handler, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin

3:48

I. Non allegro

Sinfonia of London, John Wilson

10:53

Mother’s Broom (From "Kiki's Delivery Service")

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Joe Hisaishi

3:49

II. Im Tempo eines gemächlichen Ländlers. Etwas täppisch und sehr derb (Live)

Vienna Philharmonic, Franz Welser-Möst

14:48

IV. Finale

The Philadelphia Orchestra, Yannick Nézet-Séguin

4:52

An der schönen blauen Donau, Walzer, Op. 314

Vienna Philharmonic, Yannick Nézet-Séguin

9:19

Theme (From "Jurassic Park")

Berlin Philharmonic, John Williams

5:37

III. Allegro molto vivace

Sir Charles Mackerras, Philharmonia Orchestra

8:27

I. Teton Range (Live)

Nashville Symphony, Giancarlo Guerrero

3:43

IV. Finale. Allegro molto

Giovanni Antonini, Kammerorchester Basel

4:37

IV. Allegro

Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

8:35