As far as "mood" compilations go, Nocturne: Music for Dreaming is one of the better examples. It avoids the more clichéd selections you might find on such a disc and goes for more unusual and varied fare. There are a few expected staples, but you also have
Massenet's The Last Sleep of the Virgin and the Andante from
Schubert's "Rosamunde" String Quartet. Instead of the Andante from
Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 21 ("Elvira Madigan"), you get the pensive F minor Adagio from the Concerto No. 23. Not all the pieces paint peaceful, drowsy pictures, either. "The Old Castle" from Pictures at an Exhibition,
Grieg's The Wounded Heart, and the Adagio from
Ravel's Piano Concerto in G give more mysterious and shadowy images. There is also variation in the instrumental colors as well. The second disc begins with
Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez for guitar; moves on to the Nocturne from
Mendelssohn's A Midsummer Night's Dream featuring French horns;
Tchaikovsky's Nocturne for cello & orchestra; then The Swan of Tuonela with its stunning English horn solo. Among the sensitive performers found here are pianists
Mikhail Pletnev and
Leif Ove Andsnes, guitarist
Sharon Isbin, cellist and conductor
Paul Tortelier with the
English Chamber Orchestra, and the
Borodin Quartet. Not a bad way to drift off to dreamland.