There is something truly heart rendering about the works simply titled ‘Adagio’. If you’ve ever heard the Death of Ase by Grieg and not been moved, then you need to hear it done by Karajan. There is a cult around Karajan and his plethora of recordings. Deutsche Grammophon have chosen the best Adagios from his vast library and this is a truly gorgeous selection of music. I know there are those who poo-poo compilation albums but every work you see in this list is something that catches your eye and immediately makes you want to put it on. I think that’s the sign of a good recording.