Abell: Reading Ends in Melancholy, song (from "Songs in Several Languages")

Classical music, one of the oldest forms of music has modified its sound over many centuries. What makes the Baroque distinct from that of the Classical period? What makes a piece of classical music inherently Romantic? What does the 20th century period even mean? Passionato is here to guide you every step of the way.

Some classical music labels have achieved iconic status within the classical music recording industry: Deutsche Grammophon, EMI Classical, RCA Victor for example. Then there are those like Harmonia Mundi, Chandos and Delos who offer rare repertoire and the super-budget labels like Naxos who offer great music. Passionato has them all!

The instruments used to create classical music are fascinating. Learn about the classical instruments such as piano, violin, flute and cello – what constitutes the woodwind, strings and brass? Also find out why a clarinet in Mozart’s time sounds different to the modern version and what are the best recordings for each instrument.

The world of classical music downloads is available at your fingertips. Search our classical music catalogue to find the music you want. Search genres such as orchestral, chamber or opera; or by composer, artist, labels and more. Passionato has an unrivalled selection of music on offer from baroque opera to romantic symphony.

If you’re new to classical music downloads read our download tutorial to help you easily access the music the you want. Visit our FAQ section which features answers to the most commonly asked questions about Passionato. If you require further assistance, our dedicated customer services team is ready to help with any enquiry.