Classical Hits / Brightman, Church, Ma, Pavarotti, Et Al

Are you tired of your classically minded friends laughing at you when you mispronounce the names of renowned, long-expired European composers? Do you think the Three Tenors are the latest teenage boy band? Well, those well-educated friends of yours still won't cut you much slack for purchasing CLASSICAL HITS, but at least you'll feel like you've dipped your toe into the deep waters of classical music. CLASSICAL HITS is very clearly a compilation designed for the newcomer, as it's made up almost exclusively of compositions that have somehow managed to sneak into the popular consciousness over the years through a variety of means, such as "Pie Jesu," "O Solo Mio," and "Nessun Dorma." There are a bunch of ringers here as well, mostly ersatz-classical soundtrack themes in an orchestral mode, such as John Williams's theme from STAR WARS: THE PHANTOM MENACE. For the uninitiated, it's a start.