''The Classic Della'' is an album by actress and singer

Della Reese Delloreese Patricia Early (July 6, 1931 – November 19, 2017), known professionally as Della Reese, was an American jazz and gospel singer, actress, and ordained minister whose career spanned seven decades. She began her long career as a s ...

. The songs are based on

classical music Classical music generally refers to the art music of the Western world, considered to be distinct from Western folk music or popular music traditions. It is sometimes distinguished as Western classical music, as the term "classical music" also ...

pieces by

Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky , group=n ( ; 7 May 1840 – 6 November 1893) was a Russian composer of the Romantic period. He was the first Russian composer whose music would make a lasting impression internationally. He wrote some of the most popu ...

("Symphony No. 6," "Melodie Op. 42"),

Debussy (Achille) Claude Debussy (; 22 August 1862 – 25 March 1918) was a French composer. He is sometimes seen as the first Impressionist composer, although he vigorously rejected the term. He was among the most influential composers of the ...

("Reverie"),

Schubert Franz Peter Schubert (; 31 January 179719 November 1828) was an Austrian composer of the late Classical and early Romantic eras. Despite his short lifetime, Schubert left behind a vast ''oeuvre'', including more than 600 secular vocal wor ...

("Serenade"), Chopin ("Etude in E, Op. 10 No. 3," "Polonaise No. 6 Op. 53"), and

Puccini Giacomo Puccini (Lucca, 22 December 1858Bruxelles, 29 November 1924) was an Italian composer known primarily for his operas. Regarded as the greatest and most successful proponent of Italian opera after Verdi, he was descended from a long lin ...

("Musetta's Waltz Song" from ''

La Bohème ''La bohème'' (; ) is an opera in four acts,Puccini called the divisions ''quadri'', ''tableaux'' or "images", rather than ''atti'' (acts). composed by Giacomo Puccini between 1893 and 1895 to an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe G ...

''). The album was arranged and conducted by

Glenn Osser Abraham Arthur "Glenn" Osser (August 28, 1914 – April 29, 2014) was an American musician, musical arranger, orchestra leader, and songwriter. His birthname was Abraham (Abe), but much of his work was under the name Glenn; he can be found with re ...

and produced by

Hugo and Luigi Hugo & Luigi were an American record producing team, made up of songwriters and producers Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creatore, who shared an office in New York's Brill Building. Besides their working relationship, they were cousins. Background First ...

who wrote in the liner notes,

"It was after the album was finished and we were listening to the first playbacks that we decided on the title ... the only title that can describe the content and the artistry captured in these grooves ... THE CLASSIC DELLA." ''Hugo and Luigi''

Track listing

# "The Story of a Starry Night" ( Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky adpt. Mann Curtis, Al Hoffman, Jerry Livingston) 2:50 # "These Are the Things I Love" (Tchaikovsky adpt. Barlow, Harris) 3:35 # "

If You Are But a Dream "If You Are But a Dream" is a popular song published in 1942 in music, 1942 with words and music by Moe Jaffe, Jack Fulton (singer), Jack Fulton and Nat Bonx. The melody is based on Anton Rubinstein's "Romance in E flat, Op. 44, No. 1," popularly kn ...

" (Rubenstein adapt. Nat Bonx, Jack Fulton, Moe Jaffe) 3:07 # "

My Reverie "My Reverie" is a 1938 popular song with lyrics by Larry Clinton. Its melody is based on the 1890 piano piece ''Rêverie'' by the French classical composer Claude Debussy. Recordings A 1938 recording of the song by Clinton and his band with Bea ...

" (

Claude Debussy (Achille) Claude Debussy (; 22 August 1862 – 25 March 1918) was a French composer. He is sometimes seen as the first Impressionist composer, although he vigorously rejected the term. He was among the most influential composers of the ...

adapt. Clinton) 3:39 # "Take My Heart" (

Albert Ketèlbey Albert William Ketèlbey (; born Ketelbey; 9 August 1875 – 26 November 1959) was an English composer, conductor and pianist, best known for his short pieces of light orchestral music. He was born in Birmingham and moved to Lon ...

adapt. Luigi Creatore, Peretti, Wess) 2:44 # " Stranger in Paradise" (

Alexander Borodin Alexander Porfiryevich Borodin ( rus, link=no, Александр Порфирьевич Бородин, Aleksandr Porfir’yevich Borodin , p=ɐlʲɪkˈsandr pɐrˈfʲi rʲjɪvʲɪtɕ bərɐˈdʲin, a=RU-Alexander Porfiryevich Borodin.ogg, ...

adapt. Forrest, Wright) 3:01 # "Gone" (

Riccardo Drigo Riccardo Eugenio Drigo ( ru. Риккардо Эудженьо Дриго) (30 June 18461 October 1930) was an Italian composer of ballet music and Italian opera, a theatrical conductor, and a pianist. Drigo is most noted for his long career ...

adapt. Peretti, Creatore, Weiss) 2:38 # "Serenade" (

Franz Schubert Franz Peter Schubert (; 31 January 179719 November 1828) was an Austrian composer of the late Classical and early Romantic eras. Despite his short lifetime, Schubert left behind a vast ''oeuvre'', including more than 600 secular vocal wor ...

adapt. Peretti, Creatore, Weiss) 3:24 # "Moon Love" (Tchaikovsky adapt. David, Davis, Kostelanetz) 2:58 # "Softly My Love" (Chopin adapt. Bennett, Tepper) 2:42 # " Till the End of Time" (Chopin adapt. Kaye, Mossman) 3:30 # "

Don't You Know? "Don't You Know?" is a 1959 popular song written by Bobby Worth, and hit record for singer Della Reese. The song was adapted from an aria ("Musetta's Waltz") from Puccini's ''La bohème''. The song was Reese's first single on her new label RC ...

" (Puccini adapt. Bobby Worth) 2:35

Charts

Album Single

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Classic Della 1962 albums Della Reese albums RCA Victor albums Albums produced by Hugo & Luigi