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Piano Concerto No.2 in D minor Opus 40 (2) Felix Mendelssohn Download 'Piano Concerto No.2 in D minor Opus 40 (2)' on iTunes

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These terrible album covers will make you laugh and then violently cringe

Here are the very worst classical album covers of all time. Weird, funny, alarming and perplexing all at the same time - who knew the world of classical music album covers could be so bizarre?

  1. worst album covers

    1. Saturday Night Fiedler

    John Travolta has absolutely nothing to worry about from Arthur Fiedler, former conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra. Except maybe a poke in the eye from his baton. Stay cool, Arthur.

  2. worst album covers

    2. Simon Rattle - The Jazz Album

    Is there any Dave Brubeck on your jazz album, Simon Rattle? 'Cos those braces need to Take 5.

  3. Derek Bell Plays With Himself

    3. Derek Bell Plays With Himself

    Could Derek Bell have picked a better title for this baroque extravaganza? No. No he could not. Kudos, Derek.

  4. Red Priest - Handel in the Wind

    4. Red Priest - Handel in the Wind

    Geddit? Actually, this doesn't really deserve to be in a gallery of terrible album covers. This is genuinely amazing.

  5. bad album covers classical

    5. Raymond Devos - Au theatre des varietes

    Did you know, "Au theatre des varietes" is actually French for "maniac takes harp on lawnmower and wears inappropriate loafers"?

  6. Music For Your Plants

    6. Music For Your Plants

    The only thing that will grow while this record is on is the desire to turn it off.

  7. worst album covers

    7. Nigel Kennedy - Mendelssohn, Bruch, Schubert

    Who knew that Nik Kershaw took a classical detour in the 80s? Only kidding. But it does seem that the great Nigel Kennedy has controversially decided to print his score on his waistcoat. It's a nice idea, not sure how it'll work in concert.

  8. worst album covers

    8. Holst - The Planets, Sir Adrian Boult, Vienna State Philharmonic Orchestra

    Much like an eclipse, it's best not to stare directly at it.

  9. worst album covers

    9. Opera Swing Quartet - Easy To Handel

    See what they did there? Handel? Handle? 'Cos they're lifting it? Yeah? Ah, forget it…

  10. worst album covers

    10. Don Dorsey - BachBusters

    Bach was known for his keyboard prowess and his intricate finger work, but what the inimitable Don Dorsey has cleverly done is update it to the 20th century. Specifically, to a hybrid of Harold Faltermeyer and Liberace. From 1985. Well-tempered keytar, anyone?

  11. worst album covers

    11. Anssi Karttunen, Esa-Pekka Salonen, London Sinfonietta

    Because nothing says 'modern cello works' like a terrifying painting of Donald Duck in a smoking jacket.

  12. worst album covers

    12. Villa Lobos - Alma Brasileira, Michael Tilson Thomas, New World Symphony

    Shades? Check. Baggy red shirt? Check. Parrot? Check. Get the maracas out, it's time to make some music!

  13. worst album covers

    13. A Lindberg Extravaganza

    We're not going to lie. Christian Lindberg features quite heavily in this gallery. Here he is, standing proudly on top of a mountain holding two trombones and wearing what looks like a velour cycling jersey from 1987.

  14. worst album covers

    14. Christian Lindberg - Trombone Odyssey

    Here's Christian again, this time fully embracing Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' era and borrowing his wife's leather boots.

  15. worst album covers

    15. Christian Lindberg - All The Lonely People

    Blimey, Christian. Way to pull on the heart strings.

  16. worst album covers

    16. Khachaturian - Constantine Orbelian, Spiritual Revival Choir of Russia

    What better way to depict the rich romance, social conscience and balletic beauty of the music of Aram Khachaturian? An orange Dracula font and Bela Lugosi-esque picture, obviously.

  17. worst album covers

    17. Mozart at the Movies

    The more you look at this one, the better it gets. The keyboard lapel-lining. The 'attempt' at a convincing Amadeus poster. The two bits of popcorn that Maestro Salieri (is that who it is? He's IN the film!) seems to have dropped. It's too much.

  18. worst album covers

    18. Hao Jiang Tian - Operatic Arias

    Not only has Hao Jiang Tian opted for the controversial '90s boyband' technique of sitting on a chair, he's also brought his faithful hound along with him too.

  19. worst album covers

    19. Herbert von Karajan - Grieg, Sibelius

    When the great Herbert von Karajan wasn't conducting, he liked nothing more than capsizing other people's boats with a mournful expression on his face.

  20. worst album covers

    20. The Three Tenors - A Tenors Christmas

    Looks like José was the designated driver at this year's Three Tenors office party.

  21. worst album covers

    21. Carl Orff - Carmina Burana, Seiji Ozawa, Berlin Philharmonic

    Sometimes the hotel pool just isn't as secluded as you'd like. Pass the soap, someone?

  22. worst album covers

    22. Lara St. John - Bach Partitas

    Violinist Lara St. John there, demonstrating the missing link between Bach and the Old Spice advert.

  23. worst album covers

    23. Hanus, Eben, Haas - Risonanza

    It's difficult to know where to start with this one. The weird underscores in the titles, the creepy guy in the background, the other guy's fixation with jewellery… answers on a postcard.

  24. worst album covers

    24. Julian Lloyd Webber - Travels With My Cello

    In this mildly unsettling depiction of one man's quest to ensure his instrument isn't dropped by the baggage handlers, the thing we're still drawn to most is that incredible jumper.

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