This visit to Spain centers on the old capital of Castile. Toledo, historically famous for its steel and swords, the home of the great painter known as El Greco. There are view of Cordoba, with its relics of Moorish occupation and a brief glimpse of the windmills on the plains of La Mancha, buildings Don Quixote once mistook for giants. The music of Spain held an exotic attraction for composers from other countries. The French composer Lalo was of...

Scenes are shown of the glory that was Rome in monuments of the great Empire that ruled Europe and the Near East in its heyday. There are also glimpses of St. Peter's and of the modern city. The music included here is all associated in one way or another with Rome and its traditions. It ranges from the overture to Mozart's Roman opera La clemenza di Tito to Wagner's Tannhauser, whose hero seeks pardon for his sins in the Eternal City, from Puccini's...

The music accompanying this tour of the Loire is all by Fryderyk Chopin. Born in Poland of a Polish mother and emigre French father, Chopin settled in Paris and his liaison with the writer George Sand (Aurore Dudevant) allowed him generally to spend summer months with her at her Chateau de Nohant in the upper valley of the Indre, the so-called Black Valley. The music chosen here is taken from his many Waltzes, a popular dance that he elevated from...

Venice is one of the most famous of all cities, its buildings reflecting its former commercial importance and wealth. It's canals and its position at the head of the Adriatic have given it a unique character that has continued to attract visitors. The music here included is either associated directly with Venice or familiar there in the heyday of the Serenissima. It includes music by the Venetian composer Vivaldi and Marcello, and by Domenico Scarlatti,...