Classical Dinner Party

When it comes to a classical dinner party, it never hurts to kick off with a little Mozart. Sir Neville Marriner's recording of the "Serenade in G, K. 525: I. Allegro" from Eine Kleine Nachtmusik ("A Little Night Music") has just enough brio to go along with the brie as people are circulating. Tres hip.

Any wombat can roll out Ravel's "Bolero" (and by the way, it's a little too obvious if this is dinner for two), but heads will definitely nod approvingly when the first strains of his "Ma mere l'oye: Petit Poucet" begin wafting out of your stereo. Just as the main course ends, soothing Baroque sounds from Canadian Brass will ease digestion.

Here, on the dessert trolley in our Essential Classical restaurant, you'll find all manner of confections, including the caramel-smooth guitar of Liona Boyd, the complex super-looping flavours of Steve Reich's "New York Counterpoint: Slow," and the perfectly iced "Holberg Suite, Op 40: III" by Edvard Grieg. Your taste, friends, is impeccable.

There are a couple of reasons why you might want a nice Classical music playlist for a dinner party: 1) you're trying to impress your guest(s), 2) you're trying to make your guest(s) think you have a level of culture or sophistication you don't really have. No problem — your secret's safe with us. Oh, there's also a third reason: you actually like the music and don't want to spend the time or effort putting all this together, so you're letting us do the heavy lifting. It's OK — your secret is still safe with us. This music has been impressing people for hundreds of years; we're positive it'll work for you. Just don't use the fish fork when you eat the soufflé.