Flatmates out? Check.  Table for two set?  Check.  Mood lighting? Check.  One thing’s missing: music.  An ever-nightmarish task remains: choosing an appropriate playlist for a romantic evening.  On February the 14th there is even more room for error as we collectively balk under the pressure of money-grabbing retailers intent on turning love into a commodity, and risk becoming appallingly clichéd.

To quote Lisa Simpson, "Romance is dead – it was acquired in a hostile takeover by Hallmark and Disney, homogenised, and sold off piece by piece".  Despite this, the day might retain a shred of integrity if accompanied by the soothing strains of classical music.  So whether your plans for tonight involve you and a special someone, or you’re forgoing the WhyNot traffic light party in favour of a night in cuddling your cats ("don’t wanna boyfriend anyway"), have a listen to this selection of the very best of classical romantic gems.  Even on what is undoubtedly the least romantic day of the entire year, they never fail to impress.   V-day aside, this is for anyone more into Grieg than Gaga; Chopin than Chipmunk.  And don’t even mention Adele.

1.      Prelude in D Major (Richter) – Sergei Rachmaninoff

2.      Piano Concerto no.2, Movement II (Larghetto) – Frederic Chopin

3.      Aprés un Rêve (for cello) – Gabriel Fauré

4.      Un Sospiro – Franz Liszt

5.      Le Cygne (Carnival of the Animals) – Camille Saint-Saens

6.      Piano Concerto no. 2, movement II (Andante) – Dmitri Shostakovich

7.       Serenade For Strings, Elegie: Larghetto Elegiac – Pytor Tchaikovsky

8.       Violin Concerto, Movement 2 (Adagio) – Felix Mendelssohn

9.       ‘E Lucevan Le Stelle’ (from Tosca, sung by Jonas Kaufmann) – Giacomo Puccini

10.   Piano Sonata in B flat (Brendel) – Franz Schubert

Heidi Lough