We have listed a selection of his favourite discs:

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Verdi: Falstaff / Karajan, Gobbi, Alva, Panerai, Moffo, etc.
Conducted by Herbert von Karajan, and with Tito Gobbi in the title role, this recording of Verdi's Falstaff is described by Paul as 'a glorious record and a glorious performance'.

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Mahler: Symphonie no 10 / Simon Rattle, Bournemouth SO.
Whilst it is very difficult to choose just one of Mahler's works to include as a favourite recording, Paul has selected the 10th Symphony, with it's beautiful adagio first movement, the only movement that was in fact entirely scored by Mahler.

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Svjatoslav Richter in Prague - Schumann: Studies Op 13, etc.
Paul reveals that he doesn't generally listen to piano records ... for obvious reasons, but says that he has learnt more from Svjatoslav Richter than any other pianist. He describes Richter's recordings of Schumann as 'absolutely second to none', and has chosen the Fantasie for Piano in C major, Op. 17 as one of his favourite recordings.

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The Fabulous Victoria de los Angeles.
The next work Paul has chosen is by Maurice Ravel, one of his 'all time favourite composers'. Representing Ravel's deeply dark sensuous side, the recording of Sheherazade, sung by Victoria de los Angeles is a work that has given him immense pleasure over the years.

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Messiaen par lui-meme.
Paul has understandably included a work by Messiaen, choosing Messiaen's first published work, Le banquet celeste (The Celestial Banquet), written for organ. This recording includes most of Messiaen's organ music, and features Messiaen on the organ in La Trinité church in Paris.

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Takemitsu: Quotation of Dream, etc.
Having recorded works by Takemitsu, it is not surprising that Paul lists him as one of his favourite composers. Of his style, Paul says 'no composer is more passionately involved with and inspired by nature than Takemitsu', and with titles such as Twill by Twilight and Day Signal: Signals from Heaven I, this Gramaphone Award winning recording with Oliver Knussen and the London Sinfonietta is certainly representative of his style.

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Debussy: Orchestral Music / Haitink, van Beinum.
Rounding off this selection of favourite works are Debussy's Nocturnes. Debussy was one of the first composers that Paul responded to, and in fact has never left the forefront of his attention. The recording includes many of Debussy's orchestral works, and this version of the Nocturnes is considered by many to be one of the finest recordings ever made.

•  Watch footage of Paul Crossley talking about his other favourite composers and compositions.