Written to commemorate HM Queen Elizabeth’s 95th birthday, Debbie Wiseman’s The Music of Kings & Queens celebrates 12 monarchs who helped mold the country the Queen has ruled over since 1952. Actors Helen Mirren and Damian Lewis narrate with their customary authority, while Wiseman—following in the footsteps of composers such as William Walton—writes regal music that pushes all the right buttons. But it also conveys her distinctive originality. The National Symphony Orchestra plays stylishly, with British violinist Jack Liebeck heard to great effect as one of the soloists. This may be music about big personalities, but its charm lies in its intimacy as much as its grand gestures.