A successful dinner party depends on the right mix of guests, mood, and menu. But there's another element that can make an evening memorable--the music. Just as most hosts shy away from anything too fragrant when choosing a centerpiece lest it compete with the food, you should select your music with equal care.

Nora Pouillon, a Washington, D.C., chef and owner of the renowned Restaurant Nora and Asia Nora, takes a seasonal approach to selecting music. "For a summer pool party for friends and their children, I would accompany the evening with some fun South American music," she says. "For a winter evening sit-down dinner, I like a calming, classical piano piece from Liszt or Mozart."

Keep the volume at a level where people can converse comfortably; you want guests to enjoy the food and one another's company. Also, consider changing music styles when everyone finally sits down to eat. "When dinner is served, I switch to instrumental music," says Sammy Zannino, owner of Zannino's Catering in Baltimore. "I don't want anything competing with the conversation. After all, entertaining isn't really about the music, or the food for that matter. It's about friends, family, and love."

Try matching these CDs to your menu or party's personality.

ADVENTUROUS, EXOTIC SOUNDS

1. Natacha Atlas, Ayeshteni: Hybridized Middle Eastern instrumentation and club beats.
2. Pizzicato Five, Happy End of the World: A giddy pastiche from Japanese pop superstars.
3. State of Bengal, Visual Audio: Mesmerizing sonic tour of the Indian subcontinent.
4. Thievery Corporation, The Mirror Conspiracy: Intoxicating rhythms incorporating lush Brazilian percussion, Indian sitars, and more.

CLASSICS FOR ANY CROWD

1. Nicola Conte, Bossa per Due: A melange of beat jazz and bossa nova.
2. Tom Jones, The Legends Collection: Campy combination for light moods.
3. Ennio Marconi, RMX: Remixes of Italian movie soundtracks.
4. Sade, Lovers Rock: Sultry stylings for any event.

FRENCH REVOLUTIONS

1. Air, Moon Safari: Clever beats, sexy wisps of songs.
2. Charles Aznavour, 2000: Classics from the late, great French statesman of song.
3. Jacques Brel, Jacques Brel: French torch songs with a Belgian twist.
4. Dimitri from Paris, Sacrebleu: Superstar French DJ mixes a potent cocktail.

SOPHISTICATE'S CHOICE

1. Tony Bennett, All-Time Greatest Hits: A collection of standards by a legendary crooner.
2. Miles Davis, Kind of Blue: The definition of modern jazz.
3. Stan Getz and Joćo Gilberto, Getz/Gilberto: Breezy and elegant.
4. Mozart, Great Piano Concertos: Dynamic performances to mirror social interactions.