The 50 Most Essential Classical Music Pieces Ever

The Four Seasons: Spring, Violin Concerto in E Major, RV 269, Op. 8 No. 1 : Vivaldi: The Four Seasons: Spring, Violin Concerto in E Major, RV 269, Op. 8 No. 1: I. Allegro

Janine Jansen

Chopin: Nocturne No. 2 in E-Flat Major, Op. 9 No. 2

Vladimir Ashkenazy

Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46 : Grieg: Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46: I. Morning Mood (Recorded 1982)

Berliner Philharmoniker

Also sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30, TrV 176 : R. Strauss: Also sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30, TrV 176: I. Prelude (Sonnenaufgang)

Berliner Philharmoniker

Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67 : Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67: I. Allegro con brio

Wiener Philharmoniker

Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 16 : Grieg: Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 16: I. Allegro molto moderato

Stephen Kovacevich

Die Walküre, WWV 86B / Act 3 : Die Walküre, WWV 86B / Act 3: "Hojotoho! Hojotoho!"...Ride Of The Valkyries

Birgit Nilsson

Swan Lake, Op. 20 (Mariinsky Version), Act I : Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake, Op. 20 (Mariinsky Version), Act I: No. 10, Scene. Moderato

Mariinsky Orchestra

Beethoven: Für Elise, Bagatelle in A Minor, WoO 59

Vladimir Ashkenazy

Suite bergamasque, CD 82 : Debussy: Suite bergamasque, CD 82: III. Clair de lune

Pascal Rogé

Symphony No. 9 In D Minor, Op. 125 - "Choral" : Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 In D Minor, Op. 125 - "Choral": 4. Finale (Presto - Allegro assai)

Anja Harteros

Canon and Gigue in D Major, P. 37 : Pachelbel: Canon and Gigue in D Major, P. 37: Canon in D Major, P. 37/1 (Orch. Seiffert) (Recorded 1983)

Frank Maus

Barber: Adagio for Strings, Op. 11

London Symphony Orchestra

Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 27 No. 2 "Moonlight Sonata" : Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 27 No. 2 "Moonlight Sonata": I. Adagio sostenuto

Vladimir Ashkenazy

Cavalleria rusticana : Mascagni: Cavalleria rusticana: Intermezzo Sinfonico

Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino

Turandot, Act III : Puccini: Turandot, Act III: Nessun dorma!

Luciano Pavarotti

Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 36 "Enigma" : Elgar: Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 36 "Enigma": 9. Nimrod (Adagio)

Los Angeles Philharmonic

Eine kleine Nachtmusik, K. 525 : Mozart: Eine kleine Nachtmusik, K. 525: I. Allegro

Wiener Philharmoniker

I giorni : Einaudi: I giorni: I giorni

Daniel Hope

Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D Major, BWV 1068 : J.S. Bach: Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D Major, BWV 1068: II. Air "on the G String"

David Bell

The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a : Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a: IIb. Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy

Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G, BWV 1048 : J.S. Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G, BWV 1048: 1. (Allegro)

I Musici

Liszt: Liebestraum No. 3 in A-Flat Major, S. 541/3

Jorge Bolet

Schubert: Ave Maria, D. 839

Renée Fleming

Chants d'Auvergne : Canteloube: Chants d'Auvergne: 2. Bailero

Renée Fleming

J. Strauss II: An der schönen blauen Donau, Op. 314

Wiener Philharmoniker

Symphony No. 40 in G Minor, K. 550 : Mozart: Symphony No. 40 in G Minor, K. 550: 1. Molto allegro

Staatskapelle Dresden

Rigoletto, Act III : Verdi: Rigoletto, Act III: La donna è mobile

Luciano Pavarotti

Les Contes d'Hoffmann / Act 2 : Offenbach: Les Contes d'Hoffmann / Act 2: "Belle nuit, ô nuit d'amour"

Joan Sutherland

Fauré: Pavane, Op. 50

Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra

Carmen / Act 1 : Bizet: Carmen / Act 1: "Mais nous ne voyons pas la Carmencita" - "L'amour est un oiseau rebelle"

Tatiana Troyanos

Lakmé / Act 1 : Delibes: Lakmé / Act 1: "Viens, Mallika, ... Dôme épais"

Joan Sutherland

Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture, Op. 49

Minnesota Orchestra

シミンノタメノファンファーレ : Copland: Fanfare for the Common Man

Los Angeles Philharmonic

Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 18 : Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 18: II. Adagio sostenuto (Live)

Lang Lang

Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 : J.S. Bach: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Aria da Capo

András Schiff

ミッツノジムノペディ : Satie: Gymnopédie No. 1. Lent et douloureux

Pascal Rogé

Toccata & Fugue in D Minor, BWV 565 : J.S. Bach: Toccata & Fugue in D Minor, BWV 565: I. Toccata

Simon Preston

Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46 : Grieg: Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46: IV. In the Hall of the Mountain King (Recorded 1982)

Berliner Philharmoniker

Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, Op. 95 "From the New World" : Dvořák: Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, Op. 95 "From the New World": 2. Largo

Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra

The Tale Of Tsar Saltan : Rimsky-Korsakov: The Tale Of Tsar Saltan: 3. The Flight Of The Bumble-Bee

Philharmonia Orchestra

John Williams: Main Theme (From "Schindler's List")

Nicola Benedetti

Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major Op. 73 -"Emperor" : Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major Op. 73 -"Emperor": 1. Allegro (Live In Bochum/2007)

Daniel Barenboim

Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue (Orch. Grofé)

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

Allegri: Miserere

The Sixteen

The Planets, Op. 32 : Holst: The Planets, Op. 32: 4. Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity

London Philharmonic Orchestra

Messiah, HWV 56, Pt. 2 : Handel: Messiah, HWV 56, Pt. 2: No. 44, Chorus. Hallelujah, for the Lord God Omnipotent Reigneth

Academy of St Martin in the Fields Chorus

Carmina Burana : Orff: Carmina Burana: I. O fortuna

Brighton Festival Chorus

Thaïs / Acte Deux : Massenet: Thaïs / Acte Deux: Méditation religieuse

Nigel Kennedy

Symphony No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 78 "Organ Symphony" : Saint-Saëns: Symphony No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 78 "Organ Symphony": IIb. Maestoso – Allegro

Peter Hurford