Classical Top Five

4 pioneers...
Kin to saying the 4 horsemen of the apocalypse set the table for the barechested q'anon shaman. 

SCHUBERT

And  Brahms is far ahead of Mahler, unless you like hearing dogs chasing their tales.

Tchaikovsky. E-flat/7th Symphony has been widely overlooked.

J.S. Bach is number 1.

2 and 3 are Beethoven and Schubert or Schubert and Beethoven.  Listen to Schubert's Lieder and piano sonatas then explain to me how he is not deserving of this ranking.

4 and 5 are Brahms and Haydn or Haydn and Brahms.

You can fill out a top10 with Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Mendelssohn, Schutz, and Mahler in whatever order suits you.  

I'd develop a separate list of post romantics.   Call me crazy, but Benjamin Britten might be at the top of that list for me.  Exquisitely crafted music.

I love my Benjamin Britten. He was also a heck of a fine conductor. His recordings of Mozart's Symphonies 25 & 29 on London Decca are constantly on my 'table. String tone to die for, as well.