A Good List of 'Top' Classical Pieces

@bbarten 

bbarten recently posted a request for top classical pieces.  To that end, I will offer two all-time greats:

     a. Beethoven's 5th Symphony - conducted by Carlos Klieber with the Wiener Philharmoniker

     b. Beethoven's 9th  Symphony - conducted by William Furtwangler, live 1942 with the Berliner Philharmonisches Orchester

Also, from the world of A.I... a solid starters-list

1. Vivaldi – The Four Seasons, “Spring”: Allegro

2. Chopin – Nocturne No. 2 in E‑flat major, Op. 9 No. 2

3. Grieg – Peer Gynt Suite No. 1: Morning Mood

4. Richard Strauss – Also sprach Zarathustra: Prelude (Sunrise)

5. Beethoven – Symphony No. 5: Allegro con brio

6. Grieg – Piano Concerto in A minor: Allegro molto moderato

7. Wagner – Die Walküre: Ride of the Valkyries

8. Tchaikovsky – Swan Lake: Scene (Moderato)

9. Beethoven – Bagatelle in A minor (“Für Elise”)

10. Debussy – Suite bergamasque: Clair de lune

11. Beethoven – Symphony No. 9 (“Choral”): Finale

12. Pachelbel – Canon in D

13. Barber – Adagio for Strings

14. Beethoven – Piano Sonata No. 14 (“Moonlight”): Adagio sostenuto

15. Mascagni – Cavalleria rusticana: Intermezzo

16. Puccini – Turandot: Nessun dorma

17. Elgar – Enigma Variations: Nimrod

18. Mozart – Eine kleine Nachtmusik: Allegro

19. Einaudi – I giorni

20. Bach – Orchestral Suite No. 3: Air on the G String

21. Tchaikovsky – The Nutcracker: Dance of the Sugar‑Plum Fairy

22. Bach – Brandenburg Concerto No. 3: Allegro

23. Liszt – Liebestraum No. 3

24. Schubert – Ave Maria

25. Canteloube – Chants d’Auvergne: Bailero

26. Tchaikovsky – Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a: Waltz of the Flowers

27. Bach – Concerto for 2 Violins in D minor, BWV 1043: Vivace

28. Mozart – Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K. 550: Allegro molto

29. Liszt – Liebestraum No. 3

30. Bach – Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G major, BWV 1048: Allegro

31. Massenet – Thaïs: Méditation

32. Dvořák – Symphony No. 9 “From the New World”: Largo

33. Strauss II – The Blue Danube

34. Brahms – Hungarian Dance No. 5

35. Satie – Gymnopédie No. 1

36. Mozart – Requiem: Lacrimosa

37. Beethoven – Für Elise

38. Elgar – Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1

39. Bizet – Carmen: Habanera

40. Beethoven – Symphony No. 9: Ode to Joy (excerpt)

41. Offenbach – Barcarolle (from The Tales of Hoffmann)

42. Giazotto (after Albinoni) – Adagio in G minor

43. Mozart – Eine kleine Nachtmusik: Allegro

44. Rossini – The Barber of Seville: Overture

45. Beethoven – Moonlight Sonata: Adagio sostenuto

46. Smetana – Má vlast: Vltava (The Moldau)

47. Boccherini – Minuet (String Quintet in E major)

48. Mozart – Symphony No. 40 (additional movement)

49. Holst – The Planets: Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity

50. Orff – Carmina Burana: O Fortuna

I hope this list, like many other similar lists, provides insight and a place to start.

Did they miss any of YOUR favorites?  

Do you have a MUST-HAVE recording of these chestnuts?

Cheers,