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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,

inagroove
whart's avatar
whart
3,394 posts
 

To me, the value of a list, particularly of classical, is particular performances by identified conductors and orchestras on specific labels. (Even more, particular pressing since stuff gets remastered). It’s like saying "chicken piccata is great" without specifying the restaurant making the dish or at least the recipe.  I won't mention the spleen sandwiches. :)

inagroove OP
292 posts
 

@whart 

Do you have any classical 'particular performances', that you would like to share, that newbies should have in their 'greatest hits' collection?

whart's avatar
whart
3,394 posts
 

You mean like this:https://forum.audiogon.com/posts/2920239

Direct link doesn't seem to work, this post in that thread is example of recent post, done various over the years in jazz, psych rock, proto M, whatever:

"uhm, I'll play. 

A record I've owned in one form or another since around 1972 is Martinon, Paris Conservatory,St-Saen, Danse Macabre- mournful violin, intense dynamic passages, cut on Decca UK- the old London Treasury US copy was a G.B. pressing, pretty cheap, often same dead wax as OG. (Of course, you could buy the Decca and spend money).

Another piece- I like a lot - EMI ASD 3483, Haendal Plays Britten, Berglund, Violin Concertos; well worth the cost of buying a clean copy from the UK (another dark, brilliant violin piece). 

Things to Come, side two, Bliss, EMI ASD will sound familiar--probably one of the great British film scores, which is a story in itself. 

I got a million of 'em. :)"

larryi
4,617 posts
 

There are lots of publications and books that offer descriptions and recommendations on specific recordings.  For example, "The Guardian" has terrific lists of recommended pieces and recordings for various periods of music.  I have a book that came out about 15 years ago that lists top pieces and recommended recordings arranged by date, starting with some somewhat ancient, pre-Renaissance music up to the 21st century.  This allows for some systematic way of sampling the best from all eras.  I think it was titled something like "The 1,000 Best Classical Music Recordings."

inagroove OP
292 posts
 

@larryi 

Thanks for the reply...  I also have several books (at least three) that contain excellent lists, along with recommended recordings.

IMO Getting someone to buy a book or go to the library (remember libraries?) is a quantum-leap for digital-babies.   (Can you imagine all of the laughter when their friends discovery they bought a book for recommendations on classical music!).

Again, I am happy to curate a list here...  To that end, I think the A.I.-generated list, above, is a decent start, but know our collective efforts would make a vast improvement.

Best,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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