The 50 Greatest Pieces of Classical Music

CD1

1 ORFF Carmina Burana – O Fortuna 2.42

London Philharmonic Choir · London Philharmonic Orchestra/David Parry

Based on a medieval poem in Latin on the perils of fate, the opening movement to Carl Orff’s (1895–1982) magnum opus Carmina Burana has become one the most famous choral overtures in history. Its simple yet powerful melody has become a staple in setting the mood for cataclysmic depictions.

2 BACH Orchestral Suite No.3 – Air 4.14

London Philharmonic Orchestra/David Parry

There are few indeed who wouldn’t recognise the calm and tranquil melody of this piece, which, in all its simplicity and elegance, has inspired countless other artists in all fields. Something Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) probably couldn’t even have dreamt of while writing his famous air.

3 GRIEG Peer Gynt Suite No.1 – Morning Mood 3.44

London Philharmonic Orchestra/David Parry

One might question if there is a better-known musical portrayal of the calm dawn, its rising sun and the awakening of the birds, than that of the first movement in Peer Gynt by Norwegian Romantic composer Edvard Grieg (1843–1907).

4 BEETHOVEN Symphony No.5 “Fate” – Allegro con brio 7.28

London Philharmonic Orchestra/David Parry

Perhaps one of the single most famous musical introductions in history, the first movement of Ludwig van Beethoven’s (1770–1827) Fifth Symphony has come to personify Western classical music as a whole. Written during a troubled and stormy period in Beethoven’s life, when he struggled with increasing deafness, and Europe was caught up in the Napoleonic Wars, it’s still a powerful testament to mankind’s darker side.

5 CHOPIN Nocturne in E flat, Op.9 No.2 4.53

Finghin Collins piano

In 1832 Polish composer Frédéric Chopin (1810–1849) completed his Op.9 nocturnes of which the second, in E flat major, remains an undying classic of the piano repertoire. The sweeping melancholy of the beginning leading to the passionate ending may force a tear from even the most cold-hearted.

6 PACHELBEL Canon in D 3.30

London Philharmonic Orchestra/David Parry

In spite of his huge output Johann Pachelbel (1653–1706) is primarily known by today’s classical music listeners as the composer behind one particular piece of celebrated music: the Canon in D major. Beloved as a wedding march and concert piece alike, its elegant melodies and ingenious form are still enchanting audiences more than 300 years after its creation.

7 BARBER Adagio for Strings 8.22

London Philharmonic Orchestra/David Parry

Few classical pieces of the 20th century have reached the level of popularity of American composer Samuel Barber’s (1910–1981) Adagio for Strings. It is simply one of the most beautiful elegies ever written.

8 VIVALDI The Four Seasons – “Spring” – Allegro 3.12

Saint Petersburg Radio and TV Symphony Orchestra/Stanislav Gorkovenko

Since it was written in 1725, Antonio Vivaldi’s (1678–1741) famous group of four violin concertos, Le Quattro Stagioni, remains one of the most beloved musical works in history. Their elegant portrayals of the passing of the seasons become an enchanting reflection upon life’s evanescence in an ever changing world.

9 WAGNER Die Walküre – The Ride of the Valkyries 5.11

London Philharmonic Orchestra/David Parry

Written in 1854 as part of Richard Wagner’s (1813–1883) immense opera cycle Der Ring des Nibelungen, this famous orchestral piece describes the sinister and stormy gathering of the eight Valkyrie sisters, preparing to take the battle’s dead warriors to Valhalla.

10 DEBUSSY Suite Bergamasque – Clair de Lune 5.13

Finghin Collins piano

French impressionist composer Claude Debussy (1862–1918) wrote his illustrious piano work Suite Bergamasque in 1888, basing the music on a poem by Paul Verlaine. The third movement, “Clair de Lune” (Moonlight), describes the clear sky on a perfect cloudless night, with the moon pouring its crystalline beams onto the landscape below.

11 VERDI Nabucco – Va’, pensiero, sull’ali dorate (Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves) 4.59

London Philharmonic Choir · London Chorus · London Philharmonic Orchestra/David Parry

From Giuseppe Verdi’s (1813–1901) enormously popular opera Nabucco, about the struggles of the Jewish people exiled from Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar, the Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves is undoubtedly one the most beloved opera choruses ever written, perhaps due to the title which translates to “Fly, thought, on wings of gold”.

12 HOLST The Planets – Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity 7.45

London Philharmonic Orchestra/David Parry

Gustav Holst’s (1874–1934) most famous work, the monumental orchestral suite The Planets, has inspired composers of film and art music ever since its creation in 1916. The Jupiter movement remains part of the core of British classical music.

13 DVOŘÁK Symphony No.9 “From the New World” – Largo 12.49

London Philharmonic Orchestra/David Parry

Commonly known as the “New World” Symphony, this masterpiece was written by Antonin Dvořák (1841–1904) as he travelled in the USA in the years 1892 to 1895. He was primarily inspired by the culture of the Native Americans to create what is today an everlasting classic.

CD2

1 BACH Brandenburg Concerto No.3 – Allegro 5.44

London Philharmonic Orchestra/David Parry

The six Brandenburg Concertos by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) are by many regarded as the foremost compositions of baroque music owing to their musical elegance and structural flawlessness. The third concerto, in G major, has gained popularity unparalleled by the others.

2 MOZART Piano Concerto No.21 – Andante 7.17

Finghin Collins piano · London Philharmonic Orchestra/David Parry

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791) wrote this his most popular piano concerto in 1785. The bright and soothing second movement, with its flowing triplets in the bass and elegant melody, inspires many scenic pictures, perhaps the most famous being the 1967 film Elvira Madigan, after which the movement is often named.

3 BRAHMS Hungarian Dance No.5 2.38

London Philharmonic Orchestra/David Parry

While Johannes Brahms (1833–1897) didn’t consider many of these folkmusic-inspired works to be his own original compositions, his 21 Hungarian Dances have reached further in popularity than anything else he wrote. The fast-paced and energetic Dance No.5 in G minor in particular has enjoyed great success in concert halls.

4 MASSENET Méditation from Thaïs 5.01

Pieter Schoeman violin · London Philharmonic Orchestra/David Parry

Unquestionably the single most popular piece by French composer Jules Massenet (1842–1912), this famous Méditation for violin and orchestra was written as an intermezzo for his opera Thaïs in 1894. The opera tells the slightly erotic story of the deeply religious monk Athanaël and the courtesan Thaïs, both living in Egypt under Greek occupation.

5 ELGAR Pomp and Circumstance Marches – March No.1 5.45

London Philharmonic Orchestra/David Parry

British composer Edward Elgar (1857–1934) wrote the notable First of the Pomp and Circumstance Marches in 1901. With its trio section, named “Land of Hope and Glory”, it has become a standard at graduations as well as the Proms celebration.

6 MOZART Requiem – Lacrimosa 2.49

Catherine Bremen soprano · Elisabeth Santi alto · Andrej Kucharsky tenor · Todd Donovan bass

London Philharmonic Choir · London Philharmonic Orchestra/David Parry

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s (1756–1791) final and perhaps most famous composition, his Requiem in D minor, is one that he did not live to see completed. Legend has it that he died while writing the famous Lacrimosa movement. Completed by his assistant and friend Franz Xaver Süßmayr, the work is a masterpiece without comparison.

7 J. STRAUSS II The Blue Danube 5.51

London Philharmonic Orchestra/David Parry

Without question one the most famous waltzes in history, Johann Strauss II (1825–1899) composed An der schönen blauen Donau in 1866, portraying a calm boat ride on the tranquil waves of the Danube river. Due to its immense popularity it has come to represent waltz music as a genre.

8 BEETHOVEN Bagatelle in A minor “Für Elise” 3.16

Finghin Collins piano

One of Ludwig van Beethoven’s (1770–1827) most popular pieces is, perhaps ironically, a rather simple and short, yet hauntingly beautiful bagatelle. The true identity of the Elise in its dedication remains unknown.

9 BIZET Carmen Suite No.2 – Habanera 2.12

London Philharmonic Orchestra/David Parry

This enormously famous aria from Georges Bizet’s (1838–1875) opera, here in its orchestral form, has become one of the quintessential themes of Romantic opera. It is based on a Cuban habanera by Sebastián Iradier.

10 TCHAIKOVSKY Swan Lake Suite, Op.20 – Scène 3.01

London Philharmonic Orchestra/David Parry

Perhaps the epitome of ballet as an art form, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s (1840–1893) Swan Lake has become the iconic image of balletic choreography and design. Completed in 1876, it tells the tale of the prince Siegfried, who finds a beautiful swan not knowing it’s the princess Odette, cursed by a malicious magician.

11 SATIE Gymnopédie No.1 3.40

Finghin Collins piano

French composer Erik Satie (1866–1925) had many odd habits, one of them being his frequent invention of new words. His most notable composition, the meditative 3 Gymnopédies from 1888, got their name from Satie’s labelling of his profession not as composer but as “gymnopaedist”, after the ancient Spartan Gymnopaedia celebration.

12 BEETHOVEN Symphony No.9 – Ode an die Freude (Ode to Joy) 2.32

London Philharmonic Choir · London Chorus · London Philharmonic Orchestra/David Parry

The powerful last movement of Ludwig van Beethoven’s (1770–1827) Ninth Symphony, written in 1824, is based on An die Freude by German writer Friedrich Schiller, a poem urging mankind to find peace and reciprocity in the idea of brotherhood. In Beethoven’s interpretation it became one of the most famous melodies in musical history.

CD3

1 ROSSINI The Barber of Seville – Overture 6.58

London Philharmonic Orchestra/David Parry

The opening to Gioachino Rossini’s (1792–1868) celebrated opera Il barbiere di Siviglia has become one of the most often played opera overtures the world over, well-loved for its distinctive Italian character. However, it was originally written for another opera entirely.

2 BACH/GOUNOD Ave Maria 2.34

London Philharmonic Choir · London Philharmonic Orchestra/David Parry

French Romantic composer Charles Gounod’s (1818–1893) famous meditation over Johann Sebastian Bach’s Prelude in C major from The Well-Tempered Clavier is undoubtedly one of the most beloved melodies from the Romantic era. The text is a traditional Catholic prayer to the Virgin Mary.

3 GRIEG Peer Gynt Suite No.1 – In the Hall of the Mountain King 2.43

Tbilisi Symphony Orchestra/Odysseas Dimitriadis

The final movement of Edvard Grieg’s (1843–1907) first Peer Gynt Suite, which describes the hunting of the story’s hero by the troll minions of the Mountain King, is indeed an iconic piece of music. The steady increase in both volume and tempo gives it an unparalleled sense of adventure and danger.

4 BEETHOVEN Moonlight Sonata – Adagio sostenuto 5.36

Finghin Collins piano

Upon completing his 14th Piano Sonata in 1801, Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827) could not possibly have foreseen the impact the first movement’s steady triplet rhythm and elegiac melody would have on the piano literature. The pictorial name of the sonata, however, comes not from Beethoven but from a music critic’s review describing it as “moonlight shining upon Lake Lucerne”.

5 MOZART Eine kleine Nachtmusik – Allegro 5.51

London Philharmonic Orchestra/David Parry

This music, perhaps the most popular in Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s (1756–1791) entire output, was written in 1787 in Vienna. The piece’s opening bars are rivalled only by those of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony for recognition, and its playful elegance has made the music nothing less than immortal.

6 GIAZOTTO Adagio in G minor for organ and strings 8.32

London Philharmonic Orchestra/David Parry

Despite popular belief to the contrary, not a single note of this world-famous piece of music was written by baroque composer Tomaso Albinoni (1671–1751). It was instead the Italian musicologist and Albinoni enthusiast Remo Giazotto (1910–1988). The mystery surrounding its origins only helped fuel its popularity, not to mention its heartrending beauty.

7 SIBELIUS Finlandia 8.01

London Philharmonic Orchestra/David Parry

Finnish composer Jean Sibelius (1865–1957) composed his famous symphonic poem Finlandia in 1899 as a protest against the censorship of the occupying Russian Empire. The serene hymn in its midst became Sibelius’s most famous and widespread creation.

8 BOCCHERINI String Quintet in E – Minuet 3.48

London Philharmonic Orchestra/David Parry

The “greatest hit” by Italian composer and cello virtuoso Luigi Boccherini (1743–1805) turned out to be this light and pleasant minuet from his fifth String Quintet. Revered for its elegance and soft timbre, the piece saved the memory of Boccherini from fading away after his death in poverty.

9 MOZART Symphony No.40 – Allegro molto 7.02

London Philharmonic Orchestra/David Parry

The mysterious and adventurous Symphony No.40 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791) was written during an extremely creative period in 1788, when he wrote his three last symphonies in a span of only a few weeks. Of these three, No.40 stands out as an especially treasured part of the classical canon.

10 MYERS Cavatina 3.59

Craig Ogden guitar

This beautiful evergreen by British film composer Stanley Myers (1930–1993) was originally written as the main theme for the Michael Cimino film The Deer Hunter. After its release it flourished as a standalone work and has become one of the most essential pieces for classical guitar.

11 DVOŘÁK Slavonic Dances, Op.72 – No.2 5.35

London Philharmonic Orchestra/David Parry

Hailed as one of Antonin Dvořák’s (1841–1904) great masterpieces, the Slavonic Dances of Opp. 46 and 72 were written in his early years and became his great breakthrough as a composer. One of them, the “Starodávný” in E minor, is today still regarded as a cornerstone of classical music.

12 VERDI Requiem – Dies irae & Tuba mirum 3.54

London Philharmonic Choir · London Chorus · London Philharmonic Orchestra/David Parry

Giuseppe Verdi (1813–1901) composed his famous Requiem in 1874 for the first anniversary of writer Alessandro Manzoni’s death. The illustrious Dies irae section translates as “Day of Wrath”, and it’s easy to make that association from Verdi’s dramatic and violent orchestration.

13 MAHLER Symphony No.5 – Adagietto 10.49

London Philharmonic Orchestra/David Parry

The Adagietto movement of Gustav Mahler’s (1860–1911) Fifth Symphony, written in 1902, is arguably the most famous piece of music in his entire catalogue, and for good reason. Few pieces soothe both heart and mind with the same emotional intensity.

CD4

1 SMETANA Má vlast – Vltava 11.26

London Philharmonic Orchestra/David Parry

The name Bedřich Smetana (1824–1884) is internationally famed primarily for his opera The Bartered Bride and the symphonic cycle Má vlast (My Fatherland), a musical portrayal of the scenes and history of Bohemia, his homeland. The popular second movement, Vltava (The Moldau), describes the course of the large river flowing through what today is the Czech Republic.

2 FAURÉ Pavane 5.07

London Philharmonic Orchestra/David Parry

French composer Gabriel Fauré (1845–1924) wrote his most beloved piece, the Pavane in F sharp minor, in 1887. It is regarded today as one of the finest pieces of the Belle Epoque for its soft, haunting melodies and harmonic elegance.

3 BACH Double Violin Concerto – Vivace 3.38

Pieter Schoeman, Vesselin Gellev violins · London Philharmonic Orchestra/David Parry

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) was a master of many things: composition, music theory and organ playing. Few know that he was also an accomplished violinist, yet it shouldn’t be all that surprising if one considers the masterful beauty of his violin concertos. The one for two violins excels as the most famous of these.

4 OFFENBACH The Tales of Hoffmann – Barcarolle 3.33

London Philharmonic Orchestra/David Parry

Despite being mostly associated with the light operetta genre, French composer Jacques Offenbach (1819–1880) has become a familiar name with audiences through his only real opera, Les Contes d’Hoffmann (The Tales of Hoffmann). However, the beloved Barcarolle from the third act, which brought the opera its fame, was originally written for a completely different opera.

5 MOZART The Magic Flute – Overture 6.24

London Philharmonic Orchestra/David Parry

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791) composed his most beloved opera, Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute), in 1791. Its imaginative story about the adventures of prince Tamino has since enchanted audiences around the world for centuries. The vigorous and graceful Overture is regarded as one of the finest of its kind.

6 MOZART Piano Sonata No.11 – Rondo alla Turca 3.25

Finghin Collins piano

As a testament to his time’s fascination with Turkey and Turkish culture, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791) wrote this famous Rondo alla Turca in 1783 to imitate the sound of the Ottoman military bands. This lively and elegant Turkish March inevitably made it into the Hall of Fame of piano music.

7 BIZET L’Arlésienne Suite No.1 – Prelude 6.53

London Philharmonic Orchestra/David Parry

French composer Georges Bizet (1838–1875) composed the incidental music for Alphonse Daudet’s play L’Arlésienne (The Girl from Arles) in 1872. The immortal theme of the Prelude is based on a Christmas carol, “March of the Kings”.

8 CORELLI Christmas Concerto in G minor – Allegro 2.27

London Philharmonic Orchestra/David Parry

Italian composer Arcangelo Corelli (1653–1713) wrote his famous Concerto for the Night of Christmas around 1690 on a commission from the Pope himself. The second movement’s whirling and winding violin melodies and fast cello obbligato represent a perfect example of Corelli’s genius.

9 J. STRAUSS I Radetzky March 3.05

London Philharmonic Orchestra/David Parry

This majestic and festive march has become instantly recognisable for its frequent use in gaieties such the Vienna New Year’s Concert and the British Proms celebrations. Today it remains the most widely known piece by Johann Strauss I (1804–1849), whose music was overshadowed by the popularity of works by his eldest son, Johann Strauss II.

10 RACHMANINOV Vocalise 5.50

Pieter Schoeman violin · London Philharmonic Orchestra/David Parry

Sergei Rachmaninov’s (1873–1943) celebrated Vocalise is the last of his 14 Songs, Op.34, written in 1912. Its melody is often considered to be one of the most perfect and most beautiful ever written.

11 BEETHOVEN Egmont Overture 7.57

London Philharmonic Orchestra/David Parry

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827) wrote a set of incidental music for the tragic play Egmont by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe in 1810. The dramatic and powerful overture to this music has on its own become an essential pillar in classical music.

12 HANDEL Messiah – Hallelujah Chorus 3.32

London Philharmonic Choir · London Philharmonic Orchestra/David Parry

George Frideric Handel’s (1685–1759) oratorio Messiah was written in 1741 and was to become one of Handel’s most beloved creations, telling the story of the life of Jesus Christ. The Hallelujah section personifies this work of joy and devotion to this day and remains a cornerstone in the choral repertoire.