The 101 Most Essential Classical Music Pieces Ever

Barber: Adagio For Strings, Op. 11/2 (Live)

de Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, David Zinman

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

de Wiener Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado

Debussy: Deux Arabesques L. 66 - No. 1 Andante con moto

de Zoltán Kocsis

Wagner: Die Walküre, WWV 86B - Concert version / Act 3 - The Ride Of The Valkyries

de London Symphony Orchestra, Leopold Stokowski

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

de Czech Philharmonic, Leopold Stokowski

Pachelbel: Canon in D, P. 37

de Stuttgarter Kammerorchester, Karl Münchinger

Debussy: Suite bergamasque, L.75 - 3. Clair de lune

de London Philharmonic Orchestra, Bernard Herrmann

Beethoven: Bagatelle in A Minor, WoO 59 "Für Elise" (Live)

de Vladimir Ashkenazy

Grieg: Peer Gynt, Op. 23 - Prelude to Act 4 (Morning mood)

de San Francisco Symphony, Edo de Waart

Satie: 3 Gymnopédies - No. 1, Lent et douloureux

de Pascal Rogé

Liszt: Liebesträume, S. 541 - No. 3, Oh Lieb, so lang du lieben kannst

de Jorge Bolet

J.S. Bach: Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565 - Toccata

de Daniel Chorzempa

Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake, Op. 20, TH. 12 - No. 10 Scène: Moderato

de National Philharmonic Orchestra, Richard Bonynge

Chopin: Nocturne No. 2 in E flat, Op. 9 No. 2

de Claudio Arrau

Brahms: 2 Rhapsodies Op. 79 - No. 2 In G Minor, Op. 79

de Wilhelm Kempff

Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a - 2b. Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy

de Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Sir Georg Solti

Elgar: Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 36 "Enigma" - Theme (Andante)

de Philharmonia Orchestra, Giuseppe Sinopoli

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

de Joan Sutherland, Jane Berbié, Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte‐Carlo, Richard Bonynge

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

de Wiener Staatsopernchor, Wiener Philharmoniker, Willi Boskovsky

Handel: Coronation Anthem No. 1, HWV 258 - 1. Zadok the Priest

de Choir of King's College, Cambridge, English Chamber Orchestra, Sir David Willcocks

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

de Philharmonia Orchestra, Vladimir Ashkenazy

Ravel: Boléro, M.81 (Excerpt)

de Boston Symphony Orchestra, Seiji Ozawa

Fauré: Requiem, Op. 48 - 4. Pie Jesu

de Kiri Te Kanawa, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Charles Dutoit

Verdi: Nabucco / Act 3 - "Va, pensiero" (Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves)

de Wiener Staatsopernchor, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Lamberto Gardelli

Handel: Water Music Suite No. 1 in F, HWV 348 - 5. Air

de Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra, Simon Preston

Fauré: Pavane, Op. 50

de London Philharmonic Orchestra, Bernard Herrmann

Debussy: Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune, L.86

de Timothy Hutchins, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Charles Dutoit

Giazotto: Adagio for Strings and Organ in G minor (Arr. Giazotto)

de Martin Haselböck, Stuttgarter Kammerorchester, Karl Münchinger

Elgar: Pomp and Circumstance Marches, Op. 39 - March No. 1 in D Major

de London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Georg Solti

Handel: Rinaldo, HWV 7a / Act 2 - "Lascia ch'io pianga"

de Bernadette Greevy, Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Raymond Leppard

Allegri: Miserere

de Saul Quirke, Westminster Cathedral Boys Choir, Stephen Cleobury

Handel: Solomon, HWV 67 / Act III - Sinfonia "The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba"

de The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock

Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 21 in C Major, Op. 53 "Waldstein" - II. Introduzione (Adagio molto)

de Radu Lupu

Vivaldi: Violin Concerto in F Major, Op. 8, No. 3, RV 293 "L'autunno" - 1. Allegro

de Alan Loveday, Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner

Vivaldi: Violin Concerto in E Major, Op. 8, No. 1, RV 269 "La primavera" - 1. Allegro

de Alan Loveday, Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner

Vivaldi: Violin Concerto in E Major, Op. 8, No. 1, RV 269 "La primavera" - 3. Allegro

de Alan Loveday, Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner

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

de András Schiff

R. Strauss: Also sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30, TrV 176 - Einleitung

de Wiener Philharmoniker, Lorin Maazel

Debussy: La Fille aux Cheveux de Lin (From 24 Preludes, L. 117)

de Albrecht Mayer, Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Mathias Mönius

Rossini: Il barbiere di Siviglia / Act 1 - 5. "Una voce poco fa...Io sono docile"

de Joan Sutherland, Welsh National Opera Orchestra, Richard Bonynge

Orff: Carmina Burana - 3. Cour d'amours - "In trutina"

de Lynne Dawson, San Francisco Symphony, Herbert Blomstedt

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

de London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Georg Solti

J.S. Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G, BWV 1048 - 3. Allegro

de I Musici, Maria Teresa Garatti

Debussy: Children's Corner, L. 113 - 6. Golliwogg's Cakewalk

de Pascal Rogé

Grieg: Peer Gynt, Op. 23 - In The Hall Of The Mountain King

de San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Symphony Chorus, Edo de Waart

Massenet: Méditation from Thaïs

de Nicola Benedetti, London Symphony Orchestra, Daniel Harding

Rossini: Il barbiere di Siviglia - Overture

de London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado

Debussy: Valse romantique, L. 71

de Jean-Yves Thibaudet

Mozart: Requiem in D minor, K.626 - Sequentia: Lacrimosa

de Academy of St Martin in the Fields Chorus, Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner

Mozart: Serenade in G Major, K. 525 "Eine kleine Nachtmusik" - I. Allegro

de Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner

Mozart: Serenade in G Major, K. 525 "Eine kleine Nachtmusik" - II. Romance (Andante)

de Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner

Mozart: Serenade in G Major, K. 525 "Eine kleine Nachtmusik" - IV. Rondo (Allegro)

de Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner

Mozart: Piano Sonata No. 11 in A major, K331 (Third Movement - Rondo alla turca)

de Allan Schiller

Handel: Messiah, HWV 56 / Pt. 2 - No. 42 "Hallelujah"

de John Alldis Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Karl Richter

Brahms: Hungarian Dance No. 5 in G Minor

de Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Walter Weller

Lagoya: Danses espagnolas sur les motifs de l'opéra Carmen de Georges Bizet - 2. Habanera

de Alexandre Lagoya, Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Kenneth Sillito

J.S. Bach: Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D Major, BWV 1068 - II. Air

de Münchener Bach-Orchester, Karl Richter

Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro, K. 492 - Overture

de London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Georg Solti

J.S. Bach: Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben Cantata, BWV 147 - Jesu joy of man's desiring

de Kirsten Flagstad, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Adrian Boult

Verdi: Messa da Requiem - 2b. Tuba mirum - 2c. Mors Stupebit

de Martti Talvela, Wiener Staatsopernchor, Wiener Philharmoniker, Sir Georg Solti

Verdi: Messa da Requiem - 2. Dies irae

de Ernst Senff Chor, Berliner Philharmoniker, Carlo Maria Giulini

Dvořák: Slavonic Dance in E Minor, Op. 72, No. 2 (Live)

de Czech Philharmonic, Leopold Stokowski

Rachmaninoff: Vocalise, Op. 34, No. 14

de Vladimir Ashkenazy

Dvořák: Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, Op. 95, B. 178, "From the New World" - II. Largo

de Wiener Philharmoniker, Kirill Kondrashin

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

de Vladimir Ashkenazy

Schubert: Ave Maria, D. 839

de Elly Ameling, Dalton Baldwin

Purcell: When I Am Laid In Earth (Dido's Lament)

de Elin Manahan Thomas, Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment, Harry Christophers

Holst: The Planets, Op. 32 - 2. Venus, the Bringer of Peace

de Wiener Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan

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

de Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Josef Krips

Ravel: Pavane Pour Une Infante Defunte, M.19 (Arr. for Oboe & Orchestra)

de Albrecht Mayer, Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Mathias Mönius

Dvořák: Serenade for Strings in E, Op. 22 - 1. Moderato

de Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner

Schubert: 4 Impromptus, Op. 90, D. 899 - No. 4 in A-Flat Major: Allegretto

de Mitsuko Uchida

Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64 - Act 1 - 19. Balcony Scene

de Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Vladimir Ashkenazy

Gershwin: Rhapsody In Blue

de Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, André Previn

Puccini: Turandot, SC 91, Act III - Nessun dorma!

de Luciano Pavarotti, John Alldis Choir, Wandsworth School Boys Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta

J.S. Bach: Mass In B Minor, BWV 232 / Credo - Et resurrexit

de Wiener Singverein, Herbert Von Karajan, Berliner Philharmoniker

Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 In A, Op. 92 - 2. Allegretto

de Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan

Brahms: Symphony No. 4 In E Minor, Op. 98 - 1. Allegro non troppo

de Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan

Vaughan Williams: The Lark Ascending

de Iona Brown, Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner

Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez for Guitar and Orchestra - 2. Adagio

de Pepe Romero, Christine Pendrill, Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner

Elgar: Sospiri, Op. 70

de Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner

Saint-Saëns: Le Carnaval des Animaux, R. 125 - 2. Aquarium

de Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, André Previn

Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14, H 48 - IV. Marche au supplice (Allegretto non troppo)

de Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis

Puccini: Gianni Schicchi - O mio babbino caro

de Renée Fleming, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Charles Mackerras

Satie: Gnossiennes - No. 1, Lent

de Reinbert de Leeuw

Handel: Water Music Suite No. 2 in D Major, HWV 349 - 12. Alla Hornpipe

de Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra, Simon Preston

Mendelssohn: The Hebrides, Op. 26, MWV P. 7

de Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan

J.S. Bach: Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007 - I. Prélude

de Pierre Fournier

Mendelssohn: Elijah, Op. 70, MWV A25 / Part 1 - "Help, Lord! Wilt Thou quite destroy us?"

de Edinburgh Festival Chorus, Stephen Doughty, Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment, Paul Daniel

Elgar: Cello Concerto in E Minor, Op. 85 - III. Adagio

de Julian Lloyd Webber, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Yehudi Menuhin

Saint-Saëns: Le Carnaval des Animaux, R. 125 - Le Cygne

de Anne Martindale Williams, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, André Previn

Shostakovich: The Gadfly, Op. 97 - 3. Youth (Romance)

de Erez Ofer, The Philadelphia Orchestra, Riccardo Chailly

Borodin: Prince Igor, Act II - Polovtsian Dances and Chorus

de London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Georg Solti

Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64 / Act 1 - 13. Dance Of The Knights

de Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Vladimir Ashkenazy

Liszt: Grandes études de Paganini, S. 141 - No. 3, La campanella

de Jorge Bolet

Beethoven: Polonaise in C Major, Op. 89

de Julius Katchen

Gounod: Ave Maria

de José Carreras, Michael G. Gormley, Wiener Symphoniker, Uwe Christian Harrer

Purcell: Oedipus - Music For A While, Z583

de Andreas Scholl, Accademia Bizantina, Stefano Montanari

Franck: Panis Angelicus, Op.12/V

de Luciano Pavarotti, Wandsworth School Boys Choir, National Philharmonic Orchestra, Kurt Herbert Adler

Tchaikovsky: Overture 1812, Op. 49 - Choral version, edited by Andrew Cornall - Ouverture solennelle "1812", Op. 49 - Choral Version

de St.Petersburg Chamber Choir, Leningrad Military Orchestra, St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Vladimir Ashkenazy