Your top ten favourites in classical music.

[Boatbuilder]

As mentioned in another topic....

Do you have a 'top ten' in classical music? If so then why not share it here.

Here's mine:

1. Concerto di Aranjuez – Joaquín Rodrigo
2. Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves – Giuseppe Verdi
3. 'Intermezzo' from Cavalleria Rusticana – Pietro Mascagni
4. 'John Dunbar Theme' from Dances With Wolves – John Barry
5. 'Romance' from The Gadfly – Dmitri Shostakovich
6. Symphony No. 5 in C-minor – Ludwig van Beethoven
7. ‘March of the Toreadors’ from Carmen – Georges Bizet
8. Fantasía para un gentilhombre – Joaquin Rodrigo
9. ‘Finale’ from Once Upon a Time in the West – Ennio Morricone
10. Pomp & Circumstance March No.1 - Edward Elgar

[Machupicchu14]

Lovely to see Joaquín Rodrigo making an appearance twice in your list John, of favorite classic music pieces! But I must agree, Concierto de Aranjuez is truly one of the most beautiful pieces ever composed I'd say. Makes me shed some tears and sends a shiver down my spine everytime I listen to it. It definitely is breathtaking! It's also so impressive to know how much Rodrigo was capable of achieving even despite his blindness.

I have to say making a choice of just 10 of my favorite ones will be quite the challenge for me! It's so difficult to narrow it down!

[Barnard]

I’ve been having a think and have chosen my Top Ten.

1 Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana by Mascagni.
2 Canon in D Major by Pachelbel.
3 Aria Cio-Cio-San from Madame Butterfly by Puccini.
4 Jupiter from the Planets Suite by Holst.
5 Violin Concerto no. one by Bruch.
6 Romance from The Gadfly by Shostakovich.
7 Vilja from the Merry Widow by Lehar.
8 Theme from the New World Symphony by Dvorak.
9 Swan Theme from Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky.
10 William Tell Overture by Rossini.

[Barnard]

I rather hoped that a few people would have listed their favourite classical music.

[Machupicchu14]

It took me some time to finally compile my top ten favourites but here they are!

1. Requiem in D minor by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
2. Piano Concerto No.1 by Piotr Ilych Tchaikovsky
3. Concierto de Aranjuez by Joaquín Rodrigo
4. The Second Waltz by Dmitri Shostakovich
5. Ave Maria by Franz Schubert
6. Die Fledermaus Overture by Johann Strauss II
7. Peer Gynt Suite No.1 by Edvard Grieg
8. Non più andrai - The Marriage of Figaro by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
9. Swan Lake Op. 20 by Piotr Ilych Tchaikovsky
10. Air on the G string by Johann Sebastian Bach

[Barnard]

A good selection, Maria Esther.
I don’t know the Second Waltz by Shostakovich. I’ll listen to a recording of it.

[Boodi 2]

I have been so busy with work that I have not had time to make my list of favourite classical music, of which I am a great 'fan. However, I note that some of my favourites have already been mentioned, including The New World Symphony by Antonin Dvorak, Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss II, The Peer Gynt Suite by Edvard Grieg, The Planet Suite by Gustav Holst and Concierto de Aranjuez by Joaquín Rodrigo.
In addition, I also especially like:
Bolero by Maurice Ravel,
Finlandia by Jean Sibelius,
The Rosenkavalier by Richard Strauss,
Ma Vlast by Bedrich Smetana,
The Hary Janos Suite and Dances of Galanta by Zoltan Kodaly,
Carmina Burana by Carl Orff
as well as most Italian opera, most of the works by Claude Debussy and also the work of Aaron Copeland!!!!

[Bertie]

I only recently noticed this thread.

It's really tough to limit it to 10 as there's not a lot separating many pieces that I love. But I'll give it a go, and maybe limiting myself to one piece per composer might help...

Symphony no. 40 - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Peer Gynt (Morning) - Edvard Grieg
Canon in D Major - Johann Pachelbel
Symphony no. 5 - Ludwig van Beethoven
Bolero - Maurice Ravel
Planets Suite (Mars & Jupiter) - Gustav Holst
Waltz of the Flowers - Peter Tchaikovsky
Lieutenant Kije: Troika - Sergei Prokofiev
Serenade for Strings - Joseph Haydn
Symphony No.9 The New World - Antonin Dvorak

That leaves out so many other pieces that I love from those composers, and doesn't even include any from the likes of Handel, Chopin, Bach, Vivaldi, Elgar...

[Barnard]

A good selection, Bertie.
A couple of them are in my list.

[Boatbuilder]

Good to see your list (or should that be 'Liszt' ) Bertie. Maybe some others will be forthcoming.

[Barnard]

I always thought that Classical Music lists was a brilliant idea.

[Boodi 2]

Agreed!

[Viv of Ginger Pop]

My ignorance of who wrote what is embarrassing

However, on your recommendations I've just listened to Concerto di Aranjuez by Joaquín Rodrigo, and of course I do know it. However, I thought it was three different pieces

Here's a lovely rendition
https://www.google.com/search?client=fi ... oxH-7VklBI

[tix]

The 'Top Ten Favourites' in classical music is a welcome diversion. Many of the titles are unfamiliar but when brought up some are recognized.

Others are not and 'Dances With Wolves' is an example. Thought I knew that one (but didn't) and it turned out to be very pleasant on the ear.

'Fantasia Para Un Gentilhombre' was another that hadn't been heard before today.

'Romance' was recalled but the title had been unknown ..... and presumably every man, woman and child has experienced 'Symphony No. 5 In C Minor' and 'March of the Toreadors' at some stage in their lives.

'Once Upon a Time in the West' is a well-loved theme and listened to quite regularly because of the nostalgia conjured up. I worked as an extra in that famous cowboy movie shot near Almeria and can well remember the beautiful Spanish scenery on display.

At one stage when surrounded by a handful of buckaroos Claudia Cardinale poured me a glass of wine.

**********************

Say No More!

[Boatbuilder]

Thanks tix, for your nostalgic recollection of 'Once Upon a Time in the West'. I can understand how it must conjure up fond memories for you - it must have been a great experience. The film is one of my all-time favourites and I have numerous copies in different formats -VHS, DVD and Blu-Ray, although I can't watch the VHS's any more. The first copy I bought in VHS was in 4:3 format but later when widescreen TV came out I bought it in 16:9. They don't seem to have yet upgraded the Blu-Ray version to 4K, but I can't fault the quality of the Blu-Ray. I must remember to try and guess which one is you next time I watch it, as I can recall the scene I think you refer to.