Timelessly beautiful classical masterpieces. Recommended classical music.
A showcase of stunningly beautiful classics, all at once!
There are so many beautiful pieces in classical music, aren’t there?
This time, I’ve selected works that are especially beautiful—“classics that are just too beautiful.”
It’s a lineup of masterpieces that have been passed down through a long history.
When you think of beautiful classical music, many people imagine something calm and refreshing, but I’ve also picked pieces not only for solo piano but also for voice and full orchestra.
Now then, please take your time and enjoy!
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Masterpieces of Classical Music That Are Too Beautiful. Recommended Classical Music (21–30)
In the ForestAlbert Ketèlbey
How about a piano piece that conjures up a tranquil forest scene with shafts of sunlight filtering through the trees? This work by Albert Ketèlbey brings a sense of calm, as if you’re taking a deep breath in the woods.
The piano’s gentle melody seems to depict the whisper of the trees and the chirping of little birds.
Included in the piano collection “A Dream Picture,” it is sometimes described as “cute” for its charm.
Rosemary Tuck’s 1993 recording is also deeply moving.
In just three to four minutes, it distills the breath of nature.
It’s perfect for forgetting the heat, spending a quiet moment, or accompanying your reading.
Listen to this piece, and you’ll surely feel at peace.
Pavane for a Dead PrincessJoseph-Maurice Ravel
It is a piano piece composed by the French composer Maurice Ravel.
More than ten years after its composition, Ravel himself arranged it for orchestra.
The model for the “dead princess” is said to be the 17th-century Spanish Infanta Margarita.
Ravel is believed to have seen her portrait in the Louvre Museum and drawn inspiration from it.
He described the piece as “a dance such as a little princess might have danced at the Spanish court in former times.” Within its nostalgic, sentimental mood that seems to long for a bygone era, one can glimpse a light, dance-like melody.
Masterpieces of Classical Music Too Beautiful for Words: Recommended Classical Pieces (31–40)
“Lacrimosa (Day of Tears)” from the RequiemWolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Requiem, the last piece Mozart left behind.
He died while composing the “Dies Irae,” leaving his own composition unfinished; the remaining sections were written and completed by his pupil.
It is said that when the commission for the Requiem arrived, Mozart wrote in a letter, “This piece is my own requiem,” leading some to describe the commissioner as a “messenger from the realm of the dead.” A Requiem is not a song to soothe the souls of the deceased, but a prayer asking that the punishment the dead receive from God after death be lightened, and that they be granted eternal light.
Adagio for Strings and OrganTomaso Albinoni
A signature work by the Italian composer Albinoni, who was active during the Baroque era.
The Adagio in G Minor, with its poignantly sentimental melody for organ and strings, is a masterpiece that has been used as a theme in numerous films and television programs.
In the film The Trial, released in the 1960s, it left a vivid impression on viewers, and the piece became a major hit alongside the film’s release.
It is a work that makes excellent use of Baroque musical characteristics, such as a low, heartbeat-like rhythm and an antiphonal interplay of melodies that resembles a dialogue.
Rondo CapricciosoCamille Saint-Saëns
This piece was composed for the Spanish violinist Pablo de Sarasate, and as a result it incorporates Spanish-style elements.
It begins with a gentle, dreamlike atmosphere and then moves into a passionate rondo.
The second half becomes increasingly dazzling, racing all the way to the end—an exhilarating work.
“Capriccioso” means “capricious,” and the constantly shifting scenes in the music convey that sense of whimsy.
Enigma Variations ~ NimrodEdward Elgar
One of the signature works by British composer Edward Elgar—also known for “Pomp and Circumstance”—is his orchestral set of variations, the Enigma Variations.
The piece is notable for its unique origins: it was inspired by Elgar’s interactions with his friends and grew out of an improvisation.
The Ninth Variation, dedicated to deep friendship, begins with a quiet string harmony and gradually builds to a grand emotional climax that deeply moves listeners.
This solemn and beautiful melody has been cherished as music emblematic of ceremony and visual storytelling, having been performed at the 1997 funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, and quoted in the film Dunkirk.
Its dignified, reverent tone makes it an ideal choice for focused work or as calming nighttime background music.
Concerto for Two Violins, BWV 1043J.S.Bach
This piece features two solo violins.
The two violins are on equal footing, continually imitating each other as they unfold the performance.
A musical dialogue emerges—one poses a question, the other responds, and then the first replies again—creating a refined and dignified concerto.
The work is in three movements: the first clearly showcases the dialogue form by alternating between tutti sections and passages centered on the two soloists; the second lets an emotional melody flow seamlessly; and the third builds tension, developing into thrilling music.