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!
- [Masterpiece Classics] A special showcase of gem-like masterpieces so beautiful they’ll move you to tears
- A poignant classic masterpiece. Recommended classical music.
- Cool classical masterpieces. Recommended classical music.
- [Orchestra] Introducing famous and popular pieces
- Classical masterpieces. Recommended classical music.
- [Violin] A curated selection of beloved classic masterpieces and popular pieces that continue to be cherished across eras
- Masterpieces of classical piano that are too beautiful for words. A gathering of delicate tones that cleanse the soul.
- Classical Masterpieces: Recommended Works You Should Hear at Least Once
- Mendelssohn’s Masterpieces | Popular Classical Music
- Today's Classics: Recommended classical music and great performances to listen to today
- [Ultra-Advanced] Even challenging for advanced players! A curated selection of highly difficult piano pieces
- Classical Music for Summer: A Selection of Cool and Refreshing Masterpieces
- Cello Masterpieces: A comprehensive introduction to exquisite classical works that let you savor its profound timbre
Timelessly Beautiful Classical Masterpieces: Recommended Classical Music (1–10)
Étude Op. 10, No. 3 “Tristesse” (Farewell Song)Frederic Chopin
The opening melody is particularly famous—surely everyone has heard it at least once.
In Japan it is known as the “Farewell Song,” a name that took hold because the piece was used in the 1934 German film about Chopin’s life, Farewell Waltz.
Around the time this piece was composed, Chopin left his homeland of Poland and relocated to Paris.
His feelings then—overlapping dreams of success in Paris and nostalgia for the countryside—are vividly conveyed in the melody, which is warm yet at times intense.
Play of WaterJoseph-Maurice Ravel
A piece that portrays water endlessly changing its colors and expressions.
At the beginning of the score appears a line quoted from Henri de Régnier’s poem The Festival of the Water: “The river god, tickled by the water, smiles…” While the title was influenced by Liszt’s The Fountains of the Villa d’Este, Ravel seems to have aimed less at depicting the fountains themselves than at expressing the colors and sonorities of water as they shift with the play of light.
Pavane for a Dead PrincessMaurice Ravel
When people are asked to name a masterpiece of piano music, many might think of Pavane for a Dead Princess.
This work is a masterpiece by Maurice Ravel, a composer whose avant-garde musicality had a profound impact on contemporary music.
Although Ravel did not state his evaluation of this piece during his lifetime, in his later years he expressed a special affection for it.
Knowing this background can make the piece even more moving, so be sure to check it out.
Sorrow of LoveNEW!Fritz Kreisler
A masterpiece steeped in the nostalgic charm of old Vienna, where wistfulness and elegance meld: Liebesleid.
Composed by the Austrian violin virtuoso Fritz Kreisler, it stands as a quintessential work of salon music.
Infused with a bittersweet emotion beneath its sweetly singing melody, the piece survives in a recording made by Kreisler himself in May 1910, and its vocal, singing tone has not faded with time.
In 1923, George Balanchine adopted it for ballet, and it has since been cherished not only in concert halls but also in the world of stage art.
Its gently swaying waltz rhythm and graceful sonority make it perfect for calming the mind while working or for focusing on study.
Sonatina, Movement IIMaurice Ravel
Maurice Ravel is a French composer famous for works such as Boléro and Pavane for a Dead Princess.
Composed in 1903, this piece is a piano work in three movements, with the second movement in particular renowned for its beauty.
The world of sound woven from elegant dance rhythms and Ravel’s distinctive impressionistic harmonies makes you feel as if you are dreaming.
With its meticulous structure and rich expressiveness, this work is recommended not only for classical music fans but also for anyone who wants to bask in an elegant atmosphere.
Ravel himself is said to have enjoyed performing it, and it is full of allure that leaves a deep impression on listeners’ hearts.
Beautiful RosemaryNEW!Fritz Kreisler
The light, charming melody reminiscent of a Viennese ball is truly striking.
“Schön Rosmarin,” composed by the renowned Austrian violinist Fritz Kreisler, is a short piece for violin and piano that seems to paint a delicate flower in music.
Its springy, waltz-like tone naturally brightens the listener’s mood.
The score was published in 1910, and Kreisler himself recorded it in December 1912.
As one of a trilogy alongside “Liebesfreud” (Love’s Joy) and “Liebesleid” (Love’s Sorrow), it’s highly recommended to listen to them together.
It is also frequently used as background music in commercials and visual works, so do check it out as a refreshing interlude during tasks or as gentle study BGM.
VocaliseSergei Vasil’evich Rachmaninov
“Vocalise” is a musical term referring to a lyricless vocal exercise sung using one or more vowels.
In vocal music, practicing with the vowels “a-e-i-o-u” is indispensable for producing a beautiful singing voice, and in the 19th century many scores of vocalise études were published.
From around the end of the 19th century, vocalise began to be treated not merely as an exercise but as an art form.
This piece, too, though a song without words, continues to captivate listeners with its beautiful, heartrending melody.