Classical piano masterpieces: legendary performances from around the world you should hear at least once
“Classical piano sounds interesting, but where should I start listening?” Even within classical piano, the music differs greatly by era, style, and composer—and everyone’s tastes vary.
This feature is an introductory guide just for you.
It broadly covers famous and popular pieces from across times and places, so you’re sure to discover a piece you love.
Once you find a favorite, it’s fun to compare works by the same composer or pieces written in the same period.
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Classical piano masterpieces: World-famous performances you should hear at least once (71–80)
Nocturne No. 6 in D-flat major, Op. 63Gabriel Urbain Fauré
The one who studied under Saint-Saëns and continued composing while serving as a church organist was Fauré.
Perhaps because he performed church music, he also wrote works using the old church modes that belong neither to major nor minor keys, paving the way for the next era; yet in his Nocturnes and Barcarolles he produced truly beautiful late-Romantic music.
Arabesque, Op. 18Robert Schumann
Arabesques have been composed by many different pianists.
Schumann’s Arabeske, Op.
18, is one of these arabesque works.
The soft and elegant Op.
18 is so beautiful it feels as if the aurora were spreading out before your eyes.
Its light, flowing melody and its calm, unhurried melodic lines bring about a gentle, peaceful moment.
Waltz No. 6 in D-flat major, Op. 64 No. 1 “Minute Waltz”Frederic Chopin
Familiar under the title “Minute Waltz,” the Waltz No.
6 in D-flat major, Op.
64-1 is said to be an improvisatory piece in which Frédéric François Chopin captured the sight of George Sand’s pet dog spinning in circles while chasing its own tail.
With its charming character and brisk sense of tempo, it’s a huge favorite among children learning piano.
To achieve even, pearly passages, it’s essential not only to practice diligently but also to choose fingerings that allow the fingers to move smoothly.
By committing to the correct fingerings from the score-reading stage, you’ll be able to increase the tempo naturally!
Humoresque No. 7Antonín Dvořák
Dvořák is a late Romantic composer.
He is especially famous for From the New World, but he also left wonderful works for piano.
I think almost everyone has heard the seventh piece of Humoresques, but although this collection is often arranged for instruments like the violin, it was originally written for piano.
Island of JoyClaude Debussy
L’Isle joyeuse, a quintessential piano piece by Debussy, is a dazzling and fantastical work distinguished by its brilliant trills and ornamentation.
Its performance demands not only a high level of technical skill, but also sensuous and deeply emotional expressiveness, making it one of the most challenging of difficult pieces.
Grand Étude No. 5 after PaganiniFranz Liszt
When it comes to the Grandes Études de Paganini, No.
3 La Campanella and No.
6 Variations on a Theme are the famous ones, but I highly recommend No.
5 as well.
In the first half and at the end it evokes people setting out on a hunt, the middle signals the start of the chase, and you can almost hear birds chirping—it’s a charming little piece.
I Got RhythmGeorge Gershwin
George Gershwin was an American composer who left many works in both classical and popular music, forming a cornerstone of American music.
There is a collection called the Songbook, in which he arranged famous numbers from his musicals for solo piano himself, and this piece is one of them.
It also became a foundation of jazz harmonic progressions.