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)
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.
Classical piano masterpieces: World-famous performances you should hear at least once (81–90)
Partita, BWV 826J.S.Bach
“Partita BWV 826” is a famous piece composed by Bach.
It is richly infused with church music elements characteristic of Bach.
Though the melodic line is calm and somewhat repetitive, it has a sense of speed that draws you in.
If you listen with your eyes closed, you may feel as if you’re in a European church, as if you’ve slipped back to the Baroque era.
Please give it a listen.
4 minutes 33 secondsJohn Milton Cage Jr.
One of the composers who represents American contemporary music is John Cage.
Compared to Germany’s logically driven contemporary music, much of American contemporary music was called “experimental music,” featuring styles that overturned fundamentals by asking “Why music?” and “What is music?” This piece is famous for producing no sound from beginning to end.
Piano Sonata No. 23 “Appassionata”Ludwig van Beethoven
A monumental work running to about 30 minutes, it is a notoriously difficult piece that demands highly advanced technique and expressive power from the performer.
Many people may have heard it on CD as children and dreamed of being able to play it someday.
The piece opens with the theme sounding mysteriously in a soft voice, then unfolds in a grand and passionate progression.
Piano Sonata No. 1 in F minor, Op. 2 No. 1Ludwig van Beethoven
Composed by Beethoven, Piano Sonata No.
1 in F minor, Op.
2 No.
1.
Its depth and intensity ride on speed, pressing in endlessly.
It gives me the strange feeling of being driven by the sound.
That’s Beethoven for you.
It feels as if he’s expressing a life burdened with many struggles through music.
It’s a piece that gives you courage, so please give it a listen.
Piano Concerto No. 1Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No.
1—surely everyone has heard it.
Its striking opening is unforgettable once you’ve listened to it.
This is a powerful concerto that fully showcases the piano’s timbre.
It’s a piece that almost every pianist dreams of playing.
I highly recommend giving it a try—and enjoy listening to it, too!
In conclusion
You probably heard many famous pieces that sounded familiar from somewhere. The piano, a captivating instrument said to possess a tone comparable to an entire orchestra all by itself. Let this be your chance to explore and listen to a variety of pieces.