Classical masterpieces. Recommended classical music.
Classical music created by various musicians over a long history.
From pieces whose beautiful melodies bring peace of mind to those whose grandeur overwhelms you, the range is truly diverse.
With so much out there, many people may feel, “I want to listen, but I don’t know where to start.”
For you, we’ve picked out some recommendations to get you started—“Begin with these!”
Please take a moment to enjoy the world of classical music that continues to be loved across the ages.
- [Orchestra] Introducing famous and popular pieces
- Cool classical masterpieces. Recommended classical music.
- Mozart: An Introduction to His Signature and Popular Works
- Classical Masterpieces: Recommended Works You Should Hear at Least Once
- Debussy’s masterpiece. Popular classical music.
- Timelessly beautiful classical masterpieces. Recommended classical music.
- Brahms's masterpieces. Popular classical music.
- Classical music by Japanese composers. Recommended classical music.
- [Violin] A curated selection of beloved classic masterpieces and popular pieces that continue to be cherished across eras
- [Masterpiece Classics] A special showcase of gem-like masterpieces so beautiful they’ll move you to tears
- A poignant classic masterpiece. Recommended classical music.
- [François Couperin] Introducing famous and popular pieces by the composer who loved the harpsichord
- Classic masterpieces recommended for women
Classical Masterpieces: Recommended Classical Music (11–20)
Nessun dorma from the opera TurandotGiacomo Puccini
Turandot is the final opera composed by Puccini.
To marry the beautiful yet cruel Princess Turandot, one had to solve three riddles; those who failed would be beheaded.
The story tells of Calaf, a prince of the Tartar nation, who falls in love with Turandot, solves the riddles brilliantly, and the two are ultimately united.
Nessun dorma (“None shall sleep”) is sung in Act III as Calaf, confident of his victory, raises his voice in triumph.
It has become emblematic of opera itself and is frequently heard on television and elsewhere.
Piano Sonata No. 14 “Moonlight”Ludwig van Beethoven
Among Beethoven’s piano sonatas, this work is widely beloved for its popular melody.
The nickname “Moonlight” comes from a comment by the poet Rellstab.
The first movement carries a solemnity that evokes the night, while the third movement, in contrast, is intensely dramatic, calling to mind storms and lightning.
It’s a piece that lets you enjoy Beethoven’s many facets.
Symphony No. 5 “Fate”Ludwig van Beethoven
When you mention Beethoven’s “Fate,” doesn’t everyone think of the famous opening “da-da-da-DUM”? It’s said that this title comes from Beethoven’s reported remark about the opening motif—“Thus fate knocks at the door”—as relayed by his pupil, Schindler.
This motif is also known as the “fate motif,” and it appears throughout the piece.
Try listening while searching for it.
Play of WaterMaurice Ravel
Maurice Ravel is one of the leading composers of Impressionist music, a style that emerged in early 20th-century France and placed emphasis on the expression of moods and atmosphere.
At the beginning of the score appears a line from Henri de Régnier’s poem Fêtes de l’eau: “The river god smiles, tickled by the water…,” and in this piece Ravel depicts the colors and sonorities of water as they shift with the play of light.
The steady motion of eighth notes and the principles of sonata form evoke the regulated rhythm and formal structure of a fountain that governs the water’s play, while harmonies that diverge from strict tonal progression brilliantly capture the protean colors and sounds of water.
From Eight Concert Etudes: 3. ToccatinaNikolai Kapustin
Kapustin, a Ukrainian composer active in the 20th century.
His Eight Concert Etudes were designed as a cohesive set, with considerations such as the arrangement of keys, and each piece was given a Russian title.
“Toccatina” means a small toccata—essentially an improvisatory piece—and it’s crisp and rhythmically incisive.
Incorporating elements uncommon in traditional classical music—such as jazz idioms like swing and boogie-woogie, as well as rock and Latin rhythms—it’s a stylish piece that keeps listeners engaged from start to finish!
Siegfried IdyllRichard Wagner
Recommended for when you want to be wrapped in a calm, intimate atmosphere.
This piece was composed by Richard Wagner, known as the “King of Music Drama.” It was performed in December 1870 as a birthday gift for his wife, Cosima, and is accompanied by a heartwarming story: it was played on the staircase of their home solely for his family.
While Wagner is often associated with grand, monumental operas, this work is characterized by the delicate and gentle timbre of a small orchestra.
It is also cherished as a classic of the Christmas season, and its pastoral melodies—evoking birdsong and the light of morning—can bring a pleasant sense of focus without interrupting your work as background music.
A perfect classical number for those who want to study or work quietly.
‘Jupiter’ from the suite ‘The Planets’Gustav Holst
The suite The Planets, a signature work by British composer Holst, consists of seven movements, each named after a planet based on Western astrology.
The melody familiar from Ayaka Hirahara’s “Jupiter” is the most famous in the entire piece.
Its mysterious and majestic theme is beloved by many around the world, and in the United Kingdom it is sung as a patriotic song and hymn.
Unaccompanied Partita “Chaconne”J.S.Bach
The “Chaconne,” the fifth piece of the Sonata and Partita No.
2 for Solo Violin.
A “chaconne” is the name of a dance-form piece in which a brief, set melodic and harmonic pattern appears at the outset and is then repeated persistently while developing in various ways.
In this piece as well, the theme is presented in the opening eight measures, and over the course of 30 repetitions of that structure, music of a grandeur scarcely believable for an unaccompanied violin unfolds.
Piano Concerto No. 2Sergei Rachmaninov
This piece is also famous for being used by Mao Asada in figure skating.
Rachmaninoff wrote a total of four piano concertos, and this Second Concerto is the most popular and the work that brought him widespread recognition.
Amid the weight and grandeur that evoke the vast Russian landscape, it features sweet, heartrendingly beautiful melodies, making it a piece beloved by everyone from classical music beginners to devoted enthusiasts.
Ballade No. 1 in G minorFrederic Chopin
“Ballade” is a title that Frédéric Chopin was the first to apply to a piano work, and it is said to have been directly inspired by the “ballads” of the Polish poet Adam Mickiewicz.
Characterized by emotive melodies that seem to transpose feelings directly into music, each piece conveys a narrative arc of beginning, development, twist, and conclusion.
It is a sweet yet daring work that showcases the wide range of expressive techniques unique to Chopin—the “Poet of the Piano.” Be sure to check it out.