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 (21–30)
The Carnival of the Animals, No. 13: The SwanCamille Saint-Saëns
A celebrated work by Camille Saint-Saëns, based on a melody from the suite Le Carnaval des animaux.
Originally conceived as one of the pieces in a suite intended as entertainment for Carnival in early 1886, it was the only movement the composer allowed to be published during his lifetime.
The flowing melody played by the cello evokes the elegant figure of a swan gliding over the water and conjures the dreamlike imagery of the legendary “swan song.” The ballet The Dying Swan, created by Anna Pavlova in 1905 to this music, is renowned worldwide, and figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu’s exhibition performance to the piece also moved many audiences.
This is a piece for those who want to immerse themselves in the beautiful tone of the cello—a sound that seems to make you forget the summer heat and refresh the spirit.
The Carnival of the Animals, No. 14: FinaleCamille Saint-Saëns
A dazzling, exhilarating piece that feels like the grand finale of a festival—that’s the closing movement of Camille Saint-Saëns’s suite The Carnival of the Animals.
Composed in 1886 for a private performance and first made public only after the composer’s death in 1922, the work builds from the piano’s brilliant opening trills as various instruments join in, with motifs of animals from earlier movements appearing one after another—truly the climax of the celebration.
The humorous tone pervades the whole piece, and the ending, capped with playful animal imitations, adds to its delightful charm.
It is also known for its use in Disney’s 1999 film Fantasia 2000, and it’s the kind of music that can sweep away the summer heat and leave you feeling refreshed.
Even those who don’t often listen to classical music are sure to discover its joy.
Classic masterpieces. Recommended classical music (31–40)
Polovtsian Dances from the opera Prince IgorAlexander Borodin
Among the works of the Russian composer Borodin, this is one of the most popular pieces and is often performed on its own.
It is also frequently chosen as a free selection in wind band competitions, as it has been arranged for concert band.
The beautiful oboe melody is particularly striking.
Radetzky MarchJohann Strauss I
This piece is a march composed by Johann Strauss I.
It was written during the Revolutions of 1848 to honor Field Marshal Joseph Radetzky, who suppressed the independence movement in Northern Italy, then part of the Austrian Empire.
It is one of the most popular works in classical music and is often performed as an encore; many of you have probably seen audiences clapping along.
Overture to the opera ‘The Marriage of Figaro’Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
This is the overture from the opera that Mozart composed in 1786, based on a satirical play written in 1778 by the French playwright Beaumarchais.
Centered on the events surrounding the wedding of Figaro, a servant to a nobleman, the work harshly criticized the aristocracy and was consequently banned from performance multiple times.
It remains one of the masterpieces in which you can fully enjoy Mozart’s brilliant music.
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.
Seaside at Dusk, H.128: No. 3 “The Stormy Seashore”Bohuslav Martinů
This piece depicts waves breaking on a seaside at dusk and the sweep of a blustery wind through deft piano arpeggios.
Composed by Bohuslav Martinů in 1921, it is a short work for solo piano included on the album “Evening on the Sea-shore, H.128 and 3 other pieces.” Within its richly resonant, impressionistic colors, a classical framework—the rondo form—breathes, creating a striking dialogue between nature painting and structural elegance.
Its dynamic development evokes the subtitle “Storm,” and the design, which regains calm after a virtuosic cadenza, leaves a strong impression.
It is a gem for anyone who, in a summertime moment, wishes to immerse themselves in piano music that is both dramatic and refreshingly cool.