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.

Playlist

Classical masterpieces. Recommended classical music.
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	Siegfried IdyllRichard Wagner		Wagner’s heartwarming short piece, Serenity
2	Air on the G StringJ.S.Bach		Bach’s aria is the music of heaven
3	Dance of DeathFranz Liszt		Liszt’s powerful piano arrangement of Danse macabre
4	“Ride of the Valkyries” from the opera “Die Walküre”Richard Wagner		Valkyrie: An Orchestral Work Honoring the War Goddess
5	Clair de Lune from Suite bergamasqueClaude Debussy		Music of moonlight inspired by poetry
6	Symphony No. 9 “Choral”Ludwig van Beethoven		The Ninth Symphony is a monumental work in the history of music.
7	Scene from the ballet music Swan LakePyotr Tchaikovsky		The famous, moving piece from the ballet music Swan Lake.
8	“Winter” from The Four Seasons, a violin concertoAntonio Lucio Vivaldi		The Four Seasons is Vivaldi’s famous masterpiece depicting the seasons.
9	Etude No. 3 “Farewell”Frederic Chopin		The deep emotions of Chopin’s masterpiece “Farewell” (Étude "Tristesse").
10	Nessun dorma from the opera TurandotGiacomo Puccini		Puccini’s final opera, a mystery-solving love story
11	Piano Sonata No. 14 “Moonlight”Ludwig van Beethoven		Moonlight Sonata is an emotionally rich masterpiece.
12	Symphony No. 5 “Fate”Ludwig van Beethoven		The four-note motif from Beethoven’s “Fate” is famous.
13	Play of WaterMaurice Ravel		Ravel’s masterpiece that expresses the moods of water through sound
14	From Eight Concert Etudes: 3. ToccatinaNikolai Kapustin		Kapustin's jazz-style classical piece
15	BoleroMaurice Ravel		The Spanish dance “Bolero,” gradually building up
16	A Little Night MusicWolfgang Amadeus Mozart		Mozart’s masterpiece, the essence of music
17	‘Jupiter’ from the suite ‘The Planets’Gustav Holst		Holst's suite The Planets is a magnificent masterpiece.
18	Piano Concerto No. 2Sergei Rachmaninov		The appeal of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2
19	Unaccompanied Partita “Chaconne”J.S.Bach		Bach’s Chaconne, a grand piece of variation music
20	Ballade No. 1 in G minorFrederic Chopin		Chopin's ballades are richly poetic pieces
21	March from The Love for Three OrangesSergei Prokofiev		An arrangement of a famous piano piece, highlighted by glissandos and chords
22	CanonJohann Pachelbel		Pachelbel’s Canon. Famous for the interlude in Tatsuro Yamashita’s Christmas song.
23	Rhapsody in BlueGeorge Gershwin		A masterpiece that fuses jazz and classical music
24	Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23Pyotr Tchaikovsky		The pinnacle of piano concertos, a moving masterpiece
25	Symphonic Poem “La Mer”: Three Symphonic Sketches — III. Dialogue of the Wind and the SeaClaude Debussy		Sea music, depicting the harmony of nature and sound
26	Triumphal March from the opera AidaGiuseppe Verdi		Triumphal March from the opera Aida
27	Fugue in D minorJ.S.Bach		Bach’s majestic Little Fugue in G minor
28	String SerenadePyotr Tchaikovsky		The beauty of captivating movements in classical pieces
29	The Carnival of the Animals, No. 13: The SwanCamille Saint-Saëns		Swan Melody: an elegant and moving masterpiece
30	The Carnival of the Animals, No. 14: FinaleCamille Saint-Saëns		Fun animal music like a festival
31	Polovtsian Dances from the opera Prince IgorAlexander Borodin		A representative piece by Borodin, with a captivating oboe melody
32	Radetzky MarchJohann Strauss I		The Radetzky March is a military anthem of the revolutionary era
33	Overture to the opera ‘The Marriage of Figaro’Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart		Overture to Mozart’s opera “The Marriage of Figaro”
34	In the ForestAlbert Ketèlbey		A piano piece that evokes a sun-dappled forest
35	Seaside at Dusk, H.128: No. 3 “The Stormy Seashore”Bohuslav Martinů		A piano miniature depicting a seaside landscape
36	dreamClaude Debussy		Debussy’s fantastical piano piece
37	Suite ‘Mirrors’: A Boat on the OceanClaude Debussy		The melody of Debussy’s graceful little boat
38	Quiet lagoonEric Coates		The allure of a waltz echoing on a summer evening
39	Water Music: HornpipeGeorg Friedrich Händel		An orchestral suite by Handel, a refreshing summer masterpiece.
40	Water Music, Suite No. 2 – II. Alla HornpipeGeorg Friedrich Händel		Water Music, festive melodies that make the heart dance
41	Summer MorningHeino Kasuki		The clear tones of a summer morning
42	At the seaside at nightHeino Kasuki		A piano miniature that plays the light and silence of the Nordic lands
43	Symphony No. 5 “Revolution,” Fourth MovementDmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich		Mood boost with Shostakovich’s symphonies
44	Piano Sonata No. 21 in B-flat major, D 960 — Movement III: Allegro vivace con delicatezzaFranz Schubert		The profound emotion and beauty of Schubert’s masterpieces
45	Piano Quintet in A major, Op. 114, D. 667 “Trout” — IV. Theme and Variations: AndantinoFranz Schubert		Schubert’s captivating chamber piece “The Trout”
46	Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 “Choral,” from the 4th movement: “Ode to Joy”Ludwig van Beethoven		Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, a masterpiece of hope and gratitude
47	Nocturne No. 2Frederic Chopin		A dreamlike beautiful piano piece
48	Waltz of the FlowersPyotr Tchaikovsky		A soothing melody woven by a waltz
49	Brandenburg Concerto No. 3J.S.Bach		Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos, boost your concentration
50	Water MusicHenderu		Handel’s Water Music, the beautiful melody of the river
51	Aesop’s Feast, Opus 39-12Charles Valentin Alkan
52	Piano Sonata in B minor, S.178Franz Liszt
53	English Country TunesMichael Finnissy
54	8 Concert Etudes, Op. 40 No. 1: PreludeNikolay Kapustin
55	8 Concert Etudes, Op. 40 No. 3: ToccatinaNikolay Kapustin
56	8 Concert Etudes, Op. 40 No. 5: ScherzoNikolay Kapustin
57	Eight Concert Etudes, Op. 40 No. 8: FinaleNikolay Kapustin
58	The Flight of the BumblebeeRimsky-Korsakov-Cziffra
59	La CampanellaFranz Liszt		A beautiful piano piece that imitates the sound of bells
60	Spring from The Four SeasonsAntonio Vivaldi		Vivaldi’s Spring, a masterpiece that depicts scenes of nature
61	Hymn No. 320: “Nearer, My God, to Thee”Eliza Flower)		A moving hymn that sings of the desire to draw closer to God
62	String Quartet No. 1, Second Movement: Andante cantabilePyotr Tchaikovsky		A masterpiece that moves you, inspired by a Ukrainian folk song
63	Symphony No. 2, Movement IIISergei Rachmaninov		A masterpiece whose beautiful melody stirs the heart
64	Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral from the opera LohengrinWilhelm Wagner		Solemn music, beautiful melodies, and moving emotion
65	Ave verum corpusWolfgang Amadeus Mozart		A miraculous masterpiece, the beauty of prayer
66	Etude Op. 10 No. 3 “Farewell”Frederic Chopin		Chopin’s Etude, the beautiful Farewell Song
67	Symphony No. 9 “From the New World,” Second MovementAntonín Dvořák		A quintessential Japanese song that heralds dusk
68	Sword DanceAram Khachaturian		The sounds of the marimba and timpani are striking.
69	Piano Quintet in A major, Op. 114, D 667 “Trout” — III. Scherzo: PrestoFranz Schubert		The charm of chamber music like spring
70	String Quartet No. 2, Movement 1Alexander Borodin		The beautiful melody of a string quartet filled with love
71	Pavane for a Newborn PrincessCharles-Henry		Elegant music that celebrates the birth of life
72	Like a melodyJohannes Brahms		Expressing warm, delicate emotions through music
73	Suite bergamasque, No. 3: Clair de LuneClaude Debussy		Debussy’s masterpiece “Clair de Lune” is beautiful.
74	Concerto for Percussion and OrchestraAndré Jolivet		An avant-garde percussion work by Jolivet. During his visit to Japan, he got hooked on pachinko.
75	No. 153 from Mikrokosmos: Six Dances in Bulgarian RhythmBartók Béla		Bartók’s short etude, brimming with exhilaration
76	Introduction and Rondo CapricciosoCamille Saint-Saëns		A Passionate Piece for Sarasate from Spain
77	The Swan from The Carnival of the AnimalsCamille Saint-Saëns		The Swan from Saint-Saëns’s The Carnival of the Animals
78	Carmina BuranaCarl Orff		Cantata of the Goddess of Fate, 25 tracks included
79	The Sinking TempleClaude Debussy		Beautiful harmonic music inspired by a legendary town
80	Morning (from the Peer Gynt Suite)Edvard Hagerup Grieg		Grieg’s 'Peer Gynt' Morning classic
81	Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1Edward William Elgar		A representative British patriotic march
82	Gymnopédie No. 1Erik Satie		Serene music born from ancient festivals
83	Wedding March from the opera “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”Felix Mendelssohn		Mendelssohn’s famous piece known for weddings
84	Grand Etude after Paganini “La Campanella”Franz Liszt		The Transcendental Virtuosity of Liszt, the Magician of the Piano
85	Transcendental Étude No. 4 in D minor, “Mazeppa”Franz Liszt		Powerful performance in a Casio musical instrument commercial
86	The Art Song “Erlkönig”Franz Schubert		Schubert’s “Erlkönig” is a scary masterpiece
87	Military MarchFranz Schubert		Schubert’s heroic and bright piano duet
88	Overture from the operetta ‘Light Cavalry’Franz von Suppé		An impressive fanfare of light cavalry
89	Etude Op. 10, No. 12 “Revolutionary Etude”Frederic Chopin		Chopin’s Revolutionary Etude, longing for the homeland
90	Hallelujah from the oratorio MessiahGeorge Frideric Handel		Handel’s Messiah “Hallelujah” is a masterpiece.
91	O mio babbino caro from the opera Gianni SchicchiGiacomo Puccini		Puccini’s opera, a tale of love and legacy
92	Overture from the opera “La gazza ladra” (The Thieving Magpie)Gioachino Rossini		Memorable Mozart pieces in Haruki Murakami’s works
93	Dies Irae from RequiemGiuseppe Verdi		Verdi’s Manzoni Requiem, famous for the Dies Irae
94	‘Brindisi’ (Drinking Song) from the opera La TraviataGiuseppe Verdi		Loving man and woman are tragically torn apart
95	Swan of TuonelaJean Sibelius		A fantastical scene of swans swimming in the river of the land of the dead
96	Toccata and Fugue in D minorJ.S.Bach		A famous organ piece by Bach, beloved by many
97	Jesu, Joy of Man’s DesiringJ.S.Bach		Bach’s cantatas are full of masterpieces
98	Hungarian Dance No. 5Johannes Brahms		Hungarian Dances, No. 5 is famous
99	Theme and Variations (from String Sextet No. 1)Johannes Brahms		A moving piece Schumann dedicated to his wife
100	Unaccompanied Cello SonataKodály Zoltán		A ferociously wild, virtuosic piece for cello
101	Piano Sonata No. 23 “Appassionata”Ludwig van Beethoven		A sad love story that cannot overcome the difference in social status
102	Symphony No. 7Ludwig van Beethoven		The Allure and Vitality of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7
103	Ritual Fire Dance from the ballet music El Amor BrujoManuel de Falla		Flames and festival of a brilliant ballet piece
104	“Gaspard de la nuit” — “The Gallows”Maurice Ravel		The piano work “Gaspard de la nuit” based on poems by Ravel
105	From 24 Caprices: “24 Quasi-Presto”Niccolò Paganini		Paganini’s virtuosic masterpiece Variations
106	Prelude from the opera ‘Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg’Richard Wagner		The Song Contest and Love of the Mastersingers
107	Bridal Chorus from the opera LohengrinRichard Wagner		The Marriage Story of Lohengrin and Elsa
108	‘Of Foreign Lands and Peoples’ from ‘Scenes from Childhood’Robert Schumann		A scene of children absorbed in tales of foreign lands
109	“Flight” from Fantasiestücke, Op. 12Robert Schumann		Characteristics of Beethoven’s Symphony of Fate
110	Prelude Op. 23 No. 5Sergei Rachmaninov		Rachmaninoff's piano concertos are masterpieces.
111	Easter from a Fantastical PaintingSergei Rachmaninov		Expressing the Russian Orthodox Easter with two pianos
112	Queen of the Night Aria from the opera The Magic FluteWolfgang Amadeus Mozart		The Queen of the Night aria from Mozart’s The Magic Flute. A notoriously difficult piece with extremely high notes.
113	regretTaki Rentarō		Taki Rentaro’s posthumous work, a beautiful, sorrowful piano piece
114	The Tale of the Bamboo CutterKishi Koichi		Koichi Kishi’s East-West fusion violin piece
115	Nirvana SymphonyMayuzumi Toshirō		A groundbreaking symphony by Toshiro Mayuzumi that incorporates bells and Buddhist chants.
116	Symphony No. 5 “Revolution”Dmitri Shostakovich		Music that survived the Stalin era
117	Love’s GreetingEdward William Elgar		Elgar’s Love Song, a deep confession of love
118	“Vltava (The Moldau)” from the symphonic poem cycle “Má vlast (My Homeland)”Friedrich Smetana		A masterpiece that depicts the majestic flow of the Vltava River
119	Farandole from L’Arlésienne Suite No. 2Georges Bizet		The striking suite “Arlésienne” Farandole
120	Overture from the operetta “Orpheus in the Underworld”Jacques Offenbach		Offenbach's operetta, a famous piece for sports day
121	Waltz ‘The Blue Danube’Johann Strauss II		The Blue Danube, Austria’s iconic masterpiece
122	Pictures at an ExhibitionModest Mussorgsky		A masterpiece made famous by Maurice Ravel
123	Violin ConcertoFelix Mendelssohn		Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto
124	Prelude and AllegroFritz Kreisler		The contrast of the Baroque-style melodies is excellent.
125	Elegy for Cello and PianoGabriel Fauré		The theme song of the drama “Aibou” is sad and beautiful.
126	Maiden’s PrayerTekla Bądarzewska		Popular pieces for piano recitals