Today's Classics: Recommended classical music and great performances to listen to today

If you’re reading this article, you probably love classical music.

You likely know a fair number of composers and performers already—and to be honest, you might be a bit tired of some of them—so perhaps you’re also on the lookout for pieces and composers you don’t yet know.

In this article, for everyone enjoying a wonderful classical-music life, we introduce daily reviews of recommended composers and performers, as well as timeless masterpieces and great performances from across the ages.

Alongside symphonies, you’ll sometimes find concertos, sometimes solo piano or violin, and perhaps even contemporary works or pieces for wind band!

You’re sure to discover classical music that will brighten your day.

Playlist

Today's Classics: Recommended classical music and great performances to listen to today
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	Siegfried IdyllRichard Wagner		Wagner’s heartwarming short piece, Serenity
2	Waltz of the FlowersPyotr Tchaikovsky		A pleasant melo... woven by the graceful rhythm of a waltz
3	La CampanellaFranz Liszt		A piano piece arranged by Liszt, with striking bell sounds
4	The Carnival of the Animals, No. 13: The SwanCamille Saint-Saëns		Swan Melody: an elegant and moving masterpiece
5	The Carnival of the Animals, No. 14: FinaleCamille Saint-Saëns		Fun animal music like a festival
6	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
7	dreamClaude Debussy		Debussy’s fantastical piano piece
8	Suite ‘Mirrors’: A Boat on the OceanClaude Debussy		The melody of Debussy’s graceful little boat
9	Summer MorningHeino Kasuki		The clear tones of a summer morning
10	At the seaside at nightHeino Kasuki		A piano miniature that plays the light and silence of the Nordic lands
11	Spring from The Four SeasonsAntonio Vivaldi		With graceful melodies and skillful expressions that depict nature…
12	Gymnopédie No. 1Erik Satie		Serene music born from ancient festivals
13	Dies Irae from RequiemGiuseppe Verdi		Verdi’s Manzoni Requiem, famous for the Dies Irae
14	Symphony No. 5 “Revolution,” Fourth MovementDmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich		Mood boost with Shostakovich’s symphonies
15	Suite bergamasque, No. 3: Clair de LuneClaude Debussy		Debussy 'Clair de Lune' performance expression techniques
16	Piano Quintet in A major, Op. 114, D. 667 “Trout” — IV. Theme and Variations: AndantinoFranz Schubert		Schubert’s captivating chamber piece “The Trout”
17	Nocturne No. 2Frederic Chopin		Chopin’s fantastical piano piece, a soothing masterpiece
18	Water MusicHenderu		The majestic, resplendent strains of the orchestra resounded beautifully…
19	Symphony No. 9 “From the New World,” Second MovementAntonín Dvořák		A quintessential Japanese song that heralds dusk
20	Transcendental Étude No. 4 in D minor, “Mazeppa”Franz Liszt		Powerful performance in a Casio musical instrument commercial
21	Overture from the opera “La gazza ladra” (The Thieving Magpie)Gioachino Rossini		Memorable Mozart pieces in Haruki Murakami’s works
22	Symphony No. 9 “Choral”Ludwig van Beethoven		The Ninth Symphony is a monumental work in the history of music.
23	Scene from the ballet music Swan LakePyotr Tchaikovsky		The famous, moving piece from the ballet music Swan Lake.
24	String SerenadePyotr Tchaikovsky		The beauty of captivating movements in classical pieces
25	The Tale of the Bamboo CutterKishi Koichi		Koichi Kishi’s East-West fusion violin piece
26	Nirvana SymphonyMayuzumi Toshirō		A groundbreaking symphony by Toshiro Mayuzumi that incorporates bells and Buddhist chants.
27	Clair de Lune from Suite bergamasqueClaude Debussy		Music of moonlight inspired by poetry
28	Symphony No. 5 “Revolution”Dmitri Shostakovich		Music that survived the Stalin era
29	Rhapsody in BlueGeorge Gershwin		In Nodame Cantabile, the protagonist Megumi Noda is man...
30	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