Cool classical masterpieces. Recommended classical music.
A showcase of awesome classical masterpieces, all in one place!
From super-cool staples to slightly lesser-known, stylish pieces, we’ve picked a wide range.
We’re featuring not only piano solo works from the classics to more recent pieces, but also orchestral masterpieces performed by large ensembles.
We’ve selected classical works that are thrilling to listen to and make performances look cool too—from film-score-like pieces and RPG battle-scene vibes to avant-garde sounds reminiscent of progressive rock!
Be sure to read to the end!
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Cool classical masterpieces. Recommended classical music (31–40)
‘Polovtsian Dances’ from the opera Prince IgorAlexander Porfiryevich Borodin
It is one of the most famous and popular pieces by the Russian composer Alexander Borodin.
It is heard in Act II of the opera Prince Igor, in the Polovtsian camp, during a lavish display of songs and dances presented as entertainment to lift Prince Igor’s spirits.
The piece is also often performed on its own, independently of the opera, in orchestral concerts.
Piano Sonata No. 17 “Tempest”Ludwig van Beethoven
Although it is known by the nickname “Tempest,” this moniker is said to have originated when Beethoven, asked by his pupil Schindler how to interpret the piece, replied, “Read Shakespeare’s The Tempest.” The first movement is marked by bold musical ideas—sudden shifts in tempo and dynamics and recitative-like declamation—that make it feel almost like listening to a reading.
The second movement is an Adagio that is lyrical and serene.
The third movement, said to have been inspired by the sound of horses’ hooves, races throughout on persistent sixteenth notes that carry a restrained inner passion.
Weighty yet dramatic, with beautiful melodies, it is a captivating work.
Moments Musicaux No. 4 in E minorSergei Rachmaninov
Rachmaninoff was a Russian composer.
Also a pianist, he composed Moments Musicaux in 1896, which includes pieces Nos.
1 through 6; this work is the fourth of the set.
It combines intensity with melancholy and demands formidable virtuosity.
Piano performance by Kyoko Kaise.
Dies Irae, the 3rd movement from “Requiem”Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Mozart’s famous piece “Dies irae.” The “Day of Wrath” is a concept tied to eschatology, and beyond Mozart’s work, Giuseppe Verdi also created a setting of it.
This piece has many highlights, notably the powerful chorus that evokes a sense of despair.
Amid the interweaving of strings and intense percussion, the mixed male and female voices shape a masterful structure that conveys the end of days.
Listening to it in its entirety will let you feel the work’s impact even more strongly.
Symphony No. 4 in E-flat major “Romantic,” First MovementAnton Bruckner
Bruckner, an Austrian composer and organist active in the 19th century, constantly revised his symphonies, so most of them exist in two or more versions of his own making.
The first movement of this work, titled “Romantic,” is suffused with emotion, its horns sounding beautifully as if heralding the dawn from a dim forest.
Be sure to listen as well to the second movement, in which birdlike figures recur repeatedly, and the third movement—also famous as the “Hunting Scherzo.”
Finlandia, Op. 26Jean Sibelius
It is a symphonic poem composed by the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius, and perhaps the best-known among his symphonic poems.
Written in 1899, when Finland was suffering under the oppression of Imperial Russia, it was reportedly banned from performance by the Russian authorities for stoking Finnish patriotism.
Its stately, powerful character surely gave courage to many Finns.
With chorus as well, it is a masterpiece that feels ready to boil over with passionate emotion.
Overture from the opera ‘Ruslan and Lyudmila’Mikhail Glinka
The Overture to Ruslan and Lyudmila, which evokes the opening of a grand tale, is the perfect piece for waking up in the morning or when you want to dash off with energy.
Its composer, Mikhail Glinka, was from Russia and excelled at orchestral works, known for his charmingly light and lively style.
Ruslan and Lyudmila is an opera in five acts, and its story—depicting how Princess Lyudmila and the knight Ruslan are united—is compelling in its own right.
It’s a piece I’d especially recommend to fans of modern video game music or to anyone who wants to exercise in a bright, upbeat mood!
Piano Concerto in A minorEdvard Grieg
A masterpiece that expresses Nordic nature and national character through music has been born.
Composed by Norway’s celebrated composer Edvard Grieg at the age of 25, this work strongly reflects the characteristics of Romantic music.
It consists of a first movement that begins with powerful chords, a second movement of poetic beauty, and a brilliant third movement influenced by folk songs, featuring melodies evocative of the rugged nature of the fjords.
Premiered in Copenhagen on April 3, 1868, it has remained beloved around the world ever since.
It is a highly recommended piece for those who wish to feel the grandeur of nature and the spirit of a people.
Symphonic Suite “Scheherazade”Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
The title of the piece, Scheherazade, is the name of the heroine who appears in The Arabian Nights, a seminal work of Arabic narrative literature.
Literally, it is Scheherazade’s tale that serves as the prologue to the stories told over the course of One Thousand and One Nights.
While this piece does not follow the exact storyline of the tales she tells, it vividly evokes for listeners the image of “a most wondrous story.”
Symphony No. 8 in C minorDmitri Shostakovich
Dmitri Shostakovich, renowned for his symphonies and string quartets, was a composer active in the Soviet Union during the 20th century.
His Symphony No.
8 in C minor was composed during the war; he aimed to depict hope for the postwar period, but exposure to tragic reports and news also influenced the work, giving it a tragic character.
The piece shows the influence of Bach and late Beethoven, and rather than layering multiple instrumental timbres, it emphasizes primary-color orchestration.
The interwoven tones of the woodwinds and brass evoke a poignant atmosphere while remaining powerful and cool.
Although many of his works focus on themes of war and revolution from the socialist era, his music captivated people across a wide range of genres, including the Jazz Suites and the Symphony No.
9.
Be sure to give his works a listen!