[Orchestra] Introducing famous and popular pieces

Among classical music, the orchestra is the most opulent and offers the widest range of expression.

When a variety of instruments, each infused with the performer’s own sensibility, come together to create a single piece of music, it produces a unique allure found nowhere else.

In this article, we’ve picked out famous and popular orchestral pieces.

Even within orchestral music, there are many genres—from symphonies and concertos to operas.

We’re introducing everything from pieces everyone has heard to works well-known among classical enthusiasts, so be sure to check them out.

Playlist

[Orchestra] Introducing famous and popular pieces
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	Jupiter from The Planets SuiteGustav Holst		The famous piece “Jupiter” from The Planets suite
2	Symphony No. 9 “From the New World”Antonín Dvořák		The famous piece composed in America, From the New World
3	Suite “Carmen”Georges Bizet		A collection of famous pieces from the passionate love story Carmen
4	“The Moldau” from “Má vlast”Bedrich Smetana		A beautiful classic song that depicts the river in Prague
5	Pomp and Circumstance Marches, No. 1Edward Elgar		The signature piece from Elgar’s masterpiece “Pomp and Circumstance.”
6	BoleroMaurice Ravel		Ravel’s famous orchestral piece, rhythmic repetitions
7	Overture to the operetta “Die Fledermaus”Johann Strauss II		The Viennese-born comic operetta 'Die Fledermaus'
8	Piano Concerto No. 1Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky		Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto
9	“Morning Mood” from Peer GyntEdvard Grieg		Morning Mood of Peer Gynt, the beauty of the desert
10	Symphony No. 6 “Pastoral”Ludwig van Beethoven		The Pastoral Symphony depicts the richness of nature.
11	Overture from the opera “The Marriage of Figaro”Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart		Mozart’s famous comic opera “The Marriage of Figaro.”
12	Ballet Suite “The Nutcracker”Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky		The Nutcracker, a famous Christmas ballet
13	Symphony No. 7 “Unfinished”Franz Schubert		Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony is beautiful.
14	Symphony No. 5 “Fate”Ludwig van Beethoven		Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, Fate
15	Pavane for a Dead QueenMaurice Ravel		Beautiful melody, Ravel’s piano piece
16	Suite ‘Pictures at an Exhibition’Modest Mussorgsky=Maurice Ravel		A memorial suite for Galtman: depicting images through music
17	Wedding March from A Midsummer Night’s DreamFelix Mendelssohn		The famous Wedding March from A Midsummer Night’s Dream at weddings
18	Prélude to the Afternoon of a FaunClaude Debussy		A masterpiece by Debussy, a pioneer of Impressionist music
19	Ride of the ValkyriesRichard Wagner		The majestic music of the Prelude to ‘Die Walküre’
20	Symphony No. 7Ludwig van Beethoven		A symphony that conveys Beethoven’s will to live
21	Rhapsody in BlueGeorge Gershwin		Innovative music that fuses jazz and classical
22	Symphony No. 3 “Eroica”Ludwig van Beethoven		A Symphony of Respect for Napoleon and the Musical Revolution
23	Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16Edvard Grieg		Grieg’s Piano Concerto, expressing the nature of the Nordic lands
24	CanonJohann Pachelbel		Pachelbel’s Canon, a beautiful melody
25	Symphony No. 40Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart		The tragic masterpiece among Mozart’s symphonies
26	Symphony No. 1Vasily Kalinnikov		A captivating symphony by a composer who suffered from poverty and illness
27	Symphony No. 9Antonín Dvořák		A masterpiece composed in America while thinking of one’s hometown
28	Symphony No. 5 “Revolution”Dmitrievich Shostakovich		Moving music celebrating the Russian Revolution
29	Suite “L’Arlésienne”Georges Bizet		A suite composed by Bizet—elegant, soothing music
30	Symphonic Poem FinlandiaJean Sibelius		A Hymn of Hope and Freedom to Finland
31	Sword DanceAram Khachaturian		A powerful 2-minute masterpiece influenced by Oriental music
32	A Little Night MusicWolfgang Amadeus Mozart		Mozart’s genius: captivating, easy-to-listen masterpieces
33	Hungarian Dance No. 5Johannes Brahms		Hungarian Dances have a gypsy-music style.
34	Symphony No. 6 “Pathétique”Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky		The profound musical world of Tchaikovsky
35	Radetzky MarchJohann Strauss I		Radetzky March, a famous piece honoring soldiers
36	Symphony No. 1Johannes Brahms		Brahms Symphony No. 4, from darkness to light
37	Jazz Suite No. 2Dmitrievich Shostakovich		Expressing the charm of music in eight pieces: Shostakovich’s Jazz Suite
38	The Blue DanubeJohann Strauss II		“The Blue Danube” is a beloved national classic.
39	Ballet Suite ‘Swan Lake’Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky		Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake music
40	Symphonic Poem “Les Préludes”Franz Liszt		Liszt’s symphonic poem depicting the four stages of life
41	Matador’s SongGeorges Bizet		Bizet's Carmen is a masterpiece that captivates the heart.
42	“Spring” from The Four SeasonsAntonio Vivaldi		Vivaldi's Spring expresses joy and storms.
43	Overture to the opera “William Tell”Gioachino Rossini		The story of the Swiss hero Tell’s independence and courage
44	‘Polovtsian Dances’ from the opera Prince IgorAlexander Borodin		A masterpiece depicting the captive feast scene from Prince Igor
45	stained glass windows in a churchOttorino Respighi		An orchestral piece based on Gregorian chant
46	Symphony No. 5Gustav Mahler		Mahler Symphony No. 1: From Tragedy to Triumph
47	Prelude to Act I from the opera ‘Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg’Richard Wagner		The appeal of Wagner’s comic musical works
48	Violin ConcertoFelix Mendelssohn		Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto
49	Horn Concerto No. 1Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart		Immersive sounds, a soothing horn concerto
50	Symphony No. 2, Movement IIISergei Rachmaninov		A masterpiece whose beautiful melody stirs the heart
51	Overture to the operetta ‘Light Cavalry’Franz von Suppè		Suppé’s Light Cavalry Overture, a masterpiece representing Viennese music
52	Music of the CelestialsHisaishi Joe		The Celestials’ Music in The Tale of the Princess Kaguya
53	Piano Concerto No. 2Sergei Vasil’evich Rachmaninov		Famous as a classic in figure skating
54	Tannhäuser: OvertureRichard Wagner		Solemn music that evokes majestic nature
55	Path of the WindHisaishi Joe		The famous piece from “My Neighbor Totoro,” orchestral version
56	Symphony No. 2 “Resurrection”Gustav Mahler		A symphony of resurrection that overcame adversity
57	Symphony No. 9 “Choral”Ludwig van Beethoven		Beethoven’s Ninth: the Ode to Joy resounds at year’s end
58	Serenade for StringsPeter Ilyich Tchaikovsky		The magic of beautiful melodies that heal the heart
59	Symphonic Suite ScheherazadeNikolai Rimsky-Korsakov		A grand symphony depicting One Thousand and One Nights
60	Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral from the opera LohengrinWilhelm Wagner		Solemn music, beautiful melodies, and moving emotion
61	strollHisaishi Joe		Joe Hisaishi performs Ghibli’s “Sanpo”
62	Dragon BoyHisaishi Joe		Studio Ghibli’s iconic song from Spirited Away
63	Symphonic Poem ‘Danse Macabre’Camille Saint-Saëns		Dance of Death by Saint-Saëns
64	Tritsch-Tratsch-PolkaJohann Strauss II		A polka depicting lively female chatter
65	Prelude to Act III from LohengrinRichard Wagner		Bridal Prelude from Lohengrin, the Knight of the Swan
66	EntertainerScott Joplin		The Evolution of the Ragtime Classic “The Entertainer”
67	Jesu, Joy of Man’s DesiringJ.S.Bach		Bach’s biblical works, melodies of hope
68	In the MoodGuren Mirā Ōkesutora		Glenn Miller’s heartwarming classic
69	The Fountains of RomeOttorino Respighi		An orchestral piece depicting the charms of Rome
70	Overture to ‘Heaven and Hell’Jacques Offenbach		A classic sports day song, a tale from Greek mythology
71	Symphonie Fantastique, Op. 14Hector Berlioz		A Fantastic Symphony composed on the basis of a broken heart
72	Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major, Op. 97 “Rhenish”Robert Schumann		Schumann’s Rhenish Symphony expresses the charms of the region.
73	Air on the G StringJ.S.Bach		Bach’s Air on the G String is a beautiful piece.
74	The Carnival of the Animals, No. 14: FinaleCamille Saint-Saëns		Fun animal music like a festival
75	E.T.John Williams		A moving story depicting the friendship between a boy and an alien
76	The Carnival of the Animals, No. 13: The SwanCamille Saint-Saëns		Swan Melody: an elegant and moving masterpiece
77	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
78	Invitation to the DanceCarl Maria von Weber		A romantic dance of ladies and gentlemen
79	Symphony No. 4 “Italian”Felix Mendelssohn		Music works influenced by a trip to Italy
80	Rhapsody on a Theme of PaganiniSergei Vasil’evich Rachmaninov		Rachmaninoff’s masterpiece “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini”
81	Symphonic Poem “La Mer” — From Three Symphonic Sketches, II. “Play of the Waves”Claude Debussy		An orchestral piece composed by Claude Debussy…
82	Symphony No. 5 “Revolution,” Fourth MovementDmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich		Mood boost with Shostakovich’s symphonies
83	Symphonic Poem ‘The Sea’ — From Three Symphonic Sketches, I. From Dawn to Noon on the SeaClaude Debussy		A masterpiece depicting a seaside scene on a summer morning
84	Quiet lagoonEric Coates		The allure of a waltz echoing on a summer evening
85	Water Music: HornpipeGeorg Friedrich Händel		An orchestral suite by Handel, a refreshing summer masterpiece.
86	Water Music, Suite No. 2 – II. Alla HornpipeGeorg Friedrich Händel		Water Music, festive melodies that make the heart dance
87	The Rite of SpringIgor Stravinsky		Innovative ballet music, a masterpiece that caused a huge commotion
88	Symphony No. 1 “Jeremiah”Leonard Bernstein		Music imbued with the anguish of a Jewish composer
89	Erlkönig (arranged by Hector Berlioz)Franz Schubert		The Fate of Parent and Child Painted by the Demon King's Music
90	HumoresqueAntonín Dvořák		A lustrous violin masterpiece that lingers in the heart.
91	Ave verum corpusWolfgang Amadeus Mozart		A miraculous masterpiece, the beauty of prayer
92	Piano Concerto No. 21Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart		Kourakuen’s commercial song is perfect as music for cooking.
93	Symphony No. 104 “London”Franz Joseph Haydn		Haydn’s final symphony, a grand piece of music
94	Symphony No. 39Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart		The musical emotion of a symphony without an oboe
95	ScheherazadeNikolai Rimsky-Korsakov		A mystical orchestral work from One Thousand and One Nights
96	Symphony No. 7 “Unfinished” in B minor, Movement I: Allegro moderatoFranz Schubert		An inspiring symphony composed by Schubert
97	Symphony No. 7 “Unfinished” in B minor, Movement II: Andante con motoFranz Schubert		An orchestral work of deep lyricism and tranquil afterglow
98	Waltz of the FlowersPyotr Tchaikovsky		A soothing melody woven by a waltz
99	Brandenburg Concerto No. 3J.S.Bach		Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos, boost your concentration
100	Water MusicHenderu		Handel’s Water Music, the beautiful melody of the river
101	RequiemWolfgang Amadeus Mozart		Mozart’s final work, an unfinished requiem.
102	Dies Irae from RequiemGiuseppe Verdi		Requiem for Manzoni, Mourning the Dead
103	Symphony No. 41 “Jupiter”Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart		Mozart's final symphony, Jupiter
104	The Syncopated ClockLeroy Anderson		Add appeal to the song by shifting the rhythm
105	Symphony in D minorCésar Franck		A heavy musical style by a composer from French-speaking Belgium