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