Romantic Piano Pieces: A Curated Selection of Popular and Classic Works for Recitals and Concerts

The Romantic school was a genre of 19th-century European music that developed Classical music through the spirit of Romanticism.

In the era when Romantic works were created, many composers—led by Frédéric Chopin and Franz Liszt—left behind a wealth of pieces that are both deeply expressive and highly demanding technically.

In this article, we introduce famous works from the Romantic repertoire that are beloved at recitals and concerts, as well as masterpieces widely known as music in TV commercials and film soundtracks.

Playlist

Romantic Piano Pieces: A Curated Selection of Popular and Classic Works for Recitals and Concerts
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	Kinderszenen, Op. 15, No. 7: “Träumerei”Robert Schumann		I found myself enchanted by the dreamy, beautiful melody…
2	Liebesträume No. 3Franz Liszt		Franz Liszt’s ‘…,’ in which the beauty of the melody stands out
3	Waltz No. 6 in D-flat major, Op. 64 No. 1 “Minute Waltz”Frederic Chopin		Polish folk music and the salon culture of Paris...
4	Songs Without Words, Book V, Op. 62, No. 6 “Spring Song”Felix Mendelssohn		Felix Mendel..., who was active in the 19th century
5	Nocturne No. 2 in E-flat major, Op. 9 No. 2Frederic Chopin		Frédéric Chopin’s representative nocturnes and…
6	Impromptus, Op. 90 No. 3 in G-flat majorFranz Schubert		Franz Schu..., a composer representing the Romantic era...
7	24 Preludes, Op. 28 No. 15 “Raindrop”Frederic Chopin		Completed in 1839 on the Spanish island of Mallorca…
8	Waltz No. 15, Op. 39-15 “Waltz of Love”Johannes Brahms		German composer Johannes Brahms, lo…
9	Fantasia in C major, Op. 17Robert Schumann		The Romantic master, Robert Schumann, ...
10	Etude Op.10 No.3 “Farewell”Frederic Chopin		Characteristics and Learning Value of Chopin's Farewell Etude
11	Grand Etudes after Paganini, No. 3 ‘La Campanella’Franz Liszt		Franz Liszt, a composer who represents the Romantic era...
12	Polonaise No. 6 in A-flat major, Op. 53 “Heroic Polonaise”Frederic Chopin		Frede…, a composer representing 19th-century Europe
13	Fantaisie-ImpromptuFrederic Chopin		Frédéric, a composer who represents the Romantic era, …
14	Fantasiestücke, Op. 12: FlyingRobert Schumann		German Romantic composer Robert Schu...
15	25 Etudes, Op. 100 No. 2 “Arabesque”Johann Burgmüller		Johann Burgmüller from Germany is a chi...
16	Prelude No. 6 in B minor, Op. 28-6Frederic Chopin		A short piece captivating for Chopin’s delicate expression of emotion
17	Prelude, Op. 45 in C-sharp minorFrederic Chopin		A short piano piece where Chopin’s delicate modulations shine
18	Three Romances, Op. 11 No. 1Clara Schumann		An emotional piano piece imbued with hidden feelings for Clara
19	Songs Without Words, Book I, No. 3, Hunter’s Song, Op. 19Felix Mendelssohn		Mendelssohn’s passionate hunting piece
20	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
21	Spanish Suite No. 1, Op. 47 ‘Asturias’Isaac Albéniz		Captivating piano works of the Spanish Suite
22	15 Virtuoso Études, Op. 72 No. 2Moritz Moszkowski		A Romantic masterpiece, where virtuosity and expressiveness shine.
23	Saltarello in E minor, Op. 23Charles Valentin Alkan		A passionate piano piece originating in Italy
24	Prelude in C minor, Op. 28 No. 20Frederic Chopin		Chopin piano piece, characterized by funeral-like qualities and emotional expression
25	Prelude in D-sharp major, Op. 28 No. 13Frederic Chopin		Chopin’s quiet, introspective piano piece
26	TraumereiRobert Schumann		A dreamy melody in F major envelops the heart
27	“Butterflies,” Op. 2: No. 10, “Unmasking the Mask”Robert Schumann		Schumann’s piano suite, a masterpiece brimming with lyric poetry
28	“Arpeggio,” No. 4 from the Grandes études de PaganiniFranz Liszt		Liszt, Grand Piano Variations on a Theme of Paganini
29	Three Sonatas for Children, Op. 11, No. 2: “3. Evening Song” Op. 118b-3Robert Schumann		Schumann’s heartwarming piano piece
30	Prelude in A minor, Op. 28 No. 2Frederic Chopin		A mystical prelude in dissonance