[Classics] Famous waltzes: recommended popular pieces

Romantic WaltzClaude Debussy

Debussy / Romantic Waltz / Performed by: Hiroki Nakajima

This is a work by the French composer Claude Debussy.

Debussy composed using free harmony that was not bound by functional harmony, and he was one of the most influential composers from the late 19th to the early 20th century.

This piece, “Valse romantique,” was composed in 1890 and is said to show a strong influence from Chopin.

Before entering the Paris Conservatoire, Debussy studied with Madame Mauté de Fleurville, a pupil of Chopin, which may have something to do with this connection.

Waltz from “Masquerade”Aram Khachaturian

Khachaturian: Suite “Masquerade” – No. 1, Waltz

It is a composition by Aram Khachaturian.

Khachaturian is known for his bold and intense style, and he also composed the “Sabre Dance” used in the ballet Gayane.

This piece is one of the numbers from the incidental music for Masquerade, which premiered in 1941.

It was later arranged by Khachaturian himself into a suite for orchestra, and today it is familiar to Japanese audiences not only through orchestral concerts but also because many figure skaters—including Nobunari Oda and Mao Asada—have used it in their programs.

Waltz of the FlowersPeter Ilyich Tchaikovsky

[2.7 million views] Tchaikovsky “The Nutcracker” Waltz of the Flowers

A piece from The Nutcracker, the last ballet score composed by the Russian composer Tchaikovsky.

The Nutcracker is a story set on Christmas Eve.

The nutcracker that the heroine, a girl named Clara, receives is actually a prince under a spell, and the two embark on adventures together—fighting the Mouse King and visiting a fairyland.

This Waltz of the Flowers is a grand ensemble in which the inhabitants dance to welcome the pair when they arrive in the fairyland.

Please enjoy Tchaikovsky’s elegant, mysteriously atmospheric melody, befitting a composer known as a master of melody.

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The Waltzing CatLeroy Anderson

Anderson: The Waltzing Cat (Dancing Kitten) [Naxos Classical Curation #Cute]

Composer Leroy Anderson, famed for his humor-filled orchestral works, enjoyed great popularity.

Among his pieces, this is the one cat lovers should definitely hear.

Recorded in September 1950 under Anderson’s own baton, the work uses the silky timbre of the strings to imitate a cat’s meow.

You can almost picture Puss in Boots gracefully stepping through a ballroom.

The charming finale even features a comic twist, with the cat chased off by a barking dog.

Brimming with playfulness, it’s a perfect recommendation for anyone seeking classical music that’s simply fun to enjoy.

Drinking SongGiuseppe Verdi

La Traviata: “Libiamo, ne’ lieti calici”

Giuseppe Verdi, the great master of Italian opera.

The piece that brightens Act 1 of his masterpiece La traviata is “Libiamo ne’ lieti calici,” known in Japan as “The Drinking Song.” Set to a lively waltz in 3/4 time, the duet in which Violetta and Alfredo sing of love and the joys of life also conveys a fleeting, bittersweet beauty behind the glittering festivity.

Although it was poorly received at its premiere in March 1853, it is now a beloved classic around the world.

Why not give it a listen as an introduction to opera?

Serenade for Strings in C major, II. MovementPeter Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Tchaikovsky: Serenade for Strings in C major: II. Movement [Naxos Classical Curations #Romantic]

Serenade for Strings, a masterpiece for string ensemble composed in 1880 by the great Russian composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky.

Of its four movements, the second is especially beloved.

This waltz, performed solely by strings without any wind instruments, captivates with its blend of brilliance and wistful melody.

Premiered in October 1881, the piece has also been frequently used in recent film and video works.

Its graceful tone makes it perfect as background music for an elegant tea time or a leisurely day off.

Even if you’re not familiar with classical music, be sure to give it a listen.

Waltz = BalletÉric Satie

Satie: Waltz – Ballet – Fantasy Waltz [Naxos Classical Curation #Fantasy] / Erik Satie: Valse-ballet – Fantaisie-valse

Waltz-Ballet is a piano piece written in 1885 by the French composer Erik Satie, known for works such as Gymnopédies, when he was just 19 years old.

Unlike his later avant-garde style, this piece is filled with a charming, Chopin-influenced character.

Even within its romantic melodies, the structure features repeated simple phrases, already showing a glimmer of Satie’s distinctive individuality.

Its true value came to be recognized over a long period of time, with records of a public performance at the Opéra-Comique in Paris in May 1979.

Today, it is also appreciated as a piece used for ballet lessons.