The 100 Most Essential Pieces of Classical Music (Including selections from the 20th Century)

Rossini: La scala di seta (The Silken Ladder) Opera: Overture

Gioachino Rossini

Delibes: Coppelia (Ballet): Waltz, Act I, 2. Valse Lente

Léo Delibes

Tchaikovsky: "Chanson Triste" from 12 Pieces, Op 40: No. 2

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Sarah Ainsworth

Sibelius: Karelia Suite, Op. 11: Alla Marcia (March)

Jean Sibelius

Grieg: Peer Gynt Suite 1, Op 55: Solveig's Song

Edvard Grieg, Sarah Ainsworth

Mascagni: Cavalleria Rusticana (Rustic Chivalry) Opera: Intermezzo

Pietro Mascagni

Sinding: Rustle of Spring, Op. 32, No. 3 (Frühlingsrauschen)

Christian Sinding, Sarah Ainsworth

Nicolai: The Merry Wives of Windsor (Opera): Overture

Otto Nicolai

Rachmaninoff: Prelude In G Sharp Minor, Op. 32, No. 12

Sergei Rachmaninoff, Sarah Ainsworth

Vaughan-Williams: Fantasia on "Greensleeves"

Ralph Vaughan Williams

Holst: The Planets, Op. 32, Orchestral Suite: No. 4. "Jupiter" - the Bringer of Jollity

Gustav Holst

Strauss: The Blue Danube Waltz, Op. 314

Johann Strauss Ii

Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor for piano and orchestra, Op. 18: No. 3. Allegro Scherzando

Sergei Rachmaninoff & Conducted By William Bowles & Sarah Ainsworth & The Royal Festival Orchestra

Tchaikovsky: Serenade for Strings in C major, Op. 48, No. 2 Waltz: Moderato-Tempo di valse

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Liszt: Transcendental Etude No. 11 in D-flat Major, S.139 "Harmonies du Soir"

Franz Liszt, Sarah Ainsworth

Brahms: Waltz In A Flat Major, Op 39, No. 15

Johannes Brahms, Sarah Ainsworth

Dukas: The Sorcerer's Apprentice (symphonic poem)

Paul Dukas

Copland: Fanfare For The Common Man

Aaron Copland

Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade Symphonic Suite, Op. 35, Mvt. 3 The Young Prince And The Princess (Andantino quasi allegretto)

Nikolai Rimsky-korsakov

Khachaturian: Spartacus Ballet Suite: Adagio

Aram Khachaturian

Beethoven: Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93: Tempo di minuetto

Ludwig Van Beethoven

Holst: The Planets, Op. 32, Orchestral Suite: No. 1 "Mars" - the Bringer of War

Gustav Holst

Schubert: Six moments musicaux, D 780 (Op. 94): No. 3 Allegro moderato in F minor

Franz Schubert & Sarah Ainsworth

Bizet: Carmen Suite No. 2: Habanera

Georges Bizet

Schubert: Sonata in B-flat major, D. 960: No. 3 Scherzo: Allegro vivace con delicatezza

Franz Schubert & Sarah Ainsworth

Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique: (An Episode in the Life of an Artist), Op. 14: No. 2 "Un bal" (A Ball)

Hector Berlioz

Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67: Mvt. I Allegro con brio

Ludwig Van Beethoven

Chopin: Nocturne in E-flat major, Op. 55, No. 2

Frédéric Chopin & Sarah Ainsworth

Delibes: Lakmé (Opera): Act 1, Flower Duet

Léo Delibes

Chopin: Waltz in C-sharp minor, Op. 64, No. 2

Frédéric Chopin & Sarah Ainsworth

Ponchielli: Dance of the Hours (Ballet) "La Gioconda"

Amilcare Ponchielli

Chopin: Étude Op. 10, No. 12 in C minor

Frédéric Chopin & Sarah Ainsworth

Mozart: Serenade No. 13 for strings in G major, K. 525 "Eine kleine Nachtmusik": Romance Andante

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Waldteufel: The Skater's Waltz, Op. 183

Émile Waldteufel

Verdi: Aida (Opera): Triumphal March

Giuseppe Verdi

Chopin: Étude Op. 10, No. 4 in C-sharp minor

Frédéric Chopin & Sarah Ainsworth

Sibelius: Karelia Suite, Op. 11 No. 1 "Intermezzo"

Jean Sibelius

Delibes: Sylvia (Ballet): Act III, No. 20 Variation dansée (Pizzicati)

Léo Delibes

Tchaikovsky: Les Saisons, Op. 37a No. 6 June: Barcarolle (G minor)

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Sarah Ainsworth

Vivaldi: The Four Seasons: Concerto No. 1 in E major, Op. 8, RV 269 "La primavera" (Spring): Allegro

Antonio Vivaldi

Mozart: Symphony No. 41 in C major, K. 551 "Jupiter" Allegro vivace (excerpt)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Barber: Adagio For Strings, Op. 11

Samuel Barber

Liszt: Nocturne In A Flat Major, Op 62, No. 3

Franz Liszt, Sarah Ainsworth

Wagner: Lohengrin (Opera): Prelude to Act III

Richard Wagner

Liszt: Mephisto Waltz No.1, S.514

Franz Liszt, Sarah Ainsworth

Albinoni: Adagio in G minor

Tomaso Albinoni

Schumann: Fantasy Pieces, Op. 12, No. 3 "Warum?" (Why?) in D-flat major

Robert Schumann, Sarah Ainsworth

Vivaldi: The Four Seasons: Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 8, RV 315, "Summer" No. 1 Allegro non molto

Antonio Vivaldi

Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 in C- Sharp Minor, S.244 No. 2

Franz Liszt

Mendelssohn: Songs Without Words, Op. 30, No. 6: "Barcarolle"

Felix Mendelssohn & Sarah Ainsworth

Schubert: Symphony No. 5 in B flat major, D.485: No. 1. Allegro

Franz Schubert

Liszt: Consolation No. 3 In D Flat Major

Franz Liszt, Sarah Ainsworth

Haydn: Concerto in C for Violin and String Orchestra, No. 1 Allegro Moderato

Joseph Haydn

Beethoven: Bagatelle in A Minor, WoO 59 "Für Elise"

Ludwig Van Beethoven, Sarah Ainsworth

Mahler: Symphony No. 5 in C sharp minor, No. 4 Adagietto

Gustav Mahler

Chopin: Nocturne In F Sharp Major, Op 15, No. 2

Frédéric Chopin & Sarah Ainsworth

Rossini: La gazza ladra (The Thieving Magpie) Opera: Overture

Gioachino Rossini

Mozart: Piano Sonata No. 11 in A major, K 331, No. 3 Rondo Alla Turca: Allegretto in A minor and major

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Sarah Ainsworth

Bach: Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B minor, BWV 1067 No. 6 Minuet

Johann Sebastian Bach

Schumann: Fantasy Pieces, Op. 12, No. 1 "In the Evening" in D-flat major

Robert Schumann, Sarah Ainsworth

Weber: Der Freischutz (Opera): Overture

Carl Maria Von Weber

Verdi: La forza del destino (The Force of Destiny) Opera: Overture

Giuseppe Verdi

Saint-Saens: The Carnival of the Animals, Musical Suite No. 1 Introduction and Royal March of the Lion

Camille Saint-saëns

Chopin: Etude In C Sharp Minor, Op 15, No. 7

Frédéric Chopin & Sarah Ainsworth

Grieg: Peer Gynt: Suite No. 1, Op. 46 Morning Mood

Edvard Grieg

Chopin: Prelude In E Minor, Op 28, No. 4 Largo 2:00

Frédéric Chopin & Sarah Ainsworth

Prokofiev: Peter and The Wolf: Andantino - Poco Meno Mosso - Moderato No. 35 - Sostenuto - L'istesso Tempo No. 48

Sergei Prokofiev

Chopin: Prelude In A Major, Op 28: No. 7 Andantino

Frédéric Chopin & Sarah Ainsworth

Haydn: Trumpet Concerto in E flat major, Hob.: VII e, No. 1 for Trumpet and Orchestra: 1. Allegro (sonata)

Joseph Haydn

Schumann: Fantasie in C major, Op. 17, No. 1

Robert Schumann, Sarah Ainsworth

Schubert: Symphony No. 8 in B minor, D. 759 "Unfinished": Mvt. I-Allegro moderato (excerpt)

Franz Schubert

Haydn: Symphony No. 94 in G major "Surprise": Mvt. II-Andante

Joseph Haydn

Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64: Mvt. II-Andante

Felix Mendelssohn

Vivaldi: The Four Seasons: Concerto No. 4 in F minor, Op. 8, RV 297, Winter: 1. Allegro non molto

Antonio Vivaldi

Ravel: Bolero

Maurice Ravel

Haydn: Concerto in D major, No. 11, Rondo all Ungarese (Allegro assai)

Joseph Haydn

Strauss: Also sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30 (Thus Spoke Zarathustra)

Richard Strauss

Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23: Mvt. I-Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso (excerpt)

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Mozart: Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K. 550: Mvt. I-Molto allegro

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Chopin: Fantaisie-Impromptu in C-sharp minor, Op. 6

Frédéric Chopin & Sarah Ainsworth

Saint-Saens: Carnival Of The Animals: The Aquarium

Camille Saint-saëns

Wagner: Lohengrin (Opera): Act I, Prelude

Richard Wagner

Schumann: Kinderscenen "Scenes from Childhood" Op. 15: No. 7 Träumerei "Dreaming"

Robert Schumann, Sarah Ainsworth

Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake Ballet, Op. 20: Act 1, No. 2 Waltz: Tempo di valse

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Debussy: Suite Bergamasque: No. 3 "Clair de lune"

Claude Debussy, Sarah Ainsworth

Vivaldi: The Four Seasons, Concerto No. 3 in F major, Op. 8, RV 293, "Autumn" No. 1 Allegro

Antonio Vivaldi

Strauss: Die Fledermaus "The Bat" Operetta: Overture

Johann Strauss Ii

Chopin: Fantaisie in F minor, Op. 49

Frédéric Chopin & Sarah Ainsworth

Bizet: Carmen (Opera) Suite No. 1: Aragonaise

Georges Bizet

Mozart: The Magic Flute (Opera), K. 620: Overture

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Dvorak: Symphony No. 9 "New World" Scherzo, molto Vivace

Antonín Dvořák

Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 5 in A major, K. 219: Mvt. III-Rondeau: Tempo di Menuetto

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 73 "Emperor": Mvt. III-Rondo: Allegro

Ludwig Van Beethoven & Conducted By William Bowles & Sarah Ainsworth & The Royal Festival Orchestra

Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor, K. 491: Mvt. III-Allegretto

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart & Conducted By William Bowles & Sarah Ainsworth & The Royal Festival Orchestra

Bach: Violin Concerto in E major, BWV 1041: Mvt. I-Allegro

Johann Sebastian Bach

Debussy: Pour le piano "For the piano", L.95 Suite for Solo Piano, 3. Toccata

Claude Debussy, Sarah Ainsworth

Humperdinck: Hansel and Gretel (Opera): Overture

Engelbert Humperdinck

Strauss: Salome (Opera): "Dance of the Seven Veils"

Richard Strauss

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74, "Pathetique" : I. Adagio - Allegro non troppo (excerpt)

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Elgar: Variations on an Original Theme for Orchestra, Op. 36, Enigma Variations: No. 10 (Adagio) "Nimrod"

Edward Elgar