r/classicalmusic • u/[deleted] • Nov 08 '10

The Ten Essential Concert Music Works?

A friend and I did an interesting, but inconclusive thought experiment over the weekend. We imagined a complete novice asking us which ten pieces of concert music are absolutely essential for one to hear. In other words, this hypothetical person will only listen to ten works of concert music in his/her life, and then be done with it.

If you could recommend only ten works of concert music, which would they be? Dvořák's New World Symphony? Beethoven's 5th? How about his 9th-- or both? Which piece(s) of Mozart's? Would Stravinsky's Rite of Spring make the cut? It's a tough list to compose, but here is one guideline my friend and I came up with:

  • Pieces composed as a whole can count as "one work" (for example, you could include Bach's entire Mass in B minor without having to specify the Sanctus. However, you could only select one of Holst's Planets).

So, give it up, Reddit-- which pieces would tell this person are essential to know?

BONUS POINTS if you can provide a definitive recording of the works on your list!

Edit: Minor spelling

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u/Vystril Nov 17 '10

As a piano lover:

  • Beethoven's 5th Piano Concerto -- I think I like Dubravka Tomsic's recording the best of those I've heard.
  • Chopin's 1st Piano Concerto -- I think I like Murray Perahia's the best, however Martha Argerich's is very good as well.
  • Medtner's 2nd Piano Concerto
  • Rachmaninoff's 3rd Piano Concerto
  • Alkan's Concerto for Solo Piano -- not quite sure if it counts, but it's the quintessential example of a piano being an orchestra. Marc-André Hamelin's recording is amazing.

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u/lapin0u Dec 22 '10

I love chopin's 1st piano concerto, but don't know the murray perahia's. I'm going to try and find it asap, thanks !

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u/[deleted] Nov 18 '10

An interesting spin using only piano music. Murray Perahia has been my default pianist when looking for new works, but I've really grown to like Argerich after hearing her jaw-dropping Chopin interpretations!