Best Classical artist of all time
<b>Ludwig van Beethoven</b>

1

Ludwig van Beethoven

Sinfonia n° 9 "Choral"
<b>Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart</b>

2

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Concerto per pianoforte e orchestra n° 20
<b>Johann Sebastian Bach</b>

3

Johann Sebastian Bach

Mass in B minor, BWV 232
<b>Igor Fëdorovič Stravinskij</b>

4

Igor Fëdorovič Stravinskij

The Rite of Spring
<b>Johannes Brahms</b>

5

Johannes Brahms

Concerto per pianoforte e orchestra n°2
<b>Georg Friedrich Händel</b>

6

Georg Friedrich Händel

Messiah
<b>Franz Schubert</b>

7

Franz Schubert

Sinfonia n° 9 "The Great"
<b>Antonín Dvořák</b>

8

Antonín Dvořák

Sinfonia n° 9 "From The New World"
<b>Hector Berlioz</b>

10

Hector Berlioz

Sinfonia Fantastica
<b>Robert Schumann</b>

11

Robert Schumann

Sinfonia n° 3 "Renish"
<b>Felix Mendelssohn</b>

12

Felix Mendelssohn

Concerto per violino e orchestra
<b>Richard Strauss</b>

14

Richard Strauss

Also sprach Zarathustra
<b>Antonio Vivaldi</b>

15

Antonio Vivaldi

Il Cimento dell'armonia, op. 8
<b>Frédéric Chopin</b>

16

Frédéric Chopin

Nocturnes
<b>Gustav Mahler</b>

17

Gustav Mahler

Sinfonia n° 9
<b>Béla Bartók</b>

19

Béla Bartók

Concerto For Orchestra
<b>Dmitri Shostakovich</b>

20

Dmitri Shostakovich

Sinfonia n° 10
<b>Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina</b>

21

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

Missa papae Marcelli
<b>Piotr Ilyitch Tchaikovsky</b>

22

Piotr Ilyitch Tchaikovsky

Sinfonia n° 6 "Pathetic"
<b>Sergei Prokofiev</b>

23

Sergei Prokofiev

Concerto per pianoforte e orchestra n°3
<b>Anton Bruckner</b>

24

Anton Bruckner

Sinfonia n° 7
<b>Sergei Rachmaninoff</b>

25

Sergei Rachmaninoff

Concerto per pianoforte e orchestra n° 2
<b>Jean Sibelius</b>

26

Jean Sibelius

Sinfonia n° 2
<b>Arnold Schönberg</b>

28

Arnold Schönberg

Un sopravvissuto di Varsavia
<b>Модест Петрович Мусоргский</b>

29

Модест Петрович Мусоргский

Pictures At An Exhibition
<b>Claude Debussy</b>

30

Claude Debussy

Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune
<b>Arcangelo Corelli</b>

32

Arcangelo Corelli

Concerto grosso per la notte di Natale
<b>Marc-Antoine Charpentier</b>

33

Marc-Antoine Charpentier

Te Deum H146
<b>Domenico Scarlatti</b>

34

Domenico Scarlatti

Stabat Mater a dieci voci e basso continuo
<b>Rimskij-Korsakov</b>

35

Rimskij-Korsakov

Nikolaj Rimskij-Korsakov_La Grande Pasqua Russa
<b>Max Bruch</b>

36

Max Bruch

Concerto per violino e orchestra
<b>Camille Saint-Saëns</b>

37

Camille Saint-Saëns

Sinfonia 3
<b>Johann Pachelbel</b>

38

Johann Pachelbel

Canone in Re maggiore
<b>Sir Edward Elgar</b>

40

Sir Edward Elgar

Concerto per violoncello e orchestra
<b>Edvard Grieg</b>

41

Edvard Grieg

Concerto per pianoforte e orchestra
<b>César Franck</b>

42

César Franck

Sonata per violino e pianoforte in La maggiore
<b>Leoš Janáček</b>

43

Leoš Janáček

Glagolitic Mass
<b>Gioachino Rossini</b>

45

Gioachino Rossini

Petite Messe Solenelle
<b>Aleksandr Porfir'yevich Borodin</b>

46

Aleksandr Porfir'yevich Borodin

Nelle steppe dell'Asia centrale
<b>Carl Nielsen</b>

47

Carl Nielsen

Sinfonia 4 "inestinguibile"
<b>Ottorino Respighi</b>

49

Ottorino Respighi

Pini di Roma
<b>Gian Francesco Malipiero</b>

50

Gian Francesco Malipiero

Sinfonia 4
<b>Giovanni Battista Sammartini</b>

52

Giovanni Battista Sammartini

Sinfonia JC60
<b>Zoltán Kodály</b>

53

Zoltán Kodály

Galanta Dances
<b>Ralph Vaughan Williams</b>

55

Ralph Vaughan Williams

Sinfonia n° 1 "Sea"
<b>Paul Dukas</b>

56

Paul Dukas

L'Apprendista Stregone
<b>Francesco Onofrio Manfredini</b>

57

Francesco Onofrio Manfredini

Concerto grosso di Natale op. 3/12
<b>Joaquin Rodrigo (John Williams - Classical Guitar)</b>

59

Joaquin Rodrigo (John Williams - Classical Guitar)

Concierto de aranjuez
<b>Aaron Copland</b>

60

Aaron Copland

Appalachian Spring
<b>Samuel Barber</b>

61

Samuel Barber

Adagio per archi
<b>George Gershwin</b>

62

George Gershwin

Rhapsody in Blue
Your comment on the chart
Comments on this chart
  • Stefano90
    Stefano90
    11 jun 10
    You're cool. Only you know classical music, well done.
     
  • j&r
    j&r
    11 jun 10
    ..no, I'm hot!..very hot
     
  • Emerson
    Emerson
    19 jun 10
    this isn't bad, even though Stravinsky and Haydn seem a bit overrated compared to others.
     
  • Stefano90
    Stefano90
    20 jun 10
    You're hot. Only you know classical music, well done.
     
  • j&r
    j&r
    23 jun 10
    ..and you keep listening to Zappa, Wyatt, and Metallica..now that's music, damn it!!..fuck you, arrogant ignorant prick!!
     
  • j&r
    j&r
    23 jun 10
    ..and don't come and bug me in my Classical Music ranking..MUSIC!!!!!!..MUSIC FRIEND!!!
     
  • Schizoid Man
    Schizoid Man
    15 jul 10
    But J&R, are you a woman? Oh my! What an impression... really? Nooooooo...
     
  • Stefano90
    Stefano90
    15 jul 10
    I would say you're quite ignorant. I express my opinions freely, just like you can. For me, Zappa and Wyatt are music just like Mozart and the like... Great music, I would say.
     
  • j&r
    j&r
    15 jul 10
    ..but Schizoid Man, besides being crazy, are you also an idiot??!!..I am a MAN..mine was just a provocation to that idiot and arrogant comment from Stefano90..wake up!
     
  • j&r
    j&r
    15 jul 10
    ..well done Zappa and well done Wyatt (I really like Wyatt)..but Mozart and Beethoven are in a different league..I answered in a mean way because I don’t like your arrogance. What the hell does it mean: “You’re cool. Only you know classical music, great”??..can you explain that to me? Can you explain why you come to mess up such a nice ranking like this...nice not because I made it, but because look at the amazing music that’s here, damn!
     
  • Stefano90
    Stefano90
    15 jul 10
    Beautiful, when it comes to pure music (formal music, the concept of music), classical is superior to any other genre. However, it’s important to consider that Rock has contributed so much more to music (the connection between musical culture and social class, fashion, experimentation...) that was already present in classical musical culture, but in much smaller doses. I see Rock as the ultimate art, a meeting point of many cultures in a single art or culture. In this regard, Rock (popular music in general) is definitely superior to me.
     
  • Stefano90
    Stefano90
    15 jul 10
    p=è
     
  • Schizoid Man
    Schizoid Man
    15 jul 10
    Oh what a shame... I thought you were a real catch! I didn’t get the provocation!
     
  • Schizoid Man
    Schizoid Man
    15 jul 10
    Apart from that, we could really use that clever guy from Silvaplana! :D But anyway, it's so annoying with these discussions about the superiority of classical music over other styles, etc. etc... just listen to the music instead of getting bogged down in the complexity of musical scores. :P
     
  • Stefano90
    Stefano90
    15 jul 10
    I think the same as you, but it was just to talk... And I'm not saying that classical music is generally superior to anything, nor am I saying that the complexity of scores adds beauty to the music itself. The difficulty of execution, as I see it, takes away nothing and adds nothing to the musical quality.
     
  • TheJargonKing
    TheJargonKing
    27 jul 10
    beautiful, very comprehensive, but perhaps a bit too broad in terms of time. Some I would see more in the contemporary period, what do you think? I adore Holst and Respighi!
     
  • Ciccio Swim
    Ciccio Swim
    27 jul 10
    Hey, hi, how are you? I hope you’re well. But is this rock music?
     
  • j&r
    j&r
    28 jul 10
    ...you are right, from a temporal perspective it is a ranking that spans a very broad period... from Vivaldi and Bach (around 1700) to Stravinsky, Holst, Respighi, Shostakovich, Prokofiev, Bartók, Sibelius, Ralph Vaughan Williams; composers who produced their great masterpieces around the '30s and '40s, established and consolidated masterpieces that today are part of the "classical" repertoire (in the broadest sense of the term) of most theaters and conservatories in the world. I see more in the contemporary composers like Iannis Xenakis, Nono, Stockhausen, Cage, Boulez, who are not mentioned in this ranking. Therefore, I don't think one can talk about "contemporary" music.
     
  • j&r
    j&r
    28 jul 10
    ..anyway, Van Beethoven rocks harder than any rock star that ever existed.. Roll Over Beethoven!!
     
  • Deep-Frenk
    Deep-Frenk
    4 sep 10
    Hello, I never judge the ranking position, but I would like to suggest a few names. First of all, I don't know whether it was intentional or not, but you forgot Gioachino Rossini (eh-eh!), then I would have included Richard Wagner, Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, Johann Christian Bach, Antonio and Domenico Scarlatti, Jean Philippe Rameau, Georges Bizet, as well as names like Mauro Giuliani, Alessandro Marcello, Giovanni Gabrieli. Best regards and great ranking, you suggested several artists I didn't know.
     
  • Rock70
    Rock70
    6 nov 10
    in my opinion, Dvorak, Mahler, Debussy, and Verdi are too low...

    what about Puccini?
    what about Bellini?
     
  • j&r
    j&r
    7 nov 10
    ..this is a ranking of "classical" music, not "lyric" ..so I have not included opera composers like Donizetti, Bellini, Mascagni, Giordano, Leoncavallo, Wagner, Bizet, Massenet, Puccini... Verdi is included as the composer of the splendid Requiem written for the death of Alessandro Manzoni.
     
  • Rock70
    Rock70
    28 dec 10
    Oh, that's fine...sorry. And what about Dvorak, Mahler, and Debussy?
     
  • j&r
    j&r
    30 dec 10
    ..I raised Dvorak.. Debussy is indeed a bit of a bassetto..
     
  • Felo
    Felo
    19 feb 11
    I would see Bach above Mozart.
     
  • Ferry
    Ferry
    28 mar 11
    only 1 Strauss? And Boccherini?
     
  • j&r
    j&r
    30 mar 11
    ..Johann Strauss father and son make me feel like shit..Richard, on the other hand, is a fucking brilliant badass...yes, yes, Boccherini, Corelli, Albinoni, Scarlatti...but this is the ranking of MY favorite musicians, NOT the ranking of all musicians that ever existed..
     
  • Jack Donney
    Jack Donney
    14 may 11
    Great ranking; excellent tastes. Personally, I consider Bach immense, a kind of deity, and it feels strange to see him under Stravinsky, who, to be clear, I regard as exceptional (probably the best of the 20th century). Anyway, everyone has their own sacred preferences. Kudos for mentioning the sublime Concerto in D minor by Mozart. Bye.
     
  • holdsworth
    holdsworth
    18 may 11
    Nice ranking, but I would have included a Corelli and a Scarlatti!
     
  • BorisGodunov
    BorisGodunov
    27 jul 11
    Great ranking, congrats to Stravinsky for claiming second place because he was undoubtedly one of the greatest composers of all time (I don’t agree with the earlier comment from someone); just a couple of notes: I would have chosen Shostakovich's seventh symphony instead, and as for English music, I would have put R.V. Williams above Elgar and Holst, but those are just trivial matters :)))
     
  • Felo
    Felo
    10 sep 11
    I've listened to Mahler's First and Fifth, two great symphonies. Brahms' Third is not bad, and Verdi's Requiem is perhaps the one I appreciate the most. Nothing to say, exquisite ears.
     
  • j&r
    j&r
    10 sep 11
    "The third by Brahms isn't bad" is a phrase I don't like much.. the third by Brahms is one of the greatest masterpieces of late 19th-century symphonic music.. listen to it better.
     
  • progg_nait94
    progg_nait94
    10 sep 11
    I always feel somewhat guilty that I can't appreciate almost anything about this ranking..
     
  • Felo
    Felo
    10 sep 11
    j&r, you're actually right. "Not bad" is quite a euphemism.
     
  • Stefano90
    Stefano90
    10 sep 11
    For me, his best symphony is the 4th.
     
  • j&r
    j&r
    10 sep 11
    ..well, of course, his best symphony is definitely the 4th..no doubt about it.
     
  • j&r
    j&r
    10 sep 11
    ..yes, "it's not bad" is a bit blasphemous..but you can always make up for it by listening to it 10 times in a row..
     
  • Felo
    Felo
    10 sep 11
    I'm a bit fed up. A little.
     
  • jdv666
    jdv666
    10 sep 11
    I really appreciate classical music; it might be that my father is very interested in music, so since I was a child I've attended classical and jazz concerts. Anyway, what I wanted to say is that I think many people are intimidated by classical music, fearing it to be something difficult to grasp, while for me classical music is actually much more accessible than a lot of other stuff.
     
  • jdv666
    jdv666
    10 sep 11
    It may also be the class of compositions, but practically from the very first listen, almost everything grabs me right away (of course, it's logical that it takes much more time to fully comprehend); however, I find that genres like industrial, black metal, or free jazz are much more challenging and less immediate as an approach to listening.
     
  • progg_nait94
    progg_nait94
    10 sep 11
    You say? I have the same hard time listening to a house and bach record.
     
  • jdv666
    jdv666
    10 sep 11
    Well, I also struggle to listen to house discs ;) I don't know, I haven't really delved into the complete works, but pieces like "Aria on the G String" or like this one (https://www.debaser.it/main/Video.aspx?y=QnJbqIFer5M&feature=related) just flow for me, it's a pleasure. Otherwise, try something like "Carmen" or "The Four Seasons," I think they are quite accessible.
     
  • jdv666
    jdv666
    10 sep 11
    or else just the hit and run; how can you not like stuff like that? :) by the way, very prog :D
     
  • j&r
    j&r
    11 sep 11
    ..well done jdv666..classical music is much, much easier to listen to than people think..there's a terrible stereotype that classical music is boring because it's cultured blah blah blah..to hell with culture, it's great music that sends shivers down your spine, end of story...jazz or progressive rock works are much more difficult to listen to...
     
  • Felo
    Felo
    27 sep 11
    The Maestro Igor has dropped a few positions. What a pity, The Rite of Spring is truly a masterpiece.
     
  • j&r
    j&r
    28 sep 11
    ..damn, you can say it loud.. The Rite of Spring is a crazy masterpiece, incredible, out of this world... but Bach and Mozart are Bach and Mozart, guys!..
     
  • Stefano90
    Stefano90
    28 sep 11
    I fully agree with the first three. I’m not a huge fan of Stravinsky, although I recognize his great merits. As for the rest: I adore Shostakovich; seeing him there at 20 and something twists my heart; I consider Mahler and Bartok infinitely superior to Purcell, Chopin, and Schumann; Handel in fifth place might be a bit much. I would promote Schubert and Schonberg. But in the end, these are your tastes...
     
  • j&r
    j&r
    28 sep 11
    ..indeed, these are my tastes..I am viscerally fond of Handel..when I listen to it, I cry, it's stronger than me..the Sarabande, the Water Music, the Messiah are otherworldly works...then to Schumann are tied my childhood memories...
     
  • Raphael Vrbinas
    Raphael Vrbinas
    4 nov 11
    Beethoven! The great one! In the top three positions, how can I argue with you? Beethoven is the artist I find closest to my taste. The fifth... the Emperor is the musical work I believe I have listened to the most in my life...
     
  • j&r
    j&r
    7 nov 11
    me too...the emperor is "Music"...I would say the emperor and the ninth symphony...something otherworldly.
     
  • Raphael Vrbinas
    Raphael Vrbinas
    8 nov 11
    I greatly appreciate Borodin's Polovtsian Dances. About 10 minutes, they come close to perfection. It's no wonder that you've placed them in the steppes of Central Asia. Some time ago, I also listened to a piano version and found it beautiful even that way. Regarding Fauré's Requiem, I can only agree. At the moment, I consider it second only to Mozart's.
     
  • j&r
    j&r
    10 nov 11
    Well, Borodin's Polynesian Dances are simply stunning, to say the least. What a coincidence, last week I listened to them repeatedly, 10-15 times in a row... truly amazing, magnificent... I also listened to a Romanian Rhapsody by George Enescu, beautiful...
     
  • Mr. Money87
    Mr. Money87
    10 nov 11
    j&r I sent you a pvt.
     
  • hjhhjij
    hjhhjij
    13 nov 11
    Very interesting ranking for those, like me, who need to delve deeper into the world of Classical music. I'm taking notes.
     
  • chinaski033
    chinaski033
    13 nov 11
    Hey, are you coming with me tomorrow to Assago to see Uncle Bob? :)
     
  • j&r
    j&r
    13 nov 11
    ..sorry chinaski, already seen at palafabris in padua..great concert..dylan and the band really rocked hard..
     
  • chinaski033
    chinaski033
    13 nov 11
    Oh yes, I hope so... everyone says he doesn’t sing anymore, but he rasps in a divine way. I will wait until tomorrow to know the truth...
     
  • Raphael Vrbinas
    Raphael Vrbinas
    14 nov 11
    Enescu is an uncharted territory. Maybe in a little while... During this time, I often listen to Dvořák. The piano concerto, despite the criticism (even from the maestro himself), I didn't find it so bad. It may not be the peak of the concertos for that instrument, but played by Richter, I enjoyed it a lot... and then I believe he more than made up for it with the cello concerto...
     
  • j&r
    j&r
    15 nov 11
    Well, if you’re interested in Dvořák (one of my favorite composers) and, of course, if you don’t know them already, I absolutely recommend the Trio "Dumky," which is stunning, the beautiful "American" Quartet, the Stabat Mater, and the gorgeous Violin Concerto, in my opinion more beautiful and convincing than the one for piano and orchestra, which, however, played by Richter and conducted by the divine Kleiber, I like very much.
     
  • Raphael Vrbinas
    Raphael Vrbinas
    15 nov 11
    Great j&r.dvorak is one of those who had endless musical themes and ideas. I discovered that great quartet some time ago along with the serenade for strings and orchestra, another marvel. I miss the Stabat Mater, as well as the "Dumky" trio, and here I think the oversight is huge, since I always hear great things about it. I will make up for it.
     
  • Raphael Vrbinas
    Raphael Vrbinas
    18 nov 11
    j&R, I was thinking about the most beautiful piano concertos. Once you've read this list, let me know which great piano concerto you think is missing:
    Mozart: 9 - from 20 to 27
    Beethoven: 3-4-5
    Brahms: 1-2
    Liszt: 2
    Chopin: 1-2
    Saint-Saëns: 2-5
    Schumann: concerto in A minor
    Grieg: concerto in A minor
    Ravel: concerto in G major
     
  • Raphael Vrbinas
    Raphael Vrbinas
    18 nov 11
    ...I forgot Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff...
     
  • j&r
    j&r
    19 nov 11
    ..well, the third by Prokofiev is also very beautiful, as is the second by Mendelssohn and 1,2,3 by Bartók...I also really like Liszt's first and the Totentanz, 15 minutes for piano and orchestra that are truly fantastic..
     
  • Raphael Vrbinas
    Raphael Vrbinas
    19 nov 11
    the DANCE OF DEATH! mom, I forgot. that work is genius. I’ve listened to both Benedetti Michelangeli's and Cziffra's versions. both are excellent and different. an incredible creativity.
     
  • Raphael Vrbinas
    Raphael Vrbinas
    19 nov 11
    I don't know Mendelssohn's one. Even if it were only half as good as the one for violin, it would definitely justify the listening.
     
  • Raphael Vrbinas
    Raphael Vrbinas
    20 nov 11
    While among the lesser-known violin concertos, I consider Bruch's to be excellent, and I was very surprised by Barber's.
     
  • j&r
    j&r
    20 nov 11
    ..well, Bruch's is definitely one of my absolute favorite pieces.. it moves me every time I listen to it.. it’s truly extraordinary... also stunning is Sibelius's, Saint-Saëns' number 2, Dvořák's, Schumann’s (the last composition before total madness), Shostakovich's 1 and 2... not to mention Brahms, Mendelssohn, Beethoven... I don’t really care for Tchaikovsky’s though... beautiful is Mozart's 5 "Turkish" ... especially the last sparkling movement à la turque indeed... I don’t know Barber’s, thanks for the suggestion, because I really like Barber, especially that wonderful adagio for strings.... Mendelssohn’s piano concerto 2 is great, trust me... however, let it be clear, it doesn't compare to that masterpiece for violin.
     
  • Raphael Vrbinas
    Raphael Vrbinas
    20 nov 11
    thank you. You have provided me with plenty of suggestions. As soon as I can, I’ll look for the two by Shostakovich, Mendelssohn's Piano Concerto, and Schumann's. I like Tchaikovsky's, even though he could have made the first movement less drawn-out (which has a beautiful theme). I listened to Mozart's fifth just yesterday, along with the third, and I agree, that final movement stays with you, even the central movement often offers beautiful pages. As for Beethoven, I can only remain silent. I may be repetitive, but it’s my favorite, followed by Mendelssohn’s.
     
  • j&r
    j&r
    22 nov 11
    ...I may be biased, and it might be true, but for me, the most beautiful violin concerto is Ludwig's... then Mendelssohn, Brahms, Bruch, Sibelius...
     
  • Raphael Vrbinas
    Raphael Vrbinas
    22 nov 11
    Indeed, but in the end, it’s hard for a passionate concert-goer to place it lower than the podium. That first movement just goes on forever (about 24 minutes), but with that theme, one of the best in expressing both the depths of the violin and excellently reinterpreted by the orchestra. Then the larghetto stays at an extremely high level, and the seamless transition to the rondo is pure delight, which lasts until the end. Then again, we’ve seen that tastes are tastes...
    I’m re-listening to Schubert’s "Wanderer." What a monstrous work. Among other things, many pianists have tackled it. What happens around the first minute and is repeated 20 seconds later is one of those genius moments that separates the true pianists from the hacks...
     
  • j&r
    j&r
    22 nov 11
    Beautiful, indeed stunning, is Schubert's Wanderer; I have it on the same CD as Dvořák's piano concerto from EMI, with the pianist Sviatoslav Richter... an incredible, immeasurable pianist... I need to listen to it again... but right now I'm re-listening to Bach's works for organ... oh my, what a grandeur, what sublime power, what chords... they make the house tremble!
     
  • Felo
    Felo
    22 nov 11
    Great Richter, I have the sonatas played by him (excuse the wordplay), always by Schubert.
     
  • Raphael Vrbinas
    Raphael Vrbinas
    22 nov 11
    Bach's works for organ, I always listen to them with a Richter, always great but by the name of Karl. The first time I heard the Passacaglia and Fugue BWV 582 I was utterly surprised. For its inventiveness beyond its time and the usual perfection. As for Schubert's sonatas, I have Brandel's versions. The last three are excellent, especially, I prefer D959. One cannot go without Sviatoslav for the Wanderer. Others have performed it from decent to very good, but his is perfect.
     
  • Raphael Vrbinas
    Raphael Vrbinas
    22 nov 11
    this version of the 565 is transcendental
     
  • j&r
    j&r
    22 nov 11
    ..I too have the organ works played by the divine Karl Richter..oh yes, I know that Karl video very well, I used to watch it every day some time ago..truly extraordinary...it's true, the D959 by Schubert is also beautiful, but I have it played by that unfriendly Pollini..
     
  • Felo
    Felo
    22 nov 11
    For me, the unbeatable ones are Gould and Benedetti Michelangeli. Then everyone else is a couple of notches below.
     
  • Raphael Vrbinas
    Raphael Vrbinas
    22 nov 11
    That video enchanted me. Sometimes I just stand still watching Karl's dance, because it is a dance. Then, the way he uses the pedals to enhance the piece is remarkable. He is a genius who makes perhaps the greatest genius in music even greater. It’s always difficult to make rankings, especially with the greatest. For now, I can say that Beethoven is the one who delves deepest into what I seek from music, but I cannot overlook Bach as supreme. From the Mass in B minor to the Passion, those miraculous Goldberg Variations, the works for organ, the suites for cello, the Well-Tempered Clavier... it would take an hour just to list the masterpieces... not to mention Bach in the cantatas...
     
  • j&r
    j&r
    22 nov 11
    ..well, I can't really argue with you, Glenn and Arturo might truly be the best.. but I also quite like Arrau, Argerich, Sviatoslav Richter, and Ashkenazy..
     
  • Felo
    Felo
    22 nov 11
    dear j&r, I recently listened to the famous Rachmaninoff concerts performed by this Ashkenazy and conducted by Previn: I was blown away.
     
  • j&r
    j&r
    22 nov 11
    ...well said. Beethoven manages to delve even deeper into my soul; perhaps it's because the German composer often infused his works with a tempestuous and vehement fervor, tormented and furrowed, almost irascible; without belittling, of course, those moments of absolute delicacy and melancholy... Bach is celestial, supremely high; at the same time immensely powerful, we can speak of a divine power... at this moment I am listening to more Bach... anyway, they are musicians of the same caliber, there is no doubt... along with Mozart, the lyrical works of Mozart are absolutely divine...
     
  • Felo
    Felo
    22 nov 11
    Beethoven is undoubtedly the greatest symphonist. No one can deny it... except for Baricco in his useless films, but that's another story.
     
  • j&r
    j&r
    22 nov 11
    ..dear felo, rachmaninoff, ashkenazy, previn..no wonder you were struck dumb..
     
  • Raphael Vrbinas
    Raphael Vrbinas
    22 nov 11
    Speaking of Mozart... I'm currently listening to the delightful "Kegelstatt" trio.
     
  • j&r
    j&r
    22 nov 11
    ...forget about Baricco, it makes me nervous... that great critic dared to say that the Ninth Symphony is an overrated work... but not only that... he said that Melville (Moby Dick), Caravaggio (I mean Caravaggio!!!!!!!!!), William Shakespeare!!, Van Gogh are overrated... I mean, it seems to me that no more words are needed... he might be good, though.
     
  • Felo
    Felo
    22 nov 11
    I don't know, he mentions Moby Dick among his favorite works. (He even said that Ibsen is overrated, I mean IBSEN). Isn't it all just a joke? :P
     
  • j&r
    j&r
    22 nov 11
    no no felo, trust me… somewhere I read that Baricco made a list of the 141 "false masterpieces"... I read it: well, there was Beethoven's Ninth, MOBY DICK, exactly Ibsen, and then besides those I mentioned before, also REMBRANDT, SANDRO BOTTICELLI, Kubrick, the Discobolus, the Parthenon... I don't know, there’s nothing left... there’s Lady Gaga and the crap by Richard Meier...
     
  • Raphael Vrbinas
    Raphael Vrbinas
    22 nov 11
    Criticizing the ninth, by now, is one of those gestures to appear unconventional... I would like to know how many of those who criticize it have properly listened to the first three movements...
     
  • j&r
    j&r
    22 nov 11
    ..it's probably all a joke..otherwise he's deaf, blind, and completely illiterate.
     
  • Felo
    Felo
    22 nov 11
    In reality, he "styles" it indirectly, since in the only film he directed to style it, the main character is a university professor whose subject is not quite clear. The film is called "Lezione Ventuno" and, to be honest, it made me appreciate the Ninth even more. But going a little deeper, I believe I've understood that those are actually his favorite works, since he has also written a few pages on Moby Dick, which, if I’m not mistaken, he adores. It goes without saying that the film is a pile of garbage without head or tail.
     
  • j&r
    j&r
    22 nov 11
    ..the first three divine movements..
     
  • Raphael Vrbinas
    Raphael Vrbinas
    22 nov 11
    Back to the real geniuses, today I discovered that very curious composition by Mozart, KV 617, for glass harmonica (more commonly known as the glass harp), and I must say it’s quite good.
     
  • Felo
    Felo
    22 nov 11
    Criticize especially the fourth. Above all, the ode to joy, the dialogue between the double basses, also the fact of the recitative in the symphony and similar nonsense... As a writer, he is quite ridiculous as well, anyway.
     
  • j&r
    j&r
    22 nov 11
    ..yes, I've heard of "lesson twenty-one" but I haven't seen it..ok, then I didn't understand anything about Baricco..it's not that bewildering...I guess I read it wrong, it happens unfortunately..
     
  • j&r
    j&r
    22 nov 11
    ..however, from what you say, he can't write and makes crappy films..so I avoid Baricco.
     
  • Felo
    Felo
    22 nov 11
    Yes, but I believe he is a classical music enthusiast, also because in many of the opera music DVDs I own, there are his notes in the commentary. I've noticed that it’s more of a passionate commentary than that of a critic or especially an expert.
     
  • Felo
    Felo
    22 nov 11
    I see you’re reading Dostoevsky, Baricco isn’t your thing.
     
  • j&r
    j&r
    22 nov 11
    I had listened to the k617 some time ago at my cousin's house (a professional musician)...I don't remember anything at all...I'll add it to my shopping list!
     
  • Raphael Vrbinas
    Raphael Vrbinas
    25 nov 11
    Berlioz's Fantastic Symphony leaves me perplexed... I must tell the truth, it didn't excite me much. Moreover, after listening to the last movement, I credited it with having heavily inspired one of the sections of Liszt's Totentanz, a monumental work... then I found out that both were based on a medieval dies irae... I'll try to listen to it again sooner or later...
     
  • j&r
    j&r
    26 nov 11
    ..the same medieval music that inspired Liszt's totentanz and the last movement of the symphonie fantastique also inspired the first movement (l'inferno) of Liszt's dante symphony.. I love all three pieces to death; they are grim, dark, shadowy, unsettling.. every now and then I also enjoy this kind of "dark" classical music..
     
  • Raphael Vrbinas
    Raphael Vrbinas
    26 nov 11
    Already. On those pieces, inspired by the dies irae, nothing to say. I like the totentanz from beginning to end, while I only enjoy the last movement of the fantastica and scattered parts in some of the four preceding ones. It’s a symphony that, for now, I don’t rave about...
     
  • j&r
    j&r
    26 nov 11
    ...it's a matter of tastes...I like it a lot because I listened to it many times as a "child"...today it has a certain effect on me to hear it again...
     
  • Raphael Vrbinas
    Raphael Vrbinas
    26 nov 11
    Yes, and then with certain pieces of classical music you always have to be very tactful. It's not a work that has captivated me like others, but we are certainly not talking about the latest disc from Laura Pausini. Behind it, there is always an important effort. The topic of listening from a "child" or anyway of an emotional bond towards a work is very true. For Schubert's D929 trio, I feel something like that.
     
  • j&r
    j&r
    27 nov 11
    ..I'm listening again to Dvořák's Serenade for Strings Op. 22.. frankly, I didn't remember it being so rich in splendid, lyrical, and spirited melodic bursts.. what a masterpiece!!.. I've also revisited the Humoresques.. well, the 7th is pure bittersweet poetry.. I don't know, it reminds me of those poetic images from Chaplin...
     
  • j&r
    j&r
    27 nov 11
    ..ah, I have savored them again thanks to your comments..thank you!..and now you’ve made me want to listen to the symphonie fantastique and Bach's cello suites again..what jewels!..
     
  • Raphael Vrbinas
    Raphael Vrbinas
    27 nov 11
    Thank you. I'm still on Debaser because it's possible to talk about certain music. Among my friends, unfortunately, no one listens to classical music at levels that aren't purely marginal. You certainly haven't held back on advice; last but not least, that Dante symphony I owned and hadn't listened to as much as it deserved. A great work. I didn't remember that beginning of Purgatorio being so beautiful.
     
  • j&r
    j&r
    27 nov 11
    ..Dante Symphony by Liszt, it might also be because it reminds me of that immense monument of the supreme poet, is one of my favorite works of all classical music...
     
  • Felo
    Felo
    30 nov 11
    I would remove Gershwin and add Charles Ives (Symphony No. 4) for the Americans. Then I would also include Messiaen (Quartet for the End of Time), Berg (Wozzeck, many believe he even surpassed master Schoenberg), and I would place Stravinsky right after Beethoven, as it was at the beginning. Due to personal dislikes, I would also remove Schumann. Otherwise, a completely shareable ranking. Well done.
     
  • j&r
    j&r
    30 nov 11
    Why remove Gershwin and the great Schumann???!!!!...I viscerally adore Schumann....you’re right about Ives, Messiaen, and Berg..but I still know very little about these three illustrious musicians to place them among my favorites..maybe they'll show up in a bit..
     
  • Felo
    Felo
    30 nov 11
    Schumann is personal antipathy, as I wrote above. Unfortunately, I've never liked Gershwin.
     
  • Raphael Vrbinas
    Raphael Vrbinas
    11 mar 13
    I greatly appreciate the inclusion of Kodály; the Galanta Dances and the Sonata for Solo Cello Op. 8 are two masterpieces.
     
  • bluesboy94
    bluesboy94
    30 jun 15
    I stumbled upon this ranking, which serves as a little "manual" for the best in classical music. When I feel like listening to classical and I'm undecided, I'll come back to this. Congratulations on your exquisite musical tastes!
     
    • j&r
      3 oct 15
      Thank you!...
  • tonysoprano
    tonysoprano
    12 jun 16
    Wow, I have to say you really know classical music well (don’t worry, I’m not being sarcastic!). Rather, what would you recommend to me by Mozart and Bach, beyond the mentioned works?
     
  • tonysoprano
    tonysoprano
    12 jun 16
    I call them "works" because I can't think of another term...XD
     
  • Gabrielegilli
    Gabrielegilli
    11 feb 17
    A magnificent ranking that can be useful to me during this time. The beauty of Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 20 is undeniable. Magnificent.
     
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