gut-wrenchingly beautiful pieces of classical music (2025)

01. Riccardo Muti - Cavalleria Rusticana: Intermezzo (Orchestra)
02. Sir Simon Rattle - Adagio for Strings
03. Vernon Handley - 2 Pieces for Small Orchestra: No. 1, On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring
04. Bertrand Chamayou - Pavane pour une infante défunte, M. 19
05. Riccardo Muti - Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Op. 125 "Choral": IV. Finale (Excerpt: Ode to Joy)
06. Sir Simon Rattle - The Nutcracker, Op. 71, Act I: No. 9, Waltz of the Snowflakes
07. Daniel Barenboim - Prelude and Fugue in D Minor, BWV 851: I. Prelude
08. Sir Simon Rattle - The Nutcracker, Op. 71, Act II: No. 12, Divertissement: d. Trepak (Russian Dance)
09. Claudio Abbado - Clarinet Concerto in A Major, K. 622: II. Adagio
10. Sir Adrian Boult - Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 36 "Enigma": Var. IX. Nimrod
11. Piotr Anderszewski - 6 Studien in kanonischer Form, Op. 56: No. 1 in C Major. Nicht zu schnell
12. Sir Neville Marriner - String Quintet in E Major, G. 275: III. Minuetto
13. Ben Glassberg - Concierto de Aranjuez: II. Adagio
14. Sir Simon Rattle - The Nutcracker, Op. 71, Act II: No. 13, Waltz of the Flowers
15. Gabriela Montero - Nocturnes, Op. 27: No. 2 in D-Flat Major. Lento sostenuto
16. Adrien Perruchon - 3 Gymnopédies: No. 1, Lent et douloureux (Orch. Ducros)
17. Sir Simon Rattle - The Nutcracker, Op. 71, Act I: No. 2, March
18. Daniel Müller-Schott - Sonata for Cello and Piano, FP 143: II. Cavatine
19. Mikhail Pletnev - 24 Preludes, Op. 11: No. 21 in B-Flat Major. Andante
20. Nikolai Lugansky - Preludes, Op. 28: No. 15 in D-Flat Major "Raindrop". Sostenuto
21. Nigel Kennedy - The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto No. 4 in F Minor, RV 297 "Winter": I. Allegro non molto
22. Michel Plasson - Carmen, WD 31, Act I: No. 5 Habanera. L'amour est un oiseau rebelle (Carmen, Cigarières, Jeunes gens, Dragons)
23. Sir John Barbirolli - Cello Concerto in E Minor, Op. 85: I. Adagio - Moderato
24. Daniel Barenboim - Prelude and Fugue in C Major, BWV 846: I. Prelude
25. Sir Simon Rattle - The Nutcracker, Op. 71, Act II: No. 14, Pas de deux: Var. II. Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy
26. Mikhail Pletnev - Nocturne in C-Sharp Minor, B. 49
27. Fazil Say - Piano Sonata No. 11 in A Major, K. 331 "Alla Turca": I. Andante grazioso
28. Bertrand Chamayou - Miroirs, M. 43: III. Une barque sur l'océan
29. Mikhail Pletnev - Piano Concerto No. 23 in A Major, K. 488: I. Allegro
30. Alison Balsom - Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, BWV 147: X. Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
31. Sir Adrian Boult - Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 36 "Enigma": Theme. Andante
32. Alex Briger - Harpsichord Suite No. 4 in D Minor, HWV 437: III. Sarabande
33. Fazil Say - Piano Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13 "Pathétique": II. Adagio cantabile
34. Riccardo Muti - La traviata, Act I: Libiamo ne' lieti calici (Alfredo, Violetta)
35. Martin James Bartlett - Myrthen, Op. 25: No. 1, Widmung (Arr. Franz Liszt)
36. Martha Argerich - Piano Sonata No. 16 in C Major, K. 545: I. Allegro
37. Thibaut García - Pièces de théorbe et de luth: IV. Sarabande (Transcr. for Guitar by Garcia)
38. Jane Parker-Smith - Ave Maria, CG 89
39. Nikolai Lugansky - Nocturnes, Op. 48: No. 1 in C Minor. Lento
40. Leonard Slatkin - Le Carnaval des Animaux, R. 125: XIII. Le cygne (Arr. Chris Hazell)
41. Elisabeth Leonskaja - Nocturnes, Op. 9: No. 2 in E-Flat Major. Andante
42. Andrew von Oeyen - Flute Sonata No. 2 in E-Flat Major, BWV 1031: II. Siciliano (Arr. for Piano by Kempff)
43. Kurt Masur - Violin Concerto in E Minor, Op. 64: I. Allegro molto appassionato
44. Paavo Järvi - Prince Igor, Act II: Polovtsian Dances, Dance II
45. Paavo Järvi - Suite for Variety Orchestra: VII. Waltz 2
46. Sir Neville Marriner - Pavane in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 50 (Orchestral Version)
47. Daniel Barenboim - Prelude and Fugue No. 2 in C Minor, BWV 847: I. Prelude
48. Mikhail Pletnev - Piano Concerto No. 23 in A Major, K. 488: II. Adagio
49. Sir Neville Marriner - Canon and Gigue in D Major for 3 Violins and Continuo, P. 37: I. Canon (Orchestral Version)
50. Sir Adrian Boult - The Lark Ascending (Excerpt: Opening)
51. Aram Ilyitch Khatchaturian - Spartacus, Act II: Adagio of Spartacus and Phrygia
52. Sir Neville Marriner - Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D Major, BWV 1068: II. Air
53. Willi Boskovsky - Kaiserwalzer, Op. 437
54. Maria João Pires - Kinderszenen, Op. 15: No. 1, Von fremden Ländern und Menschen
55. André Previn - Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64, Act I: No. 13, Dance of the Knights
56. Sir Simon Rattle - The Nutcracker, Op. 71, Act II: No. 14, Pas de deux: Coda
57. Mariam Batsashvili - Lieder aus Franz Schubert's "Schwanengesang", S. 560: No. 7, Ständchen
58. Maxim Emelyanychev - Il Giustino, RV 717, Act I: Vedrò con mio diletto (Anastasio)
59. Sir Neville Marriner - Hunt Cantata, BWV 208: No. 9, Sheep May Safely Graze (Arr. Marriner)
60. Antonio Pappano - Pini di Roma: III. I pini del Gianiclo
61. Conrad Tao - 13 Preludes, Op. 32: No.12 in G-Sharp Minor. Allegro
62. André Previn - Swan Lake, Op. 20, Act II: No. 10, Scene. Moderato
63. Alain Lombard - Lakmé, Act I: No. 2, Flower Duet
64. Sir John Barbirolli - Fantasia on Greensleeves, for Flute, Harp and Strings
65. Bryden Thomson - Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major, K. 467: II. Andante