I know there are a few classical music enthusiasts on MdN as well as me, so here's a thread to, well, enthuse! Show us what you love, what you hate, and tell us why. And if you're new to classical music, that's awesome -- have a listen, ask some questions, see if it tickles your fancy! Everything from Monteverdi to Messiaen is welcome, so share away!

I'll get the ball rolling with Leonard Bernstein conducting my favourite piece of orchestral music -- the fifth and final movement of Symphonie Fantastique by Hector Berlioz. This dramatic (and rather theatrical) symphony is the story of an artist's opium-induced hallucination, and in this movement the artist is in Hell, taking part in a freaky demon party.

I love this piece because I can so clearly see the debauchery of the scene as I listen. Here are some things to look out for...
- The "theme music" that represents girl the artist is in love with. It's a theme heard throughout the symphony, but in this movement, it's been manipulated into a quirky little dance-like melody because the girl is now at the demon party, too. You'll hear it first at 1:18 in a C clarinet, then again at 1:35 in the E-flat clarinet, as she starts to dance -- it's shriller and meant to sound a bit saucier
- The use of the Dies Irae theme (from the Mass for the Dead). It starts at 3:15, along with funeral bells tolling, appearing at different tempi in different sections of the orchestra to make a mocking parody of death. Catch it again at 7:49 when it mixes with the demon dance music! Sondheim also uses the Dies Irae in parts of Sweeney Todd.
- The witches' whirling dance moves at 5:42!
- The strings playing col legno (with the wood of the bow) to make scratchy, creepy sounds at 8:16. Pretty sure Berlioz invented this technique for this symphony. (Correct me if I'm wrong!)



Now it's your turn!

Ah!! You appeal to my nerd side.

My favorite classical music piece is The Hebrides Overture by Mendelssohn. I have a whole story in my head that goes along with it. I know it was inspired by his visit to Scotland and the apt subtitle "Fingal's Cave". I like this song so much that I went to this cave. Supposedly it hums and sings when the water is high and rushes in. Alas, it was a rare, beautiful calm day when I was there.



This is another good video that shows the rugged beauty of the islands and the cave, along with the Overture:


Another favorite Mendelssohn piece:

I used to call this the "Butterflies and bunny rabbits" song ... can't you see them frolicking?

Favorite Chopin:

Ahh, that Overture is gorgeous, Brig! It sounds like a fairy-tale! I'm a Mendelssohn fan as well -- I'm a sucker for the beautiful melodic lines he writes.

That's a lovely piece of Chopin as well ... shame about the person coughing at the end, though! Way to kill the mood...

And here's another offering from me -- have I ever mentioned how much I love coloratura mezzo arias? Here's Cecilia Bartoli kicking some coloratura ass in the finale of Rossini's opera La Cenerentola (which is basically Cinderella). I can't believe how easy she makes this sound! (It's not easy. At all. Believe me, I've tried it out in the shower enough times to know!) I love how when she takes in a breath at about 1:30, you can just imagine her thinking, "You ain't seen nothing yet. Take that, bitches!"

Here's a video (with subtitles) for anyone who thinks that opera is boring, stuffy, and serious. It's from Mozart's The Magic Flute -- after spending the whole show whinging about how lonely he is, Papageno the simple bird-catcher finally gets his perfect girl (who until now has been disguised as an old lady) I love this duet. I've seen it done in so many ways ... from super cute to super raunchy. So much fun!

The Act I love duet from Madame Butterfly. I don't care that I know it ends badly, I don't care that I know Pinkerton's a cad, this is still some of the most romantic music ever written. I've spent hours listening repeatedly to this duet, luxuriating in the sound.

This clip is from Frederic Mitterrand's stunning film of the opera. The voices are lighter than ideal, since the singers were cast more for their looks and acting than for their singing, but still beautiful.

Another of my favorite Chopin nocturnes:

Words cannot describe how beautiful this peice truly is.



I kinda find it sad no one really mentions this peice. I just love the melencoly that is heard here as well as being meditative.




Der Erlkiong....This peice kinda made me love Franz Schubert. It's as if we are listenting to a mini opera in a way. I also love the challange for both the pianist*And bless anyone who can play this* as well as the singer who needs to play four characters at the same.




Ugh...I wish I had this on my ipod! This peice is just awesome and yes I couldn't resist using clips from Fantasia.

And don't think this post of mine has ending, trust me there is more to come....

Augh, I love Erlkönig, Yakko! Such an amazing song! That's Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, right? Beautiful performance from a beautiful singer of lieder, but nobody tops Bryn Terfel on this piece for me. His vocal characterisation and sense of atmosphere is just impeccable.

Meh...He's okay...But he doesn't really do it for me at all. Anyway..More from me!



Ever since I first heard of it I still get enough of this amazing peice.



Okay truth be told I have yet to see Don Givonni, but this aria is really making me want to....And Cecilia Bartoli....She is just the perfect Mezzo.




This is just a masterpeice...Just listen and you will understand.

That third piece you posted is amazing, Yakko -- my speakers didn't handle the volume very well, but I do love me some Victoria de los Angeles And "Batti, batti" is one of my favourites as well. So cheeky! (A director once told me that every time you see the word "pace" (Italian for "peace") in a Mozart opera with a libretto by Da Ponte, there's a 99% chance they're talking about "post-coital peace", if you get my drift )

Hoffmann is a gorgeous opera -- so whimsical, like a dark fairy-tale. I want to learn this aria from it, but the sheet music is proving tricky to find. Can't seem to be able to buy it online, and the edition of the score in my uni library doesn't include this aria; it's sometimes cut in production, although I don't understand why. I think it's utterly beautiful.

Especially the melody on the "C'est l'amour, c'est l'amour vainqueur... etc" ("It is love, it is conquering love...") And how the violin solo echoes Nicklausse's line the second time it comes around ... AUGH. GORGEOUS.



EDIT: Just found this clip of the same aria. I prefer Gubanova's voice, but I like this staging and Kirchschlager's acting much more

I know we already have some Magic Flute above, but I flipping love this performance. Diana Damrau is the best Queen of the Night I've watched (on YouTube, mostly, but a few live ones as well). She's just TERRIFYING. It's not just hitting the high notes and singing pretty; it's like each note is a shard of glass she's singing at Pamina. The costuming is also fabulous. I totally have a crush on this clip, if that's possible.



Vaughan Williams is my absolute favorite composer, and this piece is just achingly beautiful. I generally don't feel too fussed about the violin as an instrument, but this is a definite exception. *melt*

In my opinion, the best of Beethoven's Piano Sonatas: The Waldstein Sonata (I'm posting here the first half of the first movement only).
Beethoven really reaches perfection in terms of harmony, texture and structure with this outstanding piece from his middle period.


More Beethoven
Believed by some people (including me xD) to be one of the greatest (if not the greatest) concertos for any instrument. The 4th Piano Concerto.

I tear up always in the second movement. For me, one of the most heartbreaking/emotional movements in Beethoven's work. Amazing how extreme the contrast is between the majestic and generally happy first movement, the second movement and the cheerful final rondo. Lovelovelove Beethoven