Oh these are just brilliant, thanks

Glad I was able to help you!

Oh what the duck, I was responding to someone in this thread and apparently his post was deleted or something. I swear I'm not one of those re-re's who randomly dumps (insert specific sub-forum genre here) music recommendations into the "(Insert specific sub-forum genre here) Recommendation Thread"s.

Some good suggestions here I will check out.

When I wanted to start getting into classical music a few months ago I found this album on iTunes, it is 24 hours of Classical music. All of it well known stuff. And it was 10 bucks. I usually dl my music, rarely do I buy from iTunes but this seemed worth it, if just for the convenience.

24 Hours of Classical Music

That's one of the best collections out there. And it's so cheap! The entire Handel Messiah is on there, plus a whole load of other excellent selections. I highly recommend that album to anyone who wants to start getting into classical music.

looking for some classical classical(essential bits).

thanks a bunch.

Can you be more specific? Are you looking for stuff like Mozart and Beethoven?

I would appreciate it if you could name particular releases as there are oodles of them for this stuff.

I will name some composers:

Chopin
Schubert
Shostakovich
Borodin
Mozart
Brahms
Dvorak
Mendelssohn
Tchaikovsky

and anything else you think I should hear. I'm basically just starting.

Shostakovich - go for his 15th Symphony. It references the William Tell Overture theme & is just generally a venomous and taxing piece - he really didn't like Stalin.

I suggest the following (with examples):

Chopin: Start with the Mazurkas and Nocturnes

Mazurka in b minor, Op. 33, No. 4


Nocturne Op. 9, No. 2 (you may already be familiar with this one)


Schubert: Winterreise song cycle
Der Lindenbaum


Shostakovich: What clutnuckle suggested, and also the Jazz Suite
Jazz Suite No. 2, VI. Waltz No. 2 (this is easily the most famous movement)


His string quartets are also excellent

Mozart: to get into Mozart, I always suggest listening to his Sonatas and Fantasias (Fantasies) for solo piano, and I also suggest his Requiem.
Lacrimosa from Requiem


Piano Sonata in C Major, K. 545, and Fantasia No. 3 in d minor, K. 397


Brahms: Brahms is so extensive, but this is one of my personal favourites and a good one to start with:
Symphony No. 4 in e minor, Op. 98, I.


Mendelssohn: His violin concertos are beautiful. Also his Wedding March, which you probably know already.


Tchaikovsky: Of course there are his ballets The Nutcracker and Swan Lake, but he has other works too! I suggest starting with the 1812 Overture.


Unfortunately, I'm not as familiar with the works of Borodin or Dvorak, but if you like what I've posted here I can recommend you other, similar composers :)