music which i have enjoyed (this list is constantly being updated):
js bach - chromatic fantasia and fugue ; partitas ; sicilienne
beethoven - piano sonatas ; piano concerto nos. 1, 3-5 ; symphonies nos. 5-9 ; violin
sonatas
bellini - norma ; the montagues and the capulets
brahms - lieder ; piano music (esp the late ones) ; symphonies nos. 1, 2 & 4 ; piano
concerto nos. 1-2 ; violin concerto
berlioz - overtures ; harold in italy ; symphonie fantastique
chopin - waltzes ; nocturnes ; ballades
dvorak - symphony nos. 8 & 9 ; cello concerto
franck - violin sonata
handel - water music suite
mendelssohn - violin concerto in e minor ; symphonies nos. 2, 4 &5
mozart - piano sonatas ; piano concerto nos. 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 20, 21, 23, 24, 26
& 27 ; oboe quartet
saint-saens - carnival of the animals ; piano concerto nos. 1-5 ; "organ' symphony
schubert - lieder ; piano sonatas ; wanderer fantasy ; symphonies (esp the' unfinished')
schumann - EVERYTHING!
sullivan - operetta overtures ; the mikado and hms pinafore (cpte operettas)
tchaikovsky - ballet suites ; piano concerto no. 1 ; violin concerto ; roccoco variations
; symphony nos. 4, 5 & 6
weber - konzertstucke ; overtures ; der freichutz and oberon (cpte opera) ; chamber music
; clarinet concerto in e minor
plays which i have enjoyed (list constantly being updated):
ibsen - hedda gabler ; a doll's house ; pillars of the society
strindberg - the father ; miss julie
brecht - mahagonny
marsha norman - 'night mother
donald margulies - dinner with friends
alfred uhry - driving miss daisy
eugene o'neill - long day's journey into night
arthur miller - death of a salesman
tenessee williams - the glass menagerie
edward albee - who's afraid of virginia woolf
joe penhall - love and understanding
terence rattigan - the browning version
david auburn - proof
georges feydeau - a flea in her ear
dario fo - accidental death of an anarchist
oscar wilde - an ideal husband ; the importance of being earnest
kuo pao kun - no parking on odd days ; the coffin is too big for the hole
tan tarn how - lady soul and her ultimate 's' machine
PS: Here's an additional list of some great pieces of classical music for newcomers
to this genre. Hope you enjoy them as much as I did :)
vivaldi - four seasons
beethoven - symphony no. 5 and 9 ; piano concerto no. 5 'emperor' ; violin sonata
no. 5 'spring'
mozart - jupiter symphony ; overtures ; piano sonata in A (the one with the turkish march)
mendelssohn - violin concerto ; incidental music to midsummer's night dream
saint-saens - carnival of the animals
tchaikovsky - nutcracker suite ; symphony no. 5 ;1812 overture
rachmaninov - piano concerto no. 2 and 3 (shine)
handel - water music suite
*the above are all very accessible, melodious and often familiar pieces. but another way
to start listening is to get the compilation albums like 'classical chillout' or 'the best classical music
in the world' and discover your favourites from there.
