[Open Book]

Mozart's Don Giovanni. Listening to Klemperer with George London, etc. from 1955 Cologne right now.

 

[Becca]

Vaughan Williams Tallis Fantasia - a work which, over and above the sheer beauty of the sound world which VW creates, evokes everything that England has lost or is in danger of losing. It also has important non-musical associations for me. Although I don't really go in for 'bucket lists', I really would love to see and hear it performed in Gloucester Cathedral.

Ask and you shall receive...

 

[Great Uncle Frederick]

Ask and you shall receive...

Many thanks! (What I SHOULD have said is 'attend' or 'be present at', but this will serve very will until that happens).

 

[julide]

there were no elevators and no telephone queues in those days so mozart did not write with that purpose in mind; i agree that the music is syrupy and repetitive, but those were the days....; it baffles me that anybody can like this today while there is so much exciting new music

I love both xenakis and mozart but mozart is actually far more interesting to listen to nowadays because there simply isnt music written today that is erotic and charming whereas much of the new music of today is in the vein of xenakis' avant gardism

 

[GMB]

My favourite piano work is Liszt's La Benediction de Dieu dans la Solitude. It is transcendental and never fails to move me spiritually, or psychologically, which is the same thing.

 

[Great Uncle Frederick]

Mozart's Piano Concerto #24 in c minor.

I have so many favourite Mozart works (K491, K424, K542 ...) that it was easier to go for the Vaughan Williams, but I would say that K491 is my favourite concerto. I've seen it live just once, with André Previn directing the LSO from the keyboard - with his back to the body of the hall!

 

[SoloYH]

Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue BWV 903

 

[Wilhelm Theophilus]

My lifelong favorite I think is Bach's Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 582.

...Talking of duds

 

[mikeh375]

Britten's War Requiem for me...

 

[Oldhoosierdude]

Beethoven's Sixth, I've always loved it, even the Liszt piano transcription.

Ah a kindred heart. I saw Fantasia as a child and the 6th Symphony has been my favorite ever since.

 

[Tchaikov6]

brahms violin concerto at the moment!

 

[Bill Cooke]

If there can be only one... The Rite of Spring.

 

[leonsm]

...Talking of duds

I missed the context here...

 

[Rogerx]

Beethoven Piano concerto 3 ( and 5)

 

[geralmar]

"The Lark Ascending", Vaughan Williams. The first two thirds of the work anyway. After about ten minutes it's, "So land, already!". There can be too much of a good thing.

 

[Great Uncle Frederick]

Vaughan Williams Tallis Fantasia

 

[RMinNJ]

Agree this is an impossible question! I agree with so many of these, but if I HAD to pick just one, it's Shostakovich symphony 7, deeply personal for me, epic and gorgeous, resilience and hope over tragedy, and the ending always, always moves me to tears.

 

[Terrapin]

Op 132

 

[NicoleEB]

I think I would have to pick a boring one and say the 5th Brandenburg concerto. Or maybe the third. I would also maybe take the first or second orchestral suites. To pick a definitive one: the fifth Brandenburg concerto!! It is a joy to listen to every time. The music flows naturally and novelly, especially in the first movement, it is very lovable from moment to moment and the themes themselves are enjoyable. The part writing is splendid and the structure is solid as a rock. The third movement is very striking sounding when it is not quaint, so it's a good contrast to the first.

 

[clavichorder]

Bach Inventions and Sinfonias. I've learned more and gotten more joy from experiencing playing these myself than anything.