How to start listening to classical music

You’ve decided to become more familiar with classical music — but where should you start? The YourClassical programming staff has compiled this playlist, which covers a broad and basic range of the classics, to use as a starting point.

Beethoven: Complete Symphonies (Simon Rattle conducting the Vienna Philharmonic; EMI/Warner Classics): All the major composers wrote at least one symphony, regarded as the backbone of classical music. Some wrote a handful; some wrote more than a hundred! Ludwig van Beethoven composed “only” nine, but they are among the most famous of the genre. Indeed, the finale of his Symphony No. 9, commonly referred to as the “Ode to Joy,” might be among the most recognized pieces in all of classical music. See if you agree.  

50 Best Relaxing Piano (various artists; Warner Classics): For many people, the first exposure to (and appreciation of) classical music comes from taking piano lessons. There’s a wide range of classical piano music, but why not start with the relaxing variety included in this collection? Listen to Tzimon Barto play Franz Liszt’s Consolation No. 3. (For more mellow favorites, listen to our Peaceful Piano stream.)

String Quartets, Franz Joseph Haydn (Doric String Quartet; BBC): Besides symphonies, string quartets (comprising two violins, a viola and a cello) are a major indicator of a composer’s skill. Haydn was a master of both: He’s known as the father of both genres. Here’s the “Minuet” from String Quartet No. 5, performed by the Doric String Quartet.

Ballet Suites, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Herbert von Karajan conducting the Vienna Philharmonic; Deutsche Grammophon): Who better to introduce you to the world of ballet than Tchaikovsky? His Nutcracker Suite gets all the attention, especially around the holidays, but his other two major ballets — Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake — are no slouches either. You can enjoy all three ballets on this classic release from the Berlin Philharmonic. Dive into “Lake by Moonlight” from Swan Lake. 

The No. 1 Opera Album (various artists; Universal): This compilation album, a splendid introduction to opera, includes excerpts from such classics as La Bohème, Carmen and Madame Butterfly. But we’re partial to this selection from Giacomo Rossini’s The Barber of Seville, in which the titular barber, Figaro, starts things off with one of the most difficult baritone arias of all time, “Largo al Factotum.”

Choral Masterpieces (Robert Shaw conducting the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus; Telarc): The urge to come together in song has been vital since the dawn of humanity. And of the great choral conductors, Robert Shaw stands at the top. His popularity and influence reached all corners of the globe, and his recordings with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, and his own Robert Shaw Chorale, are legendary. Here he conducts the Atlanta chorus in Sergei Rachmaninoff’s “Rejoice, O Virgin,” from Vespers. (Listen to more vocal favorites on YourClassical’s Choral Stream.)

Manuel Barrueco Plays Albéniz and Turina (EMI/Warner Classics): The guitar and its ancestors have been around for millennia, and perhaps no nation has harnessed its power for classical music as wholeheartedly as Spain. This album has a sterling collection of Spanish classical guitar favorites, including Isaac Albéniz’s “Castilla” from Spanish Suite. (And if these selections whet your appetite, check out YourClassical’s Guitar Stream.)

By Request: The Best of John Williams and the Boston Pops (Phillips): Does movie music count as classical music? Of course! John Williams, the most famous film composer of our time, also was the longtime conductor of the Boston Pops. On this album, he conducts the orchestra in some of his most popular and familiar scores. Can you conjure up that famous image as you listen to “Bicycle Chase” from E.T.? (And if you want to hear more movie music, check out YourClassical’s weekly two-hour show Saturday Cinema, hosted by Lynne Warfel.)