Beautiful Music

[Dobson73]

I've just been listening to the "Humming Chorus" from Madama Butterfly and it struck me as one of the most beautiful pieces of music I've ever heard.

Simple, elegent and extremly romantic.

What piece of music gives you that extra smile and "wow" moment?

 

[teadrinker]

Depends on the mood I'm in, but Mozart's clarinet concerto usually wows me. It's certainly one of the all time greats,and I never get tired oflistening to it. Then there are the Bach Goldberg variations...

-T.

 

[pjlikesporn]

Pretty much anything by Strauss. It doesn't have to be opera, but Elektra and Ariadne both give me chills.

 

[ozguy]

...... What piece of music gives you that extra smile and "wow" moment?

Without a doubt I would choose several of the great piano concerti. I am completely transported whenever I listen to them (usually when I'm home alone and can turn the volume up full bore!). My favourites would be ....

Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor - Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Piano Concerto in A minor - Edvard Grieg
Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini - Sergei Rachmaninoff
Piano Concerto No. 5 "Emperor" in E flat major - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Piano Concerto in F major - George Gershwin
Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Piano Concerto in G major - Maurice Ravel

 

[gsdx]

The Largo from the "Symphony of Sorrowful Songs" with Dawn Upshow (by Henryk Gorecki).

It has to be the most hauntingly-beautiful pieces of music I've ever heard.

For pure 'wow', though, I would have to say Schumann's Konzertstück for 4 Horns and orchestra, Opus 86.

 

[pjlikesporn]

The Largo from the "Symphony of Sorrowful Songs" with Dawn Upshow (by Henryk Gorecki).

Got to agree with you there. In fact, the entire piece is captivating!

 

[gsdx]

Got to agree with you there. In fact, the entire piece is captivating!

I've never hear the entire piece. CFMX plays only the Largo. I've been trying to find it on CD, but there aren't many stores around here which sell them. I might have to order it.

 

[dcmorgan]

A song called "Courtyard Lullaby", an Irish folk song, sung by a male. His voice is so high-pitched and thoroughly pure it really makes me cry. It's beauty in its purest form.

 

[pacz]

Puccini's, La Boheme

Gets to me everytime.

 

[beafous]

"Un Bel Di" from Madame Butterfly
O Mio Babbino Caro by Maria Callas (Puccini)
Overture from the Barber of Seville (Rossini)
Chi Mi Frena in Tal Momento
Valse from Swan Lake (Tchaikovsky)
Lacrimosa (from the requiem mass) by Mozart

 

[dcmorgan]

Beniamino Gigli singing "Pagliacci" from "Vesti la giubba" gets me every time.

 

[Paws]

Boards of Canada

 

[looseliam]

Bach's unaccompanied Cello Suite No. 1
Barber's Adagio for Strings
Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, esp. choral finale.
Oh, and most everything of Vivaldi

 

[buzzj]

I agree with your choice of the Humming Chorus. Along those same romantic lines, of late I've been enjoying "Au fond du temple saint" from "Les Pecheurs de Perles."

 

[blackbeltninja]

O Fortuna from Carmina Burana by Carl Orff. The raw power of that is mind-numbing.

Perhaps technically more impressive is Bach's Toccatta & Fugue. I was at a performance of the rock-opera Roll over, Beethoven which started with that played on a violin with a full band (not orchestra) joining in half-way and it really knocked me for six.

-d-

 

[Croynan]

Just saw a production of Massenet's Manon - last night, Anna Netrobko and Rolando Villazon, Placido Domingo conducting.

A production and singing sent from the Gods. Two perfectly matched artists. Sheer brilliance all around.



Cinderella - Prokofiev

Cosi Fan Tutte - Mozart



eM.

 

[slobone]

I agree with your choice of the Humming Chorus. Along those same romantic lines, of late I've been enjoying "Au fond du temple saint" from "Les Pecheurs de Perles."

Wow, will you marry me? We could snuggle up on the sofa and listen together.

Have you heard the Bjorling recording of the Pecheurs duet? (with -- I forget who). The tenor aria is sensational also.

Only thing I can add is the Quartet from Rigoletto -- my all-time favorite opera excerpt. Gets me every time.

Oh and Soave sia il vento from Cosi Fan Tutte (excuse the lack of diacriticals, I'm just lazy).

 

[Swellegant]

Trio In E-Flat, Op.100 - Schubert
Lakme - Delibes
Suite #1 For Solo Cello In G Major - Bach

Someone's been listening to his The Hunger soundtrack again

Not exactly classical, and not quite a show-tune, my favorite chill-inducing, it's-so-pretty-I-could-cry piece of music is "Think of Me" from Phantom of the Opera.

 

[slobone]

Not exactly classical, and not quite a show-tune, my favorite chill-inducing, it's-so-pretty-I-could-cry piece of music is "Think of Me" from Phantom of the Opera.

That reminds me -- I forgot to include La fanciulla del West. Third act finale --

 

[MidnightPrism]

CLASSIC but not classical... Patsy Cline

really anything she sings touches me