Ten Greatest Showpieces of Western Classical Music

"Surprise" Symphony Haydn.

Haydn's Symphony No.94 was so called because of the loud chord in the middle of the quiet second movement. He is supposed to have said jocularly that "it would make the ladies jump!"

"Jupiter" Symphony Mozart

Mozart's last symphony, No.41, had a "majestic" opening of the first movement, hence the name of "Jupiter", the chief God of the Roman pantheon.

"Eroica" Symphony Beethoven.

The third symphony marked a creative turning point in his work. It was initially dedicated to Napoleon (heroic=Eroica), but later changed.

"Trout" Quintet by Schubert.

A rare chamber music piece using the double-bass & having five movements. The fourth movement is a set of variations on his song "The Trout", hence the name.

Symphony Fantastique by Berlioz.

One of the first "programme" (telling a story) compositions, using a love story with drug induced hallucinations, with novel orchestration.

"From the New World" Symphony by Dvorak.

On arrival at the USA, he composed this immensely popular work (more than 100 recordings) using African American & Native American tunes.

"Pictures at an Exhibition" by Mussorgsky.

Inspired by the art of Victor Hartmann, Mussorgsky composed these piano pieces, which however are better known in their orchestral version, prepared by Ravel.

"Carnival of the Animals" by Saint Saens.

The composer uses various instruments & sections of the orchestra to depict different animals, the most popular being the "Swan" played by a cello.

"The Planets" by Holst.

Contrary to general understanding, the sections refer to the astrological meaning rather than the astronomical meaning of the planets. From the "ff" (loud) opening of "Mars" to the "pp" (soft) ending of the "Neptune", this work covers the full dynamic range of the orchestra.

"Concerto for Orchestra" by Bartok.

All the sections of the orchestra are highlighted in turn in this stunning work.

Special mention can be made of the parodying of the theme from the first movement of Shostakovich's "Leningrad" Symphony, in the fourth movement of this work.