Classical music was composed over a span of hundreds of years, and consequently changed quite considerably over that period, from early music, through baroque, classical, romantic and then modern. I would try to select a few representative pieces of music from each part of history to see if you have a preference for one period over another.
Bach is the definitive composer for baroque music.
Mozart and Beethoven both wrote mostly classical style, with occasional romantic music.
For romantic era my favourite is Brahms, though there are many others.
For modern music a good introduction would be Rachmaninov.
Since you have specified a preference for more dramatic music I'll suggest the following:
1. Bach : Toccata & Fugue BWV 565 (somewhat overplayed, but the original is rather good) dramatic organ music.
2. Mozart piano concerto no 20: a perennial favourite piano concerto. If you don't like it you won't like any Mozart.
3. Mozart Requiem Mass ... totally unlike other Mozart ... dark and other-wordly.
4. "Tchaikovsky Festival" CD Naxos 8.550500 ... removes dust from speaker cones !
5. Mussorgsky - Night on the bare mountain (Decca Legends 289 460 977-2)
6. Carl Orf - Carmina Burana (music from "The Omen" .. there's a good version on Decca). Haunting 10th century lyrics set to modern but sinister sounding music.
I'm thinking there's probably something by Wagner you might like, but I don't really like Wagner myself, so I'm not in a position to suggest a specific piece.
Bach is the definitive composer for baroque music.
Mozart and Beethoven both wrote mostly classical style, with occasional romantic music.
For romantic era my favourite is Brahms, though there are many others.
For modern music a good introduction would be Rachmaninov.
Since you have specified a preference for more dramatic music I'll suggest the following:
1. Bach : Toccata & Fugue BWV 565 (somewhat overplayed, but the original is rather good) dramatic organ music.
2. Mozart piano concerto no 20: a perennial favourite piano concerto. If you don't like it you won't like any Mozart.
3. Mozart Requiem Mass ... totally unlike other Mozart ... dark and other-wordly.
4. "Tchaikovsky Festival" CD Naxos 8.550500 ... removes dust from speaker cones !
5. Mussorgsky - Night on the bare mountain (Decca Legends 289 460 977-2)
6. Carl Orf - Carmina Burana (music from "The Omen" .. there's a good version on Decca). Haunting 10th century lyrics set to modern but sinister sounding music.
I'm thinking there's probably something by Wagner you might like, but I don't really like Wagner myself, so I'm not in a position to suggest a specific piece.