Most achingly-beautiful music

surf by roddy frame,
O by damien rice
anything sad off american 4 by johhny cash.

Adagio from Albinoni's Concerto for Oboe in D Major

Rachmaninoff's 2nd Symphony 3rd movement is the pinnacle as far as I'm concerned. As for "pop" music, off the top of my head I think of "When We Dance" by Sting, but there are many others. Then there is the achingly beautiful compositions in the filmusic genre. Bernard Herrmann's love theme from "White Witch Doctor" (get past the title) or finale from "Fahrenheit 451"....and there is Victor Young's hearbreakingly beautiful love theme from "The Left Hand of God" or Franz Waxman's theme from "Peyton Place" or Alex North's deeply emotional theme from "Spartacus."

Mahler symphony 5, the 2nd movement and the 4th (Adagietto) movment. Best recording conducted by Eliahu Inbal with the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra and manufacture by Denon. I have more than 6 versions but this one is the BEST

albinoni- you'd think he'd have written a lot more music as incredibly beautiful as the adagio. i have a vote for Spirit's haunting alblum- CLEAR, with the song by that name. is anyone here a randy california fan (guitarist in Spirit)?
4 of the best prog.rock alblums ever recorded. then there's ac jobim- black orpheus- timeless/exquisite/beautiful, etc....