classical suggestions

Some very popular classic's for beginners are Beethoven 5th and 6th Symphonies, Rachmaninoff's 2d Symphony, Tchaikovsky's 5th and 6th Symphonies, Sibelius' 2nd Symphony, Dvorak's 6th (one of my fav's), 8th and 9th, and St Saens Symphony #3. I would also recommend Prokoviev's Romeo & Juliet Suite, the Berlioz and the Mussorgsky mentioned above, and Rachmaninoff's Symphonic Dances (thats a really big exciting piece). When you hone in on what you're going to expiriment with ask for specific recommendations on each piece or look up the peice in a reference such as Penguin Guide or some such. Enjoy - there are thousands more.............

Check out www.XRCD.com for the RCA LIVING STEREO re-releases of Fritz Reiner CSO & Charles Munch BSO. All the titles listed above are available on XRCD.

There are many good "sampler" type discs which would allow you to hear popular selections from multiple composers on the same cd. The Naxos label is always a good value, and a quick search on a site like Tower Records, where you can hear parts of a disc, can be a big help.

I would highly recommend that you start with the "big guns" like Mozart, Beethoven, Bach, Brahms, etc... They have been universally popular for good reason!

You might even go to good old BMG and pick up the RCA "Simply Classical Collection" which has multiple volumes and the opportunity to hear some things which could really strike your fancy.

Do something like this and get back to us with the favored sounds and further recommendations can be made. It is really always about what YOU like, and not what anyone else thinks you should!

Enjoy your music,

Charlie

Great suggestions so far... Newbee, I agree with every one of your recommendations. Great works! I'd add Beethoven's 7th and 9th, Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5,
and Mahler's Symphony No. 2 (the "Resurrection"). Those last two especially will blow you away! Enjoy!

OK. Some other specific suggestions:

Wagner, Symphony in C major, Berlin Classics 0094082BC

Pachelbel Canon and Other Baroque Hits, RCA Victor 09026-60840-2

Yo Yo Ma, Simply Baroque, Sony

Mozart for your Mind, Philips, 446 377-2 (BMG D207364-2)

Respighi, Ancient Airs and Dances (Lopez-Cobos) Telarc 80309

Wagner, Orchestral Music, (Levine) Deutsche Grammophon 447 764-2

Charlie