The Best Classical Music CDs to Add to Your Collection

Here are the best classical music CDs to add to your collection, from Bach to Beethoven to Mozart to Tchaikovsky.

Introduction

Classical music has a reputation for being boring, elitist, and inaccessible. But it doesn’t have to be that way! There are plenty of great classical music CDs that are perfect for beginners and longtime fans alike.

Whether you’re looking for a introduction to the genre or a new addition to your collection, these are some of the best classical music CDs to check out.

The Best of Bach

Bach is often considered one of the greatest composers of all time, and rightfully so. His music is some of the most complex and beautiful ever written, and his contributions to the world of classical music are immeasurable. If you’re looking to add some Bach to your collection, here are some of the best CDs to consider.

-The Bach Album: This compilation album features some of Bach’s most well-known pieces, including “Air on the G String” and “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.” It’s a great introduction to Bach’s work for those who are new to his music.

-Bach Hits Back: This album features interpretations of Bach’s work by contemporary artists like Pharrell Williams and Snoop Dogg. It’s a fun and unique take on Bach’s music that will appeal to fans of all genres.

-Bach: The Goldberg Variations: This iconic work by Bach is widely considered one of the greatest pieces of classical music ever composed. This album features pianist Glenn Gould’s famous 1955 recording of the work, which is widely regarded as one of the best interpretations ever recorded.

The Best of Beethoven

There is no easy way to determine which Beethoven CDs are the best, as it depends on what you are looking for. However, some Beethoven CDs are more highly rated by experts than others. If you are just starting your collection, or if you want a sampling of Beethoven’s work, these CDs are a good place to start:

-Beethoven: The late string quartets (Op. 127, 131, 132, 135) performed by the Quartetto Italiano. This set of four CDs features some of Beethoven’s most complex and challenging music.
-Beethoven: The nine symphonies performed by Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic. This set of nine CDs is widely considered to be one of the best recordings of Beethoven’s symphonies.
-Beethoven: The five piano concertos performed by Daniel Barenboim and the English Chamber Orchestra. These concertos are some of Beethoven’s most popular works, and this recording is highly praised for its fidelity to Beethoven’s original vision.

The Best of Brahms

There are many recordings of Brahms’s music, and choosing the best can be a daunting task. This list includes some of the best Brahms CDs available, including symphonies, concertos, chamber music, and solo piano pieces.

Brahms’s Symphony No. 4 is one of his most popular works, and there are many excellent recordings to choose from. One of the best is by conductor Herbert von Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. Karajan’s recording is full of energy and feeling, making it a great choice for those who want to experience Brahms’s music at its best.

For a more intimate experience, try pianist Rudolf Serkin’s recording of Brahms’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with conductor Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. Serkin’s playing is sensitive and expressive, with just the right amount of power.

If you’re looking for a chamber music CD, consider The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s recording of Brahms’s Clarinet Quintet in B minor. This quintet is one of Brahms’s most beloved works, and this recording features superb playing by clarinetist David Shifrin and the other members of the Chamber Music Society.

Finally, no collection of Brahms CDs would be complete without a solo piano work by the composer himself. If you’re just starting your collection, try pianist Alfred Brendel’s recording of Brahms’s Piano Sonata No. 3 in F minor. Brendel is one of the world’s greatest exponents of Brahms’s piano music, and this sonata is one of his most famous recordings.

The Best of Chopin

Few composers have captured the hearts of music lovers like Frederic Chopin. The Polish composer wrote some of the most beautiful and abundant melodic music ever known, and it’s no wonder his works are still widely performed and recorded today. Here are ten of the best Chopin CDs to add to your collection.

1) Vasily Primakov –nocturnes
2) Alina Ibragimova – 24 Preludes
3) Benjamin Grosvenor – 24 Preludes & Fantasie-Impromptu
4) Maria Joao Pires –nocturnes
5) Evgeny Kissin –nocturnes
6) Daniil Trifonov –nocturnes & Polonaises
7) Yundi Li – 24 Preludes
8) Grigory Sokolov – 24 Preludes & Fantasie-Impromptu
9) Krystian Zimerman –nocturnes
10) Martha Argerich – 24 Preludes

The Best of Dvorak

The Best of Dvorak offers a wide selection of the great Czech composer’s work, ranging from his earliest compositions to his mature masterpieces. The CD includes well-known favorites such as the “New World” Symphony and the “Slavonic Dances,” as well as lesser-known gems such as the “Serenade for Strings” and the “Cello Concerto.” The performances are all first-rate, making this an excellent introduction to Dvorak’s music.

The Best of Elgar

Elgar was one of the most popular composers of his day, and his music still holds a place in the affections of classical music lovers. This CD collects some of his best-known works, including the Pomp and Circumstance marches, the Enigma Variations, and the Gerontius cantata.

The Best of Grieg

Grieg is one of the most beloved classical composers, and this CD features some of his most famous work. If you’re a fan of classical music, this is a must-have for your collection.

The Best of Haydn

As one of the fathers of the symphony, Haydn’s work is some of the most well-known and beloved in all of classical music. This collection brings together three of his most famous and well-loved works – The Creation, The Seasons, and The Nelson Mass. If you’re looking for a Haydn CD to add to your collection, this is a great place to start.

The Best of Liszt

Liszt was a true virtuoso who stretched the boundaries of what was possible on the piano. He was also a prolific composer, and his works cover a wide range of genres. This CD features some of his most well-known pieces, including “Liebestraum” and “Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2.”

The Best of Mendelssohn

Mendelssohn’s music is both deeply felt and elegant, making it some of the best classical music to add to your collection. On this CD, you’ll find some of his best works, including the overture to “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “Violin Concerto in E Minor.”

The Best of Mozart

There are many great Mozart CDs available, but these are some of the best, according to classical music experts.

The Best of Mozart features some of the composer’s most popular pieces, including “Eine kleine Nachtmusik,” “The Marriage of Figaro,” and “Requiem.” This CD is a great introduction to Mozart’s work for those who are new to his music.

If you’re looking for a more comprehensive collection of Mozart’s work, the Complete Mozart Edition is a good choice. This box set includes all of the composer’s known works, including symphonies, concertos, operas, and chamber music.

The Mozart Effect is a collection of Mozart’s music specifically designed to boost brain power. The theory behind the Mozart Effect is that listening to the composer’s music can increase intelligence and creativity.

Finally, for something a little different, The Magic Flute is an opera by Mozart that tells the story of Prince Tamino who goes on a quest to rescue Princess Pamina from the evil Sarastro.

The Best of Schubert

With a string of elegantly crafted symphonies, gorgeous vocal works, and endlessly inventive piano music, Franz Schubert was one of the supreme melodists of the 19th century. This five-disc set brings together some of his greatest masterpieces, including the “Unfinished” Symphony, the “Great” C Major Symphony, and the “Trout” Quintet. We also get a chance to savor Schubert’s gift for song in performances by singers such as Ian Bostridge and John Mark Ainsley.

The Best of Schumann

If you’re looking for the best of Schumann, you can’t go wrong with this CD. It features some of his most popular pieces, including “The Merry Farmer,” “Soldiers’ March,” and “The Wild Horseman.” The performances are top-notch, and the sound quality is excellent.

The Best of Tchaikovsky

Any CD that contains both “The Nutcracker Suite” and “Sleeping Beauty Waltz” is bound to be popular, but this particular release from Decca/London also features outstanding sound quality. The lushness of the London Symphony Orchestra’s playing really comes through, as do the delicate nuances of the woodwinds.

The Best of Vivaldi

Vivaldi is one of the most popular composers of classical music, and his work is enjoyed by music lovers all over the world. If you’re looking for the best Vivaldi CDs to add to your collection, you can’t go wrong with any of the following:

-The Four Seasons: One of Vivaldi’s most popular works, The Four Seasons is a collection of four concertos that each represent a different season. This CD features world-renowned violinist Joshua Bell performing the work with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields.

-Concerto for Two Violins in D Minor: Another one of Vivaldi’s well-known works, this concerto features two violins playing in harmony throughout. This CD features violinists Salvatore Accardo and Uto Ughi performing the work together.

-The Masterworks: This CD compilation features some of Vivaldi’s most famous pieces, including The Four Seasons, Concerto for Two Violins in D Minor, and more. It’s the perfect way to get acquainted with his work if you’re new to classical music.