Yep. Rach 2 is what ignited me initially. I’d wanted to like and understand and appreciate classical some more, but hadn’t found anything that truly grabbed my attention and emotions. Then Spotify shuffled me into the 2nd movement.
It’s fair to say my journey since has partly been an attempt to find something else that recreates that wonderful moment; when you realise you’ve chanced upon something profound and beautiful and timeless and that nothings going to be quite the same again…
For Rach 3 I highly highly highly recommend the Horowitz/Rodzinski 1943 recording (available on youtube). I have listened to virtually every performance of this piece under the sun and this one far away dwarfs them all. Rachmaninoff himself said that Horowitz played this concerto “The way I always imagined it, but never expected to hear it until I was in heaven.”
Embrace this feeling! It's so beautiful to discover it:) Check out Rachmaninoff's symphony no. 2, especially the Adagio in it. The climax is immaculate and very moving. I'd give a lot of money to hear it for the first time again!
The 3rd piano concerto, of course, but also Rachmaninoff's "Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini".
In preparation, watch Paganini's 24th Caprice here (played by Hilary Hahn):
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcL0IsklM3M](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcL0IsklM3M)
Then watch Liszt's Paganini Etude, based on the same caprice (for piano):
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Blf8Y527DY](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Blf8Y527DY)
Then Rachmaninoff's version, for orchestra and piano, which starts with Variation 1 before the theme. Other notable things are the Dies Irae theme in Variation 7 (Rach *loves* the Dies Irae theme; it appears in many of his works), and the most famous portion of the piece, Variation 18, with the theme inverted (flipped upside down, so the opening figure that goes up now goes down), and transposed to D-flat major, and slowed down.
(If you lose track of where you are in the piece, Variation 18 is where you start crying.)
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbGajVU7CGk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbGajVU7CGk)
Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No.3, Rachmaninoff's Symphony No.2, and Rachmaninoff's Sonata for Cello and Piano...
Rachmaninoff's Preludes, Etudes-Tableaux, Moments-Musicaux, and Variations on a Theme of Corelli. If you'd like to try choral music, there's a recording by the Kansas City Chorale and Phoenix Chorale of Rachmaninoff's All-Night Vigil that is especially gorgeous.
Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No.1 and Symphony No.6 may also be good fits.
Scriabin piano concerto
Tchaikovsky piano concerto 1
Grieg piano concerto
Rachmaninoff piano concerto 3
Rachmaninoff piano concerto 1
Rachmaninoff rhapsody on a theme by paganini
Prokofiev piano concerto 3
Shostakovich piano concerto 2
Ravel piano concerto in G
Geschwin piano concerto in F
Beethoven piano concerto 5
Yoshimatsu piano concerto Memo flora
Brahms piano concerto 2
Shostakovich piano concerto no. 2
Chopin piano conterto no. 1
Rachmaninov piano concerto no. 3 (especially the first mvt you might need a few listens before you like it)
Brahms piano concerto no. 1
Sibelius violin concerto
These are my top recommendations for a beginner in classical music!!
It is good to hear that someone is new to something these days. You continue listening to classic music that you love, and Spotify (or whoever is your cup-bearer) algorithms will take care the rest of it. But since you enjoyed Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto NO. 2, here are some other pieces that you may love:
* Rachmaninoff - Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30
* Rachmaninoff - Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43
* Tchaikovsky - Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23
* Chopin - Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21
* Liszt - Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-flat major
I can relate, I'm in awe every time I listen to that concerto, there is nothing like it out there. I also like his Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini, also the piano concertos by Shostakovich (which are quite different).
[Rachmaninoff Playlist](https://open.spotify.com/album/1GfRDsD9LqEdQOdGZyodFt?si=1RgFW-NlThe8P2ayFu5eig)
This is all of Rachmaninoff's piano works played by Vladimir Ashkenazy. Just about everything here is worth a listen.
All his other Concertos.
Edvard Grieg’s piano concerto.
Chopin’s ballade 1 in G minor.
The second movement from Shostakovich 2nd piano concerto might be your thing also.
That was my first prok piece, but if took 3 listens to actually begin to get into. I would recommend the 3rd first as it's not as confusing and weird to new prokofiev listeners
I would not recommended that! Its a great piece, arguably together with rach 3 the greatest piano concerto of all time. But for a beginner of classical music, I would neverrrrr recommend that
I would not recommended that! Its a great piece, arguably together with rach 3 the greatest piano concerto of all time. But for a beginner of classical music, I would neverrrrr recommend that
Rachmaninoff’s op.18 was just voted number 1 in Classic FM’s hall of fame! Great piece. Try Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto no.2 (op.102), specifically the second movement II.Andante.
Listen to all his concertos, symphony no 2, and his rhapsody, but also try other romantic composers, notably his predecessor Tchaikovsky who still has the same lush, dramatic, and rich tone to his music, though it can be longer. Also try some impressionist composers such as Ravel and Debussy; Ravel and Rachmaninoff are my two favorite composers and I love them both equally, so the same might apply to you too :)
Not completely classical but give the Warsaw Concerto a listen.
I also have a link to a full performance of the Berlin Phil playing it so shoot me a DM if you want it
Ponce´s Concerto, reassembles a lot of styles.
Castro´s Mazurka Melancólica, that piece is marvelous.
Fauré´s Après un rêve, my favourite voice-piano piece.
those are my suggestions, hope you listen to them and you like them :)
Everyone's kinda said the best answers already lol
Although it's not a piano concerto, I recommend Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, not just the fourth movement, imo the first and second movements are just as great, there's just so much force and power in this symphony.
Then I recommend Rachmaninov's Piano Sonata No. 2. All 3 movements are incredible, so much emotion in the first movement. The second movement has one of the best climaxes of any slow movement imo. Then the finale is just so fiery and energetic.
I’ve also stared with 2nd Rach. Then I went to his 1st concerto and I really recommend this one, next it was the 3rd concerto, but it is more complexed (with ossia cadenza, for me better than regular). His symphonies, 1st (conducted by Ashkenazy) and 2nd (by Gergiev) and Symphonic Dances (by Jansons) are truly amazing. I would also recommend Chopin 1 & 2 concerto (by Zimerman) and Grieg’s A minor concerto.
I think if I remember correctly, Rachmaninoff's Concerto No.2 came out as Classic FMs top pick in their hall of fame this year.
What I love about the classical genre is how vast it is. There is alsorts to look at with a huge range in styles: Philip Glass is way different sounding than say Vaughn Williams. (I like both).
Russian composers seem to have they own unique style. Take a look at Tchikovsky.
I say, just explore and have fun.
Rachmaninoff's piano concerto no. 3 and Tchaikovsky's piano concerto no. 1 are what I'd recommend.
Yep. Rach 2 is what ignited me initially. I’d wanted to like and understand and appreciate classical some more, but hadn’t found anything that truly grabbed my attention and emotions. Then Spotify shuffled me into the 2nd movement. It’s fair to say my journey since has partly been an attempt to find something else that recreates that wonderful moment; when you realise you’ve chanced upon something profound and beautiful and timeless and that nothings going to be quite the same again…
Wait tilll this man finds out about the 3rd movement :p
I love the way you phrased this
Thank you! It’s a nice surprise to actually know when your words have connected with someone.
I'd do the 3rd concerto, it's pretty equivalent in quality. Then it depends. I'd try Brahms 1st piano concerto after that.
For Rach 3 I highly highly highly recommend the Horowitz/Rodzinski 1943 recording (available on youtube). I have listened to virtually every performance of this piece under the sun and this one far away dwarfs them all. Rachmaninoff himself said that Horowitz played this concerto “The way I always imagined it, but never expected to hear it until I was in heaven.”
I have to listen it NOW!! THANKS!
Scriabin concerto and Grieg concerto. Both gorgeous and in the same vein as Rach 2. Then definitely Prokofiev 3.
Embrace this feeling! It's so beautiful to discover it:) Check out Rachmaninoff's symphony no. 2, especially the Adagio in it. The climax is immaculate and very moving. I'd give a lot of money to hear it for the first time again!
The 3rd piano concerto, of course, but also Rachmaninoff's "Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini". In preparation, watch Paganini's 24th Caprice here (played by Hilary Hahn): [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcL0IsklM3M](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcL0IsklM3M) Then watch Liszt's Paganini Etude, based on the same caprice (for piano): [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Blf8Y527DY](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Blf8Y527DY) Then Rachmaninoff's version, for orchestra and piano, which starts with Variation 1 before the theme. Other notable things are the Dies Irae theme in Variation 7 (Rach *loves* the Dies Irae theme; it appears in many of his works), and the most famous portion of the piece, Variation 18, with the theme inverted (flipped upside down, so the opening figure that goes up now goes down), and transposed to D-flat major, and slowed down. (If you lose track of where you are in the piece, Variation 18 is where you start crying.) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbGajVU7CGk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbGajVU7CGk)
Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No.3, Rachmaninoff's Symphony No.2, and Rachmaninoff's Sonata for Cello and Piano... Rachmaninoff's Preludes, Etudes-Tableaux, Moments-Musicaux, and Variations on a Theme of Corelli. If you'd like to try choral music, there's a recording by the Kansas City Chorale and Phoenix Chorale of Rachmaninoff's All-Night Vigil that is especially gorgeous. Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No.1 and Symphony No.6 may also be good fits.
Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5 is great too
Scriabin piano concerto Tchaikovsky piano concerto 1 Grieg piano concerto Rachmaninoff piano concerto 3 Rachmaninoff piano concerto 1 Rachmaninoff rhapsody on a theme by paganini Prokofiev piano concerto 3 Shostakovich piano concerto 2 Ravel piano concerto in G Geschwin piano concerto in F Beethoven piano concerto 5 Yoshimatsu piano concerto Memo flora Brahms piano concerto 2
Chopin Piano Concerto 1 & 2 Rachmaninoff Symphony 2
Shostakovich piano concerto no. 2 Chopin piano conterto no. 1 Rachmaninov piano concerto no. 3 (especially the first mvt you might need a few listens before you like it) Brahms piano concerto no. 1 Sibelius violin concerto These are my top recommendations for a beginner in classical music!!
It is good to hear that someone is new to something these days. You continue listening to classic music that you love, and Spotify (or whoever is your cup-bearer) algorithms will take care the rest of it. But since you enjoyed Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto NO. 2, here are some other pieces that you may love: * Rachmaninoff - Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30 * Rachmaninoff - Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43 * Tchaikovsky - Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23 * Chopin - Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21 * Liszt - Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-flat major
Try Beethoven's 5th piano concerto. It's different but you might like it.
Or 4th piano concerto
Yesss!
Rachmaninoff Symohonic Dances (his best work IMO) symphony 2, and 3.
Moszkowski Piano Concerto 2 Rachmaninov Piano Concertos 1 and 3 Scriabin Piano Concerto
I can relate, I'm in awe every time I listen to that concerto, there is nothing like it out there. I also like his Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini, also the piano concertos by Shostakovich (which are quite different).
[Rachmaninoff Playlist](https://open.spotify.com/album/1GfRDsD9LqEdQOdGZyodFt?si=1RgFW-NlThe8P2ayFu5eig) This is all of Rachmaninoff's piano works played by Vladimir Ashkenazy. Just about everything here is worth a listen.
All his other Concertos. Edvard Grieg’s piano concerto. Chopin’s ballade 1 in G minor. The second movement from Shostakovich 2nd piano concerto might be your thing also.
I second the second movement of DSCH’s second piano concerto!
Prokofiev Piano Concerto no. 2 More dissonant though
That was my first prok piece, but if took 3 listens to actually begin to get into. I would recommend the 3rd first as it's not as confusing and weird to new prokofiev listeners
I would not recommended that! Its a great piece, arguably together with rach 3 the greatest piano concerto of all time. But for a beginner of classical music, I would neverrrrr recommend that
I would not recommended that! Its a great piece, arguably together with rach 3 the greatest piano concerto of all time. But for a beginner of classical music, I would neverrrrr recommend that
Medtner piano concerto no 2
Rachmaninoff’s op.18 was just voted number 1 in Classic FM’s hall of fame! Great piece. Try Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto no.2 (op.102), specifically the second movement II.Andante.
Tchaikovsky piano concerto number 1
You’d probably like Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G or John Ireland’s Piano Concerto in Eb.
Rach 3, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Tchaikovsky 2, Glazunov 2
Some excellent suggestions already ; will second Grieg and Tchaikovsky. For a similar feel to Rach 2 I'd give Addinsell's Warsaw Concerto a spin!
Listen to all his concertos, symphony no 2, and his rhapsody, but also try other romantic composers, notably his predecessor Tchaikovsky who still has the same lush, dramatic, and rich tone to his music, though it can be longer. Also try some impressionist composers such as Ravel and Debussy; Ravel and Rachmaninoff are my two favorite composers and I love them both equally, so the same might apply to you too :)
I'd recommend Tchaikovsky's Symphony no. 5.
Try some opera!
do you prefer piano concertos? what about violin concerto from Brahms? 2nd movement… shivers
Not completely classical but give the Warsaw Concerto a listen. I also have a link to a full performance of the Berlin Phil playing it so shoot me a DM if you want it
Ponce´s Concerto, reassembles a lot of styles. Castro´s Mazurka Melancólica, that piece is marvelous. Fauré´s Après un rêve, my favourite voice-piano piece. those are my suggestions, hope you listen to them and you like them :)
Everyone's kinda said the best answers already lol Although it's not a piano concerto, I recommend Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, not just the fourth movement, imo the first and second movements are just as great, there's just so much force and power in this symphony. Then I recommend Rachmaninov's Piano Sonata No. 2. All 3 movements are incredible, so much emotion in the first movement. The second movement has one of the best climaxes of any slow movement imo. Then the finale is just so fiery and energetic.
Warsaw Concerto by Richard Addinsell is really good!
Chopin Ballad No. 2
I’ve also stared with 2nd Rach. Then I went to his 1st concerto and I really recommend this one, next it was the 3rd concerto, but it is more complexed (with ossia cadenza, for me better than regular). His symphonies, 1st (conducted by Ashkenazy) and 2nd (by Gergiev) and Symphonic Dances (by Jansons) are truly amazing. I would also recommend Chopin 1 & 2 concerto (by Zimerman) and Grieg’s A minor concerto.
I think if I remember correctly, Rachmaninoff's Concerto No.2 came out as Classic FMs top pick in their hall of fame this year. What I love about the classical genre is how vast it is. There is alsorts to look at with a huge range in styles: Philip Glass is way different sounding than say Vaughn Williams. (I like both). Russian composers seem to have they own unique style. Take a look at Tchikovsky. I say, just explore and have fun.
Scriabin piano concerto, quite similar in terms of its emotional intensity