Think classical music isn’t for you? Think again.
Forget dusty concert halls and stern conductors—this is music that pulses with emotion, drama, and sheer sonic thrill. Whether it’s the aching lyricism of a solo violin, the thunderous power of a full orchestra, or a melody that takes flight and won’t let go, classical music speaks directly to the soul—no prior knowledge or formalwear required.
This list isn’t about obscure academic pieces or background music for dinner parties. These seven works have real staying power. They’ve captivated listeners in films, on streaming playlists, and in sold-out concert halls for generations. Some are bold and cinematic, others tender and intimate—but all have the power to stop you in your tracks.
So if you’ve ever said, 'I just don’t get classical music', these are the pieces that might just prove you gloriously wrong.
Seven brilliant gateways into classical music
Selected by violinist James Ehnes
1. Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto
I’ve had personal experiences of playing Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto a lot in big outdoor settings; I’ve played it in Central Park twice and I think it’s a piece that shows everything classical music has to offer. It has lyricism, it has incredible excitement, it has this great sense of pageantry in the orchestration.
But that's not all. It has melodies, it has virtuosity, it has great orchestral sections where everyone’s blasting away, and it has the soloist as hero. Overall, I think it’s the type of piece from which people walk away whistling the tunes and remembering them.
2. Rachmaninov Prelude Op. 32, No. 10
Despite there being a lot of classical hits by Rachmaninov, this is a piece that people outside the classical world might not know. And if they listen and still think, ‘Well I just don’t like classical music,’ then there’s not much else we can do about that.
You know how you see these pianos in tube stations? Well, if someone sat down at one and played this piece, I could imagine the entire building coming to a stop. It’s not that it’s particularly flashy – it’s just extremely beautiful, starting slowly then building up to what is probably Rachmaninov at his most hypnotic and poignant.
3. Shostakovich Symphony No. 10: Allegro
Some people assume that classical music is the kind of thing you have playing really softly in the dentist’s office: dry and evocative of something old fashioned or high class. But I don’t think anyone could think that of the second movement of Shostakovich’s Tenth Symphony, which is just about the most head-banging piece of classical music we’ve got.
I guess I can picture people saying, ‘Well, I don’t like it.’ But I think everyone would get something out of it, and I can see it changing a lot of people’s understanding of the kind of power and ferocity that one can experience in orchestral music.
4. Strauss Also sprach Zarathustra
Richard Strauss's Also sprach Zarathustra is one of those pieces that often appears on lists of ‘100 Favourite Classical Tunes’. But most people only know the first minute-and-a-half, which is a shame because the piece as a whole demonstrates how classical music can have this incredible sense of arc and narrative.
And the ending is so wonderfully ambiguous. For someone used to classical music in elevators, it would be amazing to listen to the whole piece and to finish on this unanswered question. It would be hard to find that kind of emotional outcome in music of any other genre.
5. Prokofiev Romeo and Juliet
Anyone whose perception of classical music is people in powdered wigs playing music in the corner of a party would be astonished to know that music can be as descriptive as Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet – a piece that tells the story with so much detail and drama, and yet no words, that listening to it is like watching a movie.
I had a crazy experience a long time ago, when I was jetlagged almost to the point of hallucination, and I listened to the entire ballet straight through. It was like watching a movie in my head and it was wild.
6. Respighi Pines of Rome
I think everyone should have the experience of attending a live performance of Respighi's Pines of Rome. It’s so colourful, so exciting, so loud, so beautiful and so evocative. It blurs the lines harmonically between what we think of as classical music and what we think of as cinematic and popular music. And it’s such a spectacle, featuring a huge number of trumpets as well as the organ.
Overall, it’s the kind of piece where, if you found yourself looking around at the end of the concert, you’d see everybody looking happy. And that can only be a good thing.
7. Fauré Requiem – ‘In Paradisum’
A teacher of mine once said that the most incredible thing about Bach was that every note sounds inevitable. And yet, if you listen to Bach’s music, then stop the recording and see if you can figure out what comes next: you’ll always be wrong.
The same is true of Fauré's Requiem: it sounds so deceptively simple, like something that has always existed. And I can’t think of any piece more beautiful than this one. If I gave it to someone who insisted they didn’t like classical music, and they said, ‘No, that’s not for me,’ I’d have to say, ‘Well, I gave it my best shot.'
Don't go! Here are 7 more choices from the BBC Music Magazine team
To complement James Ehnes's choices above, here are 7 more brilliant introductions into classical music.
1. Beethoven Symphony No. 5 (1st movement)
Famous from the very first four notes, Beethoven's dramatic, driving masterpiece is a thrilling introduction to the power and emotion of orchestral music.
2. Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue
A brilliant blend of jazz and classical, George Gershwin's sweeping, urban masterpiece feels like the heartbeat of a bustling 20th-century city—bold, bluesy, and unforgettable
3. Barber Adagio for Strings
Poignant and haunting, this slow, lyrical builds by the great American composer Samuel Barber builds to an emotional climax. A powerful example of how moving classical music can be.
4. Holst Jupiter, from The Planets
Majestic and full of grandeur, 'Jupiter' from Holst's cosmic suite The Planets combines celestial beauty with rich melody. Its central theme later became the hymn 'I Vow to Thee, My Country'.
10. Bach Air on the G String
Flowing, serene, and spiritually calming, this Baroque gem showcases Bach’s sublime sense of harmony and structure. A timeless piece of peaceful beauty.
6. Copland 'Simple Gifts' (from Appalachian Spring)
Open, optimistic, and distinctly American. This joyful piece from Aaron Copland and Martha Graham's masterful ballet Appalachian Spring feels like sunshine on a vast landscape—simple yet profoundly uplifting.
7. Mozart Clarinet Concerto (2nd movement)
Gentle and graceful, the slow movement of his only concerto for the clarinet is a glowing example of Mozart’s gift for melody. It’s warm, lyrical, and deeply human.
Who is James Ehnes?
Hailing from Canada, James Ehnes is one of the world’s most renowned violinists, and has performed with orchestras all over the globe. A devoted chamber musician, he leads the Ehnes Quartet and is artistic director of the Seattle Chamber Music Society. He is also a visiting professor at the Royal Academy of Music in London and, since August 2024, a member of the faculty at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.