Favorite classical music piece?

[Tassman]

Nessun dorma from Puccini's Turandot

Weber & Rice copied it in each of their scores.

I’m not aware of that, but a lot of filching of this sort goes on, e.g. “I’m on my Way”, from the musical ‘Paint your Wagon”, features a recurring motif from Puccini’s ‘Tosca’. And similarly Liberace’s “I’ll be seeing you” has been lifted from the theme of the final movement of Mahler’s 3rd Symphony. Needles to say, the originals are better.

Re Puccini's Turandot, the best production of this opera in my view is the one recorded at the Verona Arena way back in 1983 featuring Ghena Dimitrova.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CefvAxb61-8

[robrecht]

I’m not aware of that, but a lot of filching of this sort goes on, e.g. “I’m on my Way”, from the musical ‘Paint your Wagon”, features a recurring motif from Puccini’s ‘Tosca’. And similarly Liberace’s “I’ll be seeing you” has been lifted from the theme of the final movement of Mahler’s 3rd Symphony. Needles to say, the originals are better.

I don't mean it literally, but you'll always find at least one beautiful aria in their work that haunts the whole piece in the same way. They always strike me as reminiscent of Nessun Dorma, but I think that is just good art imitating great art.

[Paprika]

Paganini's Caprice no. 24.

[Tassman]

I don't mean it literally, but you'll always find at least one beautiful aria in their work that haunts the whole piece in the same way. They always strike me as reminiscent of Nessun Dorma, but I think that is just good art imitating great art.

True!

Lloyd Weber tells this story about his big hit from ‘Cats’, i.e. 'Memory'. After playing it through for the first time he asked his friend: “Does this add anything to the show?” The friend's wry response was: “About a billion pounds, I’d say”.

[Carrikature]

Clair de Lune is probably overplayed but always a favorite. All of Chopin's nocturnes. Carnival of the Animals: Aquarium. For some strange reason, Berlioz' Symphonie Fantastique captures my fancy.

Heard A Fuoco by Ludovico Einaudi?

[Ferodaktyl]

i don't think i have a favorite, it mostly depends on whim and mood, but i'd say Rhapsody in Blue by Gershwin is among my favorites.

[Tassman]

Clair de Lune is probably overplayed but always a favorite. All of Chopin's nocturnes. Carnival of the Animals: Aquarium. For some strange reason, Berlioz' Symphonie Fantastique captures my fancy.

Heard A Fuoco by Ludovico Einaudi?

No I hadn't but it's lovely. It's reminiscent of the atmospheric, slightly decadent, music of Erik Satie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-Xm7s9eGxU

The 'Symphonie Fantastique' has long been a favorite of mine too. And, whilst on the French composers, the Saint-Saëns piano Concertos are very enjoyable.

[Carrikature]

No I hadn't but it's lovely. It's reminiscent of the atmospheric, slightly decadent, music of Erik Satie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-Xm7s9eGxU

The 'Symphonie Fantastique' has long been a favorite of mine too. And, whilst on the French composers, the Saint-Saëns piano Concertos are very enjoyable.

I'm familiar with Satie. I played Gymnopedie No. 1 for a recital.

[Tassman]

I'm familiar with Satie. I played Gymnopedie No. 1 for a recital.

Ah, you're a pianist - and a good one presumably if you are into giving recitals. I'm afraid I'm limited to "playing" DVD's and CD's.

[Jedidiah]

I can not even pick a composer. Maybe Mozart and Hayden. But that omits too many great composers.

[robrecht]

I gave a piano recital once ... when I was 7 years old.

[Carrikature]

Ah, you're a pianist - and a good one presumably if you are into giving recitals. I'm afraid I'm limited to "playing" DVD's and CD's.

Heh, I'm intermediate at best. The recitals were part of the lessons I took for about a year (ending last July). I haven't kept up with it much, though.

[RBerman]

Favorites off the top of my head, nothing too offbeat:

1) Pachelbel's "Kanon in D" is just a great 17th century pop song.
2) Bach's "Sheep May Safely Graze" ditto for the 18th century.
3) Grieg's "In the Hall of the Mountain King" is spooky.
4) Orff's "O Fortuna, Imperatrix Mundi" is a favorite choral piece.
5) Mussorgsky's "The Great Gate of Kiev" is majestic.
6) Beethoven's "Fur Elise" is sad. I wonder what she thought of it.
7) Vidor's "Toccata" was fun to play on handbells.

[One Bad Pig]

Favorites off the top of my head, nothing too offbeat:

1) Pachelbel's "Kanon in D" is just a great 17th century pop song.
6) Beethoven's "Fur Elise" is sad. I wonder what she thought of it.

These are also favorites of mine.

3) Grieg's "In the Hall of the Mountain King" is spooky.

I've got this one here at work! *pops it in for a listen.*

[Carrikature]

1) Pachelbel's "Kanon in D" is just a great 17th century pop song.

There's a guy here at work whose last name is Pack. Another guy calls him Pachelbel's Kanon. The first guy doesn't get the reference.