I am a huge fan of classical music, although I don't know a whole great lot about it. Vivaldi is probably my favorite, Mahler a close second. I just listen with great appreciation but am no "music theory" student. Anyone else like to comment on "classical", though? Just looking to learn something .

I won a CD a little while, back, in a radio station promotion. It's a nice collection of light classical pieces, Mozart, Saint-saens, Grieg.....I was giving it its first listen while my 14 year old son was doing his homework in the same room. He has since taken it over as his "homework CD", and is asking for more of the same!

Much of my favorite symphonic music streches from the mid-19th Century to the mid-20th; from, say, Beethoven to Bartok. And I also like a lot of the lesser-known composers, such as Joseph Jongen (Symphonie Concertante), Charles Ruggles (Sun-Treader), Louis Moreau Gottschalk (his Negro-influenced piano pieces were the basis of the ballet "Cakewalk") and black composer R. Nathaniel Dett (born in Canada and descended from escaped slaves).

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I have one classical music lp. It's "Haydn Concerto in D Major Op.21 and Mozart Concerto No.12 in A Major K.414" performed by Vasso Devetzi (piano) and The Moscow Chamber Orchestra. I first heard the album playing while browsing through a used record shop that catered to both rock and classical music. Loved what I heard and bought it right then. I don't listen to it often, but it's nice for soothing the mind after a extra stressful day.

I wouldn't mind listening to something similiar to the record above, if I knew what to look for. Classical music is something I guess I prefer to listen to in small doses. At least for now. I used to feel the same about jazz, but now I love jazz.

Around this time of year, I always have to listen to The Nutcracker. It is my favorite piece of "classical" music. It's so lovely! Apparently the composer (I cannot for the life of me spell his name) was never fully satisfied with it, his most well-known composition. He must have been a perfectionist!

Have you ever heard of Rondo Veneziano? They are a group of classical musicians who play classical music , but they modernise it a bit. Not with electronical instruments, it's still violins etc, but they play it with more rhythm... It's hard to describe but it's really nice to listen to.

I like Haendel quite a bit.

Since I'm a choir girl I like to listen to the big choir works. My favourite one is the Requiem by Mozart. (maybe one reason why I like it is because it's the first major work I ever sang myself )

I played the violin when I was in high school, so I was pretty familiar with classical music. Unfortunately, I don't really have much time to play anymore and definitely don't have time to be part of an orchestra, which can be a major commitment. But I still enjoy listening to classical music, although I don't have a favorite.

I like "The Nutcracker" too. The problem with that piece, imo, is that it's GOT to sound effortless and light and Tchaikovsky wrote some VERY hard stuff in it. So, the orchestra's working as hard as it can and trying to sound effortless at the same time...

Anyhow, I recently got a copy of Orff's "Carmina Burana" which I like. (I've always liked "Carmina Burana", but my 30-year old cassette is not up to the task any more.) This one's a re-issue of an old Angel recording, and can be picked up for a song. EMI have a series of recordings out called "encore". They look to be re-releases of old Angel LPs -- good performers and performances at fairly low prices.