Lately I've been really into British composers like Gustav Holst, Ralph Vaughn Williams, Edward Elgar. I recommend those guys if you are looking for something new. And l highly recommend "The Planets" by Holst.

If you want dramatic look no further than Wagner. His opera cycle "Der ring des niebellung" (probably spelt that last word incorrectly) is pretty damn fierce. I'm not into opera personally, but the music is great and you can get a version of it on CD called "The Ring without words" which is just amazing.

It's on Amazon here Amazon.com: Wagner: The "Ring" Without Words: Richard Wagner,Lorin Maazel,Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra: Music for just nine dollars for almost 70 minutes of music: can't be bad!

Oh man, I remember having to listen to that for one of my music history courses. Opera sung in German does not appeal to me one bit. Same with opera sung in English. It's so grating on the ears. I have to say that was the longest 70 minutes of my life - certainly one long piece of music Incan do without.

I have a love/hate relationship with Wagner. I like his music but the fact that he was a racist and heralded by Hitler as a national hero and official patriotic music of the Third Reich has always bothered me.

Kay I have a lot of listening to do. Thanks guys.

The first thing that pops into my head that has both dramatic flair and is more palatable than some more modern works is Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique. It's not a mainstay in my library, but that's mostly because I tend away from straightforward pathos in favor of more dense academic composition. Anyone that knows their classical music history will know that name, but it doesn't get as much mainstream exposure as other agreed-upon classics of the repertoire.

Oh yeah, I hate opera too. But this is just the music, no words.

I understand your reticence re Wagner's work. It is a bit of a tough one, and it's hard to separate politics from music, especially when you bring in the Nazis. Still, in fairness, Wagner was a hundred years dead before Hitler came to power, so I'm not sure you can blame him for one madman's interest in, and patronage of, his music?

I'm looking for classical music which is solely piano. I like the dark and emotion types but don't know what artists do this, I've only listened to it on the classical radio station. Any suggestions?

Well, here are some that my boyfriend has been learning on the piano so they are stuck in my head...

Beethoven - Sonata Pathetique, 1st movement. I recommend all the movements though!



Liszt - Totentanz.



Liszt - Un Sospiro



Chopin - Marche Funébre (Funeral March)



Is that the sort of stuff you are interested in?

I find Chopin fits this role to a tee.


The main theme is almost maddeningly narrow and the lack of real resolution just leaves it so haunting. The middle section is a fiery burst of teary confusion, and then returns a harrowing yet calming recapitulation. Mmm, so much fun to play.
The nocturnes in general fit your query, I'd recommend Vladimir Ashkenazy's interpretations. Op. 48 No. 1 in C Minor is my other favorite, but I won't flood this post with Chopin vids.
Some of the etudes also fit the bill, and are a bit more ballsy in general.

For something a bit more visceral, there's Prokofiev.

One of the Youtube comments stated that this piece is on the devil's iPod. I concur.

For something more ambient and reflective, go for Debussy.

His style, impressionism, often bases music on scenes in nature; this famous piece reflects moonlight on the water. Very melancholy, very serene.

...and of course there's my favorite Beethoven, but you stated in another thread that you've really been digging him so I'll refrain from posting a dozen sonatas.
EDIT: Yup, that Beethoven BD posted is my favorite (so much fun to play), and the Appassionata is also appropriate.

I was totally going to post that Chopin one! Changed my mind.