Wagner. I <3 Wagner.

Mahler. "Titan" Symphony No 1. Love, love it.

I'm also fond of Tchaikovsky. I've always enjoyed "The Nutcracker" because of the ballet. So honestly, Tchaikovsky is the way I've made a very tenuous step into the genre. It can be quite intimidating when discussing with someone who really knows their stuff.

I prefer the 1812 Overture over The Nutcracker myself. It could be that I had to listen to it over and over again for a class a few years ago, so I got sick of it.

I just listened to the Finale. I remember it from my music app class from way back. Good stuff. Now, if only I could remember all the useful information I gained(but have now lost) from that class.

I've never been to the Nut Cracker performance, have you? It seems ridiculous that I haven't yet.

Surprisingly I have never seen the Nutcracker performed either. The only Christmas performance I've ever gone to is Handel's Messiah.

Yes! I love it live and I watch it every year on television when the Christmas holiday rolls around.

My daughter was also in a local production of the ballet. She was a mouse; it was adorable:)

nimrod & Satie
 

Elgars Nimrod played a big part in getting me into Classical. But more recently Ive been checking out Erik Saties piano solo work. good stuff

MTT/SFS: Stravinsky's Rite of Spring (I) - YouTube


MTT/SFS: Stravinsky's Rite of Spring (II) - YouTube


MTT/SFS: Stravinsky's Rite of Spring (III) - YouTube


MTT/SFS: Stravinsky's Rite of Spring (IV) - YouTube

I'd say The Enigma Variations was the first classical piece that I actually enjoyed all the way through, and kickstarted my interest in the genre.
Satie is great as well! Outside of the 3 gymnopedies and 6 gnossienes, I'd recommend La Belle Excentrique, Sonatine Bureaucratique, and Trois Morceaux en Forme de Poire.
His philosophy on his own compositions is pretty funny as well. He's said that he wanted his music to be played in the background, and not listened to. He's also referred to his pieces as "furniture music." Whether he was serious in all of this, I don't know. Man was muy bizarro.