Favorite Classical Piece?

[JCOConnell]

I know its hard to boil it down to one, especially when youre talking centuries of great music, but do you have a favorite classical piece of music?
I think mine is Mussorgsky/Ravel's "Pictures at an Exhibition" (orchestral version). I "discovered" the music over 35 years ago, have many different recordings of the work, and I love nearly all of them.
Mussorgsky's composition is brilliant, Ravels orchestration is excellent, true genius. Anyway, what are your favorite classical piece(s)? (if you can pick one)

[Analog21]

Debussey's Clair de Lune. Whether it's straight piano or an orchestral version, whenever I hear it, I have to stop and listen. Maybe it's the simplicity intermingled with complex passages. It's haunting, romantic, and sweet all at the same time.

[Socrates]

[JCOConnell]

Interesting choice - is this the only performance that tickles your fancy?

[Socrates]

Not Really--just I have this on CD--known quantity--this version is notable I've been informed reliably

Olympia Amen Choir

Soc

[Guest]

Today's LP? The Perfect Fourth ...




But ask me again tommorrow.

[banditcat200]

There are so many that I will not be able to choose one favorite.
But Stravinsky with Ernest Ansermet as conductor on Decca/London will be on the top of my list here.
There is much more that I like in classical, my record collection reflects this with 60 % being classical.

[JCOConnell]

Just to clarify, I was asking what is your favorite piece of classical music, not necessarily your favorite classical LP or performance of that music.

So you're asking about the score?

[banditcat200]

Petrushka by Stravinsky

[Johnny Vinyl]

Bach Cello Suites

[Steve Lefkowicz]

Too many to choose from, so off the top of my head at this moment:
Schoenberg - Verklarte Nacht (string sextet version)
Messiaen - Quator Pour la Fin du Temps
Beethoven - Moonlight Sonata
Dvorak - Symphony #9 (it was the fist full symphony I ever listened to, and have loved it ever since)
Stravinsky - Firebird and Rite of Spring. (agree abut the old Ansermet recordings too).

[allenh]

Stravinsky Ballets and Mozart Piano Concertos amongst my favorites.
Works by Mussorgsky and Tchaikovsky a very close 2nd.

[MylesBAstor]

Lot's of great pieces above and many of my own favorites.

One piece that I heard last year that blew me away was Berlioz's Symphony Fantastique. A piece that satisfies both the music lover and audiophile in me (especially the last movement!).