A Compilation of Favourite Classical Pieces
I had initially set out to make a compilation of classical pieces that make you feel as though the stormtroopers are on their way; something grand and dramatic, embellished with Wagner and Egmont. However, I got lost in that pursuit and found myself creating instead a compilation of my favourite classical works. I have probably missed a few of my favourites, but here they are, in no particular order.
1. Rodrigo – Concierto de Aranjuez: Adagio
Performed by Paco de Lucía and the Orquestra de Cadaqués
This piece makes me feel as though I am on horseback across the plains of Aragón, about to begin some grand life, oblivious to what lies before me. The guitar, played by the esteemed Paco de Lucía, is breathtaking. I also recommend exploring his original pieces, most famously Entre dos aguas.
2. Puccini – Nessun Dorma from Turandot
Sung by Luciano Pavarotti
The first time I listened to this, I cried. I highly recommend playing it loud so that you can truly feel the music.
3. Samuel Barber – Adagio for Strings, Op. 11
New York Philharmonic, conducted by Leonard Bernstein
Probably my favourite string piece — slow, hauntingly beautiful, with an exhilarating climax of pure emotion.
4. Tchaikovsky – The Nutcracker, Op. 71, Act 2: No.14a, Pas de deux. Andante Maestoso
A beautiful mix of magical romance, drama, and tragedy.
5. Wagner – Die Walküre, WWV 86b
David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra
An absolute epic. It conjures visions of a massive cavalry charge — military, powerful, storm-like. Very ‘stormtrooper’.
6. Mozart – Requiem, K.626: Lacrimosa
A little eerie, deeply powerful; a classic with a dark undercurrent. Quite the send-off for any soul.
7. Gregorio Allegri – Miserere mei, Deus
Performed by the Choir of Westminster Abbey
Gloomy yet angelic, certainly otherworldly. It feels like a meeting of the terrestrial and the ethereal, with its contrast between the low and high voices. (Not well versed in technical musical language - sorry.)
8. Holst – The Planets, Op. 32: IV. Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity
David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra
David Parry’s version is, I believe, the sharpest interpretation. He captures both the eccentricity and the chaos of the piece with striking precision. It feels alive; every pause perfectly placed. I would imagine this as the arrival music for good-willed stormtroopers. Later, the chaos softens into calm, where the instrumental is used for Sir Cecil Spring Rice’s I Vow to Thee, My Country. It stirs something beautifully patriotic before returning to that vibrant energy.
9. Bach – Was mir behagt, ist nur die muntre Jagd, Cantata BWV 208:9, “Schafe können sicher weiden”
Russen Brothers performance
A delicate, serene and gentle little piece.
10. Mozart – Symphony No. 25 in G Minor, K.183: I. Allegro con brio
Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, conducted by Sir Neville Marriner
A superbly vivid piece, string-heavy and full of tension. You think there is peace, and then suddenly, drama. I first discovered it in the film Amadeus, a fantastic production, full of colour and insight into Mozart’s eccentricities. A favourite companion read is the Penguin Little Black Classic collection of letters between Mozart and his father - primary sources that reveal Mozart’s youthful madness in contrast to his father’s traditional ways.
11. Beethoven – Egmont, Op. 84: Overture
David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra
A powerhouse of a piece with beautiful crescendos, ominous percussion, and strings that surge in perfect unison. The wind instruments add innocent, almost tender notes that adorn the epic.
12. Khachaturian – Spartacus: Adagio of Spartacus and Phrygia
When you think of a great tale - the innocent venturing into the unknown — this is its soundtrack. It captures every stage of the hero’s journey: darkness, drama, loss, perseverance, and ultimately glory. Its beauty lies in the fact that glory is never simple; it is tinged with depth and sadness, which makes it all the more moving.
13. Shostakovich – Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Major, Op. 102: II. Andante
Dmitri & Maxim Shostakovich with I Musici de Montréal
A serene, beautiful piece that touches on innocence, with gentle tones of sadness and lightness. It unfolds like a quiet revelation; hopeful, tender, and full of growth.
14. Claude Debussy - Arabesque 1.
Probably my favourite piano piece of all time. It reminds me of the journey of a butterfly — from cocoon to resplendent, graceful, winged being. A beautiful depiction of metamorphosis, filled with the colours of nature. Light, delicate, and beautiful in the purest sense.