Biggest Movers 2008

For every climber, there must be a faller. Find out about the ups and downs ...

Many of the works in our countdown have achieved colossal rises for one reason or another. An increased number of plays on Classic FM, inclusion in an ad campaign or a movie soundtrack – who knows? Chief among the big risers this time is Turandot by Puccini, up an amazing 172 places.

Biggest climbers:

1. Puccini – Turandot (114; up 172)
2. Delibes – Lakme (79; up 149)
3. Puccini – Tosca (116; up 144)
4. Mozart – Don Giovanni (155; up 138)
5. Vaughan Williams – The Wasps (163; up 137)
6. Bach – Cello Suites (75; up 113)
7. Saint-Saens – Carnival of the Animals (146; up 100)
8. Chopin – Nocturne Opus 9 No.2 (181; up 94)
9. Beethoven – Bagatelle No.25 ‘Fur Elise’ (136; up 93)
10. Einaudi – I Giorni (162; up 87)


But it’s not all about high climbers and new entries – if something goes up, something else must come down.  And some of our Hall Of Fame works have had a spectacular fall from favour. Poor old Zadok has had the bumpiest ride, plummeting from last year’s top 50 to only 279th position this year. Ouch.

Most dramatic falls:

1. Handel – Zadok the Priest (279; down 237)
2. Hawes – Quanta Qualia (231; down 144)
3. Zipoli – Elevazione (278; down 124)
4. Brahms – Symphony No.1 (283; down 100)
5 (=). Elgar – Serenade for Strings (297; down 98)
5 (=). Beethoven – Piano Concerto No.1 (260; down 98)
7. Brahms – Symphony No.4 (236; down 95)
8. Beethoven – Choral Fantasia (211; down 93)
9. Beethoven – Romance No.2 (182; down 84)
10. Mozart – Sinfonia Concertante K364 (292; down 82)