On Air Now
Classic FM Breakfast with Tim Lihoreau 7am - 9am
Hall of Fame: the top 80
View the nation's Top 80 classical works from the Classic FM Hall of Fame Top 300, including that all important No. 1. Then download and buy your favourites from our list of recommended classical recordings...
1 (1) Vaughan Williams: The Lark Ascending
Hear it on: Nicola Benedetti with Andrew Litton and the London Philharmonic Orchestra - Vaughan Williams & Taverner
2 (3) Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 2
Hear it on: Lang Lang with Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre and Valery Gergiev - Rachmaninov
3 (10) Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
Hear it on: André Previn & London Symphony Orchestra - Elgar: Enigma Variations & Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
4 (5) Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 'Emperor'
Hear it on: Hélène Grimaud, Staatskapelle Dresden & Vladimir Jurowski - Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 & Piano Sonata No. 28
5 (8) Beethoven:Symphony No. 6 'Pastoral'
Hear it on: Bernard Haitink & London Symphony Orchestra - LSO Live Beethoven: Symphonies No. 6 & 2
6 (4) Mozart: Clarinet Concerto
Hear it on: David Shifrin, Gerard Schwarz & Mostly Mozart Orchestra - Mozart: Clarinet Concerto in A - Clarinet Quintet in A
7 (2) Elgar: Cello Concerto
Hear it on: Jacqueline Du Pre, London Symphony Orchestra & Sir John Barbirolli - Elgar: Cello Concerto & Sea Pictures
8 (7) Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1
Hear it on: Janine Jansen, Leipzig Gewandhaus-Orchester & Riccardo Chailly - Mendelssohn & Bruch: Violin Concertos (Bonus Track Version)
9 (6) Elgar: Enigma Variations
Hear it on: London Symphony Orchestra & Sir Colin Davis - Elgar: Enigma Variations, Introduction & Allegro
10 (9) Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 'Choral'
Hear it on: Bernard Haitink & London Symphony Orchestra - Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 - "Choral"
11 (13) Pachelbel: Canon in D
Hear it on: Harmonie Universelle - Pachelbel: Canon & Gigue
12 (15) Barber: Adagio for Strings
Hear it on: Leonard Bernstein & New York Philharmonic - Barber's Adagio and other Romantic Favorites for Strings
13 (12) Jenkins: The Armed Man 'A Mass for Peace'
Hear it on: National Youth Choir of Great Britain - The Armed Man (A Mass for Peace)
14 (46) Vivaldi: Four Seasons
Hear it on: Nigel Kennedy - Vivaldi: The Four Seasons
15 (37) Rachmaninov: Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini
Hear it on: Lang Lang - Rachmaninov, with Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre and Valery Gergiev
16 (31) Holst: The Planets
Hear it on: Berliner Philharmoniker & Sir Simon Rattle - Holst: The Planets
17 (11) Grieg: Piano Concerto in A minor
Hear it on: Eugene Ormandy, Philadelphia Orchestra & Van Cliburn - Grieg: Peer Gynt; Piano Concerto
18 (25) Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture
Hear it on: Berliner Philharmoniker & Claudio Abbado - Tchaikovsky: "1812" Overture; Solennelle
Download on iTunes
19 (20) Mozart: Requiem
Hear it on: London Symphony Orchestra & Sir Colin Davis - Mozart: Requiem (LSO Live)
20 (23) Handel: Messiah
Hear it on: Anne Sofie von Otter, English Concert, The English Concert Choir & Trevor Pinnock - Handel: Messiah
21 (14) Sibelius: Finlandia
Hear it on: Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra & Neeme Jarvi - Sibelius: Finlandia, Luonnotar, Karelia Suite
22 (26) Ungar: The Ashokan Farewell
Hear it on: The Ashokan Farewell: Captain JR Perkins & The Band of Her Majesty's Royal Marine
23 (32) Saint-Saens: Symphony No.3 in C minor ‘Organ’
Hear it on: Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Daniel Barenboim, Gaston Litaize & Orchestre de Paris - Saint-Saens: Symphony No. 3, "Organ"
24 (21) Allegri: Miserere
Hear it on: Harry Christophers & The Sixteen - Allegri - Miserere & Palestrina - Missa Papae Marcelli
25 (22) Rodrigo: Concerto de Aranjuez
Hear it on: Daniel Barenboim, English Chamber Orchestra & John Williams - Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez, Villa-Lobos: Concerto for Guitar and Small Orchestra
26 (40) Mascagni: Cavalleria Rusticana
Hear it on: Julia Varady, Luciano Pavarotti, Piero Cappuccilli & Terry Edwards - Mascagni: Cavalleria Rusticana
27 (16) Beethoven: Symphony No.7 in A
Hear it on: Carlos Kleiber & Wiener Philharmoniker - Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 5 & 7
28 (19) Dvorak: Symphony No.9 in E minor ‘New World’
Hear it on: Swedish Chamber Orchestra & Thomas Dausgaard - Dvorák: Symphonies Nos. 6 and 9
29 (35) Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.14 in C sharp minor ‘Moonlight’
Hear it on: Daniel Barenboim - Beethoven: "Moonlight", "Appassionata" & "Pathétique" Sonatas
30 (17) Rachmaninov: Symphony No.2 in E minor
Hear it on: André Previn & London Symphony Orchestra - Great Recordings of the Century - Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 2
31 (33) Bizet: The Pearl Fishers – Duet
Hear it on: Andrea Bocelli - Aria: The Opera Album
32 (34) Bach: Double Violin Concerto in D minor
Hear it on: Hilary Hahn, Jeffrey Kahane & Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra - J.S. Bach: Violin Concertos
33 (70) Bach: Toccata and Fugue in D minor
Hear it on: Simon Preston - Bach: Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, BWV 565
34 (18) Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 in C minor
Hear it on: Gustavo Dudamel & Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela - Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 5 & 7
35 (28) Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No.1 in B flat minor
Hear it on: Berliner Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado, Martha Argerich & Nicolas Economou - Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1; Nutcracker Suite
36 (30) Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E minor
Hear it on: Academy of St. Martin in the Fields & Nicola Benedetti - Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto
37 (38) Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue
Hear it on: Jeff Tyzik, Jon Nakamatsu & Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra - Gershwin: Piano Concerto In F, Rhapsody In Blue, Cuban Overture
38 (41) Fauré: Requiem
Hear it on: Harry Christophers, Elin Manahan Thomas, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields & The Sixteen - Fauré: Requiem
39 (24) Shostakovich: Piano Concerto No.2 in F
Hear it on: Dimitry Shostakovich, Jr., I Musici De Montreal & Maxim Shostakovich - Shostakovich: Piano Concerto No. 2 - Symphony for Strings
40 (44) Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade
Hear it on: Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert Von Karajan & Michel Schwalbé - Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade
Download on iTunes
41 (27) Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No.3 in D minor
Hear it on: Riccardo Chailly & Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks - Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 3
42 (43) Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake
Hear it on: Charles Dutoit & L'Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal - Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake
43 (93) Grieg Peer Gynt Suite No.1
Hear it on: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra & Sakari Oramo - Grieg: Peer Gynt Suites 1 & 2 - In Autumn - Symphonic Dances
44 (66) Bach: 6 Brandenburg Concertos
Hear it on: European Brandenburg Ensemble & Trevor Pinnock - Bach: Six Concertos for the Margrave of Brandenburg
45 (36) Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D
Hear it on: Carlo Maria Giulini, Itzhak Perlman & Philharmonia Orchestra - Great Recordings of the Century - Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 61
46 (55) Shore: Lord of the Rings
Hear it on: Howard Shore - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King - The Complete Recordings
47 (64) Mendelssohn: Hebrides Overture ‘Fingal's Cave’
Hear it on: Bernard Haitink & London Philharmonic Orchestra- Mendelssohn: Symphonies Nos.3 & 4 - Hebrides Overture
Buy from Amazon
48 (48) Mahler: Symphony No. 5 in C sharp minor
Hear it on: Gustavo Dudamel & Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela - Mahler: Symphony No. 5
49 (39) Mozart: Piano Concerto No.21 in C ‘Elvira Madigan’
Hear it on: Daniel Barenboim & English Chamber Orchestra - Mozart: Piano Concerto Nos. 21 & 27
50 (83) Mozart: The Marriage of Figaro
Hear it on: Collegium Vocale Gent, Concerto Koln & René Jacobs - Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro
Buy from Amazon
51 (80) Mozart: Ave Verum Corpus
Hear it on: Barry Wordsworth, Bryn Terfel & London Symphony Orchestra - Simple Gifts
52 (71) Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet
Hear it on: Kirov Orchestra & Valery Gergiev - Prokofiev: Romeo & Juliet
53 (68) Mozart: The Magic Flute
Hear it on: Christa Ludwig, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Gundula Janowitz, Nicolai Gedda, Otto Klemperer & Philharmonia Orchestra - Great Recordings of the Century - Mozart: Die Zauberflote (The Magic Flute)
54 (53) Fauré: Cantique de Jean Racine
Hear it on: English Voices, London Festival Orchestra & Ross Pople - Fauré: Requiem; Cantique de Jean Racine; Messe basse
55 (63) Handel: Solomon – Arrival of the Queen of Sheba
Hear it on: Akademie fur Alte Musik Berlin, Daniel Reuss & Sarah Connolly - Handel: Solomon
56 (77) Verdi: Nabucco
Hear it on: Ambrosian Opera Chorus, Philharmonia Orchestra & Riccardo Muti - Verdi: Nabucco
57 (107) Williams: Schindler's List
Hear it on: John Williams - Greatest Hits 1969-1999
58 (104) Mozart: Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
Hear it on: James Levine, Walter Singer & Wiener Philharmoniker - Mozart: Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
59 (57) Albinoni: Adagio in G minor
Hear it on: Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert Von Karajan & Michel Schwalbé - Vivaldi: Le Quattro Stagioni; Albinoni: Adagio; Corelli: Christmas Concerto
60 (29) Smetana: Ma Vlast – Vltava
Hear it on: London Symphony Orchestra & Sir Colin Davis - LSO Live - Smetana: Má vlast
61 (95) Puccini: La Bohème
Hear it on: Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert Von Karajan, Luciano Pavarotti & Mirella Freni - Puccini: La Bohème (2 CDs)
Download on iTunes
Buy from Amazon
62 (60) Morricone: The Mission – Gabriel's Oboe
Hear it on: Ennio Morricone - The Mission (Original Soundtrack from the Film)
Download on iTunes
Buy from Amazon
63 (109) Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker Suite
Hear it on: Orchestra Of The Kirov Opera St. Petersburg, Valery Borisov & Valery Gergiev - Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker
64 (51) Debussy: Suite Bergamasque – Clair de Lune
Hear it on: Jean-Yves Thibaudet - Atonement (Music from the Motion Picture)
65 (69) Einaudi: Le Onde
Hear it on: Ludovico Einaudi - Le Onde
66 (56) Widor: Organ Symphony No. 5 – Toccata
Hear it on: Simon Preston Vierne: Carillon de Westminster - Widor: Symphony No. 5
67 (45) Elgar: Pomp and Circumstance 4 in G
Hear it on: London Philharmonic Orchestra & Vernon Handley - Elgar: Pomp & Circumstance Marches 1-5 & Sea Pictures
68 (62) Shostakovich: The Gadfly – Romance
Hear it on: Radio Symphony Orchestra of Berlin - Shostakovich: Hamlet & the Gadfly
69 (92) Puccini: Madame Butterfly
Hear it on: Christa Ludwig, Herbert Von Karajan, Luciano Pavarotti, Mirella Freni & Wiener Philharmoniker - Puccini: Madama Butterfly
70 (50) Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 in E flat ‘Eroica’
Hear it on: Jukka-Pekka Saraste & Scottish Chamber Orchestra - Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 "Erioica"
71 (74) Verdi: Requiem
Hear it on: Dame Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, Marilyn Horne, Martti Talvela, Sir Georg Solti & Wiener Philharmoniker - Verdi: Requiem
72 (97) Orff: Carmina Burana
Hear it on: Berliner Philharmoniker & Sir Simon Rattle - Orff: Carmina Burana
73 (58) Sibelius: Karelia Suite
Hear it on: Sir Colin Davis - Karelia Suite, Tapiola, Nightride and Sunset
74 (86) Vaughan Williams: 5 Variants of Dives and Lazarus
Hear it on: Academy of St. Martin in the Fields & Sir Neville Marriner - Vaughan Williams: Tallia Fantasia; Fantasia on Greensleeves; The Lark Ascending etc.
75 (188) Bach: Cello Suites
Hear it on: Steven Isserlis - Bach J S: Cello Suites
76 (101) Vaughan Williams: English Folksongs Suite
Hear it on: Barry Wordsworth, Sir Adrian Boult & Sir Neville Marriner - Vaughan Williams: Orchestral Works
77 (47) Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6 in B minor ‘Pathétique’
Hear it on: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky - Symphony No.6 'Pathetique'
78 (114) Zimmer: Gladiator soundtrack
Hear it on: Hans Zimmer - Gladiator (Soundtrack from the Motion Picture)
79 (228) Delibes: Lakmé
Hear it on: All Angels - All Angels
80 (65) Chopin: Piano Concerto No.1 in E minor
Hear it on: Boris Berezovsky, Ensemble Orchestral de Paris & John Nelson - Chopin: Concertos pour Piano Nos. 1 & 2
