You voted for your favorites and we counted them back! Here are WRR listeners’ favorite pieces of classical music for 2025.
1 Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 ‘Choral’
2 Bach, JS: Brandenburg Concertos
3 Dvorak: Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 ‘From the New World’
4 Barber: Adagio for Strings, Op. 11
5 Handel: Messiah
6 Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue
7 Albinoni: Adagio for Strings and Organ in G minor
8 Holst: The Planets, Op. 32
9 Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92
10 Copland: Appalachian Spring
11 Debussy: Clair de lune
12 Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67
13 Vivaldi: The Four Seasons
14 Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major, Op. 73 ‘Emperor’
15 Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture, Op. 49
16 Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18
17 Bach, JS: Jesu, joy of man’s desiring
18 Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade, Op. 35
19 Vaughan Williams: The Lark Ascending
20 Elgar: Enigma Variations, Op. 36
21 Bach, JS: Toccata & Fugue in D minor, BWV565
22 Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13 ‘Pathetique’
23 Mozart: Requiem in D minor, K626
24 Saint-Saens: Symphony No. 3 in C minor, Op. 78 ‘Organ Symphony’
25 Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition
26 Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68 ‘Pastoral’
27 Pachelbel: Canon
28 Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30
29 Beethoven: Für Elise
30 Mahler: Symphony No. 2 ‘Resurrection’
31 Smetana: The Moldau
32 Bach, JS: Chromatic Fantasia & Fugue in D minor, BWV903
33 Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2 ‘Moonlight’
34 Bach, JS: Concerto for Two Violins in D minor, BWV1043
35 Brahms: A German Requiem (Ein Deutsches Requiem), Op. 45
36 Mozart: Eine kleine Nachtmusik (A Little Night Music), K525
37 Chopin: Nocturne No. 2 in E flat major, Op. 9 No. 2
38 Ravel: Boléro
39 Allegri: Miserere
40 Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43
41 Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36
42 Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
43 Bach, JS: Goldberg Variations, BWV988
44 Orff: Carmina Burana
45 Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring
46 Mendelssohn, Felix: Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64
47 Rossini: William Tell Overture
48 Satie: Gymnopédie No. 1
49 Brahms: Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98
50 Mozart: Clarinet Concerto in A major, K622
51 Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez
52 Mendelssohn, Felix: Hebrides Overture, Op. 26
53 Mahler: Symphony No. 5
54 Bizet: ‘Habanera’ (from Carmen)
55 Copland: Fanfare for the Common Man
56 Faure: Requiem
57 Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64 – excerpts
58 Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61
59 Massenet: Meditation (from Thaïs)
60 Bach, JS: Partita for solo violin No. 2 in D minor, BWV1004: Chaconne
61 Dvorak: Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104
62 Stravinsky: The Firebird
63 Bach, JS: Passacaglia & Fugue in C minor, BWV582
64 Handel: Royal Fireworks Music
65 Respighi: The Pines of Rome
66 Grieg: Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46
67 Borodin: In the Steppes of Central Asia
68 Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58
69 Debussy: Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun
70 Strauss, Johann II: Blue Danube Waltz (An der schönen, blauen Donau), Op. 314
71 Puccini: Nessun dorma (from Turandot)
72 Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 23
73 Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 in E flat major, Op. 55 ‘Eroica’
74 Sibelius: Finlandia, Op. 26
75 Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35
76 Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, K466
77 Brahms: Variations on a theme by Haydn for orchestra, Op. 56a ‘St Anthony Variations’
78 Beethoven: Egmont Overture, Op. 84
79 Chopin: Nocturne No. 20 in C sharp minor, Op. post.
80 Gershwin: Summertime (from Porgy and Bess)
81 Bartok: Romanian Folk Dances
82 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5 in D minor, Op. 47
83 Brahms: Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 73
84 Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C major, Op. 26
85 Mozart: Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K550
86 Ravel: Pavane for a Dead Princess (Pavane pour une infante défunte )
87 Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14
88 Beethoven: Leonore Overture No. 3, Op. 72b
89 Puccini: O mio babbino caro (from Gianni Schicchi)
90 Puccini: Un bel di vedremo (from Madama Butterfly)
91 Saint-Saens: Danse macabre, Op. 40
92 Verdi: La Traviata
93 Wagner: Die Walküre: Ride of the Valkyries
94 Wagner: Tannhauser Overture (WRITE-IN)
95 Chopin: Fantaisie-Impromptu in C sharp minor, Op. 66
96 Mozart: The Marriage of Figaro: Overture
97 Mendelssohn, Felix: Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op. 56 ‘Scottish’
98 Chopin: Heroic Polonaise A flat major, Op. 53
99 Schubert: Ave Maria, D839
100 Verdi: Requiem
101 Prokofiev: Symphony No. 1 in D major, Op. 25 ‘Classical’
102 Schumann, Robert: Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54
103 Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 83
104 Bach, JS: Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV1068: Air (‘Air on a G String’)
105 Mozart: Symphony No. 41 in C major, K551 ‘Jupiter’
106 Debussy: La Mer
107 Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, Op. 15
108 Strauss, Johann II: Emperor Waltz (Kaiser-Walzer), Op. 437
109 Mahler: Symphony No. 1 in D major ‘Titan’
110 Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15
111 Mozart: Ave verum corpus, K618
112 Brahms: Lullaby (Wiegenlied)
113 Mendelssohn, Felix: Symphony No. 4 in A major, Op. 90 ‘Italian’
114 Mahler: Symphony No. 4
115 Mussorgsky: A Night on the Bare Mountain
116 Bach, JS: Toccata, Adagio & Fugue in C major, BWV564
117 Grieg: Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16
118 Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on Greensleeves
119 Gershwin: An American in Paris
120 Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 25 in C major, K503
121 Handel: Zadok the Priest
122 Bach, JS: Wachet auf (Sleepers Awake)
123 Bartok: Concerto for Orchestra, BB 123, Sz.116
124 Schubert: Piano Quintet in A major, D667 ‘The Trout’
125 Rachmaninoff: Vocalise, Op. 34 No. 14
126 Gounod: Ave Maria
127 Saint-Saens: The Swan (from Carnival of the Animals)
128 Chopin: Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23
129 Schubert: Symphony No. 8 in B minor, D759 ‘Unfinished’
130 Liszt: Liebestraum, S541 No. 3
131 Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64
132 Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11
133 Brahms: Symphony No. 3 in F major, Op. 90
134 Franck: Violin Sonata in A major
135 Schumann, Robert: Träumerei (Dreaming)
136 Strauss, R: Don Juan, Op. 20
137 Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74 ‘Pathétique’
138 Debussy: The Girl with the Flaxen Hair (La fille aux cheveux de lin)
139 Faure: Pavane, Op. 50
140 Bruckner: Symphony No. 4 in Eb Major ‘Romantic’
141 Villa-Lobos: Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5: Aria (Cantilena)
142 Bach, JS: Keyboard Concerto No. 1 in D minor, BWV1052
143 Satie: Gymnopédie No. 3
144 Brahms: Academic Festival Overture, Op. 80
145 Wagner: Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg: Overture
146 Granados: Danza española, Op. 37 No. 5 ‘Andaluza’
147 Morricone: The Mission (Gabriel’s Oboe) (WRITE-IN)
148 Mendelssohn, Felix: Overture to “Midsummer Night’s Dream” (WRITE-IN)
149 Handel: Water Music (WRITE-IN)
150 Grofe: Grand Canyon Suite (WRITE-IN)
151 Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57 ‘Appassionata’
152 Rimsky-Korsakov: Flight of the Bumblebee
153 Chopin: Barcarolle in F sharp major, Op. 60
154 Tchaikovsky: Romeo & Juliet – Fantasy Overture
155 Brahms: Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68
156 Liszt: Piano Sonata in B minor
157 Elgar: Salut d’amour, Op. 12
158 Strauss, Johann I: Radetzky March, Op. 228
159 Chopin: Piano Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 35 ‘Funeral March’
160 Piazzolla: Oblivion
161 Franck: Panis Angelicus
162 Schubert: Symphony No. 9 in C major, D944 ‘The Great’
163 Ravel: Valses nobles et sentimentales
164 Debussy: Rêverie
165 Chopin: Waltz No. 7 in C sharp minor, Op. 64 No. 2
166 Sibelius: Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47
167 Strauss, R: Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks, Op. 28
168 Piazzolla: Libertango
169 Puccini: Vissi d’arte (from Tosca) (WRITE-IN)
170 Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major, Op. 53 ‘Waldstein’
171 Bach, JS: Italian Concerto, BWV971
172 Strauss, R: Also sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30
173 Sibelius: Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 43
174 Schubert: Wanderer Fantasy
175 Schubert: Winterreise
176 Debussy: Beau Soir (WRITE-IN)
177 Tchaikovsky Capriccio Italien (WRITE-IN)
178 Handel: Arrival of the Queen of Sheba
179 Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsody #2 (WRITE-IN)
180 Ravel: Piano Concerto in G major (WRITE-IN)
181 Rossini: Barber of Seville Overture
182 Mozart: Piano Sonata No. 11 in A major, K331 ‘Alla Turca’
183 Bach: “Little” Fugue in g minor (WRITE-IN)
184 Ravel: Daphnis & chloe (WRITE-IN)
185 Haydn: Symphony No. 94 in G Major ‘Surprise’
186 Haydn: Cello Concerto No. 1 in C major
187 Mozart: Piano Sonata No. 14 in C Minor, K, 457 (WRITE-IN)
188 Debussy: La Cathédrale Engloutie (WRITE-IN)
189 Brahms: Clarinet Quintet (WRITE-IN)
190 Beethoven: Der Grosse Fuga Op 133 (WRITE-IN)
191 Verdi: Va, pensiero (Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves (from Nabucco)
192 Rachmaninoff: Prelude in C sharp minor, Op. 3 No. 2
193 Albeniz: Suite Espanola No 1 Op 47 Asturias Leyenda (WRITE-IN) 194 Corelli – La Folia (WRITE-IN)
