The opening notes of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony is one of the most recognizable melodies in all of classical music. The first four notes permeate the entire symphony creating a unity between the four movements. Beethoven sought to enlarge the scope of the symphony in both length and instrumentation. For example, Beethoven's fifth symphony is the first symphony to be scored with trombones. According to Marc Geelhoed of Slate Magazine, Beethoven's Fifth Symphony ranked No. 7 on the top 10 classical downloads of 2006.
In his short life Mozart composed 27 complete piano concerti. The last seven rank among the best of Mozart's works. The piano concerto is a composition written for a piano soloist with an orchestral accompaniment. Mozart, who was a superb pianist, wrote many of the piano concertos for himself to perform including the 21st and the 22nd. The Classical CD Guide lists the recording of these concerti by Vladimir Ashkenazy and the Philharmonia Orchestra at No. 2 of their "First 10 CDs of Your Classical Music Collection" list.
The St. Matthew Passion is a large-scale work for chorus and orchestra composed by Johann Sebastian Bach. Bach's St. Mathew passion is a German language setting of the passion of Matthew, which depicts the last days of Christ. Bach's unique scoring includes both small and large choruses and solo arias depicting each character in the passion. Noted English tenor Ian Bostridge calls the St. Mathew passion one of "greatest pieces of music in the western repertory." The Classical CD Guide recommends performances by conductors John Eliot Gardiner and Joshua Rifkin in their "Top 10 Bach CDs for Your Classical Music Collection."
Richard Wagner sought to integrate every art form in each of his operas. This is most evident in the cycle of four operas called "The Ring of the Nibelung." Each Opera in the ring cycle is Wagner's own adaptation of a Norse or German Saga. Wagner finally completed all four operas after continuously working on them for 25 years. Wagner influenced many later composers with his ring cycle, which is why The New York Times Music critic Anthony Tommasini lists Wagner as one of the top 10 greatest composers.
Handel's Messiah remains the best known English language oratorio. Nearly every English speaking person is familiar with the famous "Hallelujah" chorus. The Messiah is set in three acts, much like an opera, with vocal soloists and choruses. The libretto, by Charles Jennens, draws from the old and new testament. Jennens' text examines the prophecy of the Messiah and the resurrection of the human soul. Lorin Wilkerson of Primer Magazine lists the Messiah as No. 7 on the "Top 10 Pieces of Classical Music Every Man Should Know" list.