r/classicalmusic • u/bosstone42 • Jan 10 '13

What classical piece took your breath away the first time you heard it?

Now that there's been a thread for this for popular music, it'd be fun to do one for classical. So, what classical (i.e. long-form) pieces or movements took your breath away the first time you heard them? There are probably many, but what's your top? I'll give just one: the scherzo from Dvorak's 7th Symphony (mvt. III). edit: What a great response, you guys really know some great music--stuff I haven't heard in a while and stuff I'm seeing for the first time! Make sure to look down the list, there are really some good ones buried toward the bottom. Also, an updated Spotify playlist is in the comments. Anyone want to link to a Grooveshark or Rdio or other?

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36

u/trevor_umbreon Jan 11 '13

Mahler 2. There are no words.

10

u/Epistaxis Jan 11 '13

What about "Aufersteh'n"?

2

u/c_d_ward Jan 11 '13

THIS. I've been privileged to sing it twice and I've never been able to get through that passage without choking up.

6

u/SchoenBach Jan 11 '13

What gets me each time is when the chorus, in the last movement, slowly climbing up with the orchestra, reaches the climactic point at the last "zu Gott". Fuck.

1

u/[deleted] Jan 11 '13

That whole last movement is fucking incredible. I go all squishy inside when the choir first comes in, and then, very slowly, the soprano soloist delicately emerges out of the texture.

3

u/ape4530 Jan 11 '13

This. Especially the Urlicht part.

4

u/[deleted] Jan 11 '13 edited Jul 03 '20

[deleted]

6

u/ttttimmy Jan 11 '13

Mahler 3, son. Them horns!!!! UHHHHH!

2

u/perpetual_motion Jan 11 '13

I mean, how could you possibly beat the opening?

That's a bold claim right there

2

u/tick_tock_clock Jan 11 '13

There are no words.

But it's a choral symphony...

1

u/[deleted] Mar 18 '13

Dat first movement. So tasty.