Favourite Classical Composers & Pieces

I have only been investing time in classical music for maybe 3 years, but it has quickly developed into a passion.

Handel
Bach
Scarlatti
Vivaldi
Purcell
Haydn
Mozart
Mendelssohn
Paganini
Rossini

To name but a few. I have an emerging proclivity towards Baroque and Romantic I feel.

I often like music with a somber edge or something indulgent...any recommendations?

What about your own tastes?

You should check out Sibelius.



(Dudamel at the head of the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, one of the finest interpretators of Sibelius's works, in my opinion, at least. They have that mighty and rich yet refined and almost stainless steel'esque sound, and above all, the nordic feel.)

I came here to post Sibelius too!



aaand

The Adagio in G minor by Tomaso Albinoni (or not..) is one of the rare pieces that can actually move me and bring me to a meditative state of mind. It also makes me a bit sad since we use it as a funeral theme in my family.

It took me a while to find a version on youtube that seemed "right" enough regarding pace and instrumentation (I think it needs both organ and strings).
And then I found out that it may not be original work after all:
http://www.miasmaofmusings.com/index...io_in_g_minor/
Well, does not take anything away from it I believe.

Exceedingly good so far gentlemen. I am always enthralled to find new pieces.

Many thanks for sharing.

Some nice nationalistic folk-inspired British compostions here :

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

My favourites are Beethoven, Bach and Wagner.





Also, I love Mozart's "Requiem" and I am a big fan of epic songs like "Carmina Burana"...

Shostakovich
http://youtu.be/JZ3HyFdmTvE
http://youtu.be/pI_-ed1VCJc
Mahler
http://youtu.be/oGyvl9McMGs

I like classical music but don't know where to start. I know a few contemporary artists I listen regularly.