Most heart-meltingly gorgeous piece of music?

[Diapason]

For once I'm not trying to build my own library. Well, not really...

I've another couple to add to the list:
The slow movement of Scriabin's Piano Concerto;
and (obviously) Allegri's Miserere.

[markof]

Rachmaninov: Vocalise, Op. 34/14

Nice moving performance on this:




Also the Allegri Miserere, Barber Adagio, Lux Aeterna by Ligeti, Lark Ascending Vaughan Williams and Piazzolla's Oblivion do it for me.

[Ciaran]

Prokofiev: Ten Pieces for piano from "Romeo and Juliet" Op.75: No. 10. "Romeo and Juliet before parting".

[DaveF]

.....the beginning of the slow movement of the Saint-Saens Organ Symphony

The symphony is more known of course for its bombastic finale but that entire slow movement is one of my favorite pieces of music. 4th movement of Mahlers 5th and the slow movement from his 6th also.

[Dane]

Couple of pieces come to mind straight away:

i) The Andante Cantabile from Tchaikovsky's 5th Symphony by the RPO with Previn.
ii) The Adagio from Grieg's Piano Concerto with Moiseiwitsch or Zimerman.
iii) a small work: Honegger's Pastorale d'Été Charles Dutoit and the Bavarian Radio Orchestra.

A close runner up: Barber's Knoxville: the Summer of 1915 prefereably with Leontyne Price.

[Ciaran]

A close runner up: Barber's Knoxville: the Summer of 1915 prefereably with Leontyne Price.

I love "Knoxville" but I think you need a more modern recording to appreciate the orchestration. Dawn Upshaw/David Zinman is very good indeed.

[Dane]

Thanks for your thoughts on that, Ciaran.

Yes, the Leontyne Price/Schippers is pretty old now, considering it was released late in the 60s. I've probably blinded myself to there being nothing else! So perhaps it's time I "moved up"! It's certainly a work to love. The remaining content on your recommendation looks interesting. I'll put it on the list.

:)

[ravel30]

Good afternoon fellow Tir Na members,

Reading the title make me think of pieces that are sad in mood but yet beautiful. After a few minutes wondering about it I came up with the following pieces:

- The Swan by Camille Saint-Saens
- The 3rd movement of the Cello Sonata by Grieg
- The late piano work Op.117 and 118 of Brahms
- All of Gorecki's 3rd Symphony. Especially the second movement.
- Rautavaara's Cantus Arcticus. Really feel the loneliness of the Arctic birds. (Side note: Gosh I like this piece)
- Parts of Schumann's Davidsbundlertanze
- Schumann's Introduction and Allegro appasionneto Op. 92 (such a brilliant piece in my opinion)

Matt.

[Jared]

^^ hi Matt, good to see you around these parts again... don't be a stranger, will you??

I have just purchased the Brahms piano pieces you mention and the Grieg Cello Sonata is very high on my Amazon wish-list of future purchases... lovely, varied selection from you there.... ;-)

[Seán]

.....the beginning of the slow movement of the Saint-Saens Organ Symphony

The symphony is more known of course for its bombastic finale but that entire slow movement is one of my favorite pieces of music. 4th movement of Mahlers 5th and the slow movement from his 6th

and his Second too.