Classical music recommendations (especially Romantic era)

Cafe Society
41

I’m going to throw an odd one into the mix: Friede auf Erden(“Peace on Earth”) by Arnold Schoenberg.

Before you recoil in horror and go “Urgh! Schoenberg!”, note that this is Schoenberg before his break from tonality to atonality. This is a lush choral work - I know you said you prefer non-choral, but still - that occasionally explodes into dissonant chaos and then settles back into that rich tonal lushness. It’s not long (about ten minutes), and I would thoroughly recommend listening to it all the way through.

42

Pre-atonality Schoenberg is a feast for the ears, especially if you love Wagner, Mahler, and Strauss.

The symphonic poem Pelleas und Melisande and the cantata Gurre-Lieder are enormous works in both length and vocal/orchestral forces…Gurre-Lieder employs three separate male choruses on top of a full 8-part choir, soloists, and a monster orchestra.

Check em out!