So you want to start a classical collection, but don't know where to begin. Try Good-Music-Guide's selection of 10 absolute essential classical music works along with recommended recordings, many at bargain price.

ANTONIO VIVALDI: The Four Seasons
Anne-Sophie Mutter
Vivaldi wrote over 500 concertos. Four of them, for violin, are grouped together as the Four Seasons. Easy to enjoy in this sparkling performance by Anne-Sophie Mutter.

J.S.BACH: BRANDENBURG CONCERTOS
I Musici
Bach's set of 6 concertos for a variety of instruments are brilliant and joyful. This bargain 2 CD set also includes Bach's violin concertos.

MOZART: REQUIEM
Berlin Philharmonic, Agnes Baltsa
The Requiem Mozart's final work was left unfinished when he died. Yes its religious, yes its about death, but it has some of the most powerful and moving music ever written.

BEETHOVEN: SYMPHONY No.9
Berlin Philharmonic, Herbert von Karajan
Beethoven's 9 symphonies form the backbone of Western classical music. If we have to choose just one, then the ninth (the “Choral”) is it, a testament to joy over adversity. Remember that Beethoven was completely deaf by the time he wrote this.

BEETHOVEN: Violin Concerto in D
Hilary Hahn
Beethoven's only concerto for violin and orchestra is powerful stuff. And this performance by a young Hilary Hahn is superlative.

BEETHOVEN: Three Piano Sonatas
Rudolf Serkin
Learning to play Beethoven's piano sonatas (he wrote 32 of them) was the trigger for many peoples interest in classical music. His Moonlight, Appassionata and Pathetique are the most famous.

SCHUBERT: IMPROMPTUS Opus 90
Alfred Brendel
Franz Schubert died at the age of 31. His output in his short life includes some of the greatest songs, symphonies and chamber music. His Impromptus for solo piano are miniature masterpieces.

SCHUBERT: DEATH AND THE MAIDEN
Budapest String Quartet
Schubert's chamber music has an emotional intensity and folk-like simplicity at the same time. His Trout Quintet and the quartet called Death and the Maiden covers the entire spectrum of emotion. Bargain priced. Wondrous stuff.

TCHAIKOVSKY: PIANO CONCERTO No.1
Martha Argerich
Tchaikovsky's is the most romantic of concertos, superbly performed by the Argentinian pianist Martha Argerich, and happily also includes the Rachmaninov 3rd concerto, made famous by the movie Shine.

DVORAK: SYMPHONY No.9
Rafael Kubelik
The Czech composer Antonin Dvorak was inspired by a visit to America to write a symphony using American themes. The result, his Symphony No.9 From the New World has become a classic. This recording also packs in the eighth symphony as well!

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