Most achingly-beautiful music

TubeGroover, may I also suggest Mahler 2 final movement, the resurrection final scence, when the organ bass kicks in, you can see the skies open before you, and you transcend mortality..........Tchaikovsky Sym 6 Pathetique, is a malestorm of elation/utter despair, I love the 2nd movement a melancholy waltz, like a lover with a broken heart dancing the last dance........Finally Mozart "Exultate Jubulate" I have an Emma Kirkby/Hogwood version that is a heavenly inspiration, just stunning.....regards Sam

My votes are for Itzak Perlman's "Remembrances" and the theme to Schindler's list. Autumn Leaves or any of Ellington's indigo's for that matter. Sting's "Dance Alone" and "Fragile". Stevie Ray's version of "Little Wing" and a couple tracks off of Ben Harper's "Will to Live" including the last one...Mother Mary I think it's called? How's that for an eclectic bunch of achers?

All of the above are indisputably wonderful pieces, though I do not know much about the jazz and pop items. Three works that I hold very close to my heart are: 1. SCHUBERT String Quintet (D956) - most versions are competent, but the Hollywood String Quartet's version on Testament is very special (the Adagio & Allegreto mvmts, especially). 2. BEETHOVEN Piano Trio in D Op. 70 ('Ghost') - 2nd mvmt. Beaux Arts Trio on Philips is stellar. 3. BARBER Violin Concerto - there are many fine recordings including Gil Shaham, Joshua Bell and Yitzhak Perlman. Permit me to squeeze in a 4th: RACHMANINOV Piano Concerto No.3 with Ashkenazi and Anatole Fistoulari (recently re-issued on DECCA). I could go on and on, but have tried to avoid being too high-brow. I've learned much about the non-classical items and hope to pursue these keenly. Thanks for indulging me! Mark

MOzart need i say more?

Brahms 4th Symphony (second movement); Rachmaninoff's 2nd Symphony (second movement); Grieg's The Last Spring; Mahler's 5th Symphony (adagietto); a lot of Tchaikovsky; Nat King Cole singing Stardust; and the nicest symphony ever composed--Dvorak's No. 8 in G Major. I've heard many renditions, but the finest (not necessarily in order) are by Kertesz, Kubelik, and Talich.