My ListPad

This list doesn't include the Symphonies.  You have to check out my separate Top 10 Symphonies list:

1. Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade - a dazzling piece of orchestration based on exotic themes.  Teeming with beautiful melodies, too.
2. Stravinsky: La Sacre du Printemps - full of dissonance and primitive rhythms.  Caused a riot when this was premiered.  It's wonderful!
3. Moussorgsky: Pictures At An Exhibition - in fairness, Ravel orchestrated this from the piano original.  Russian paintings translated to music, full of original melodies.
4. Ravel: Bolero - the effect of the same melody repeated over and over but with different instrumental combination is hypnotic!
5. Grieg: Peer Gynt Suite - very tuneful, and have lots of popular melodies that are decidedly Norweigan.  Solveig's Lullaby. in particular, moves me.
6. Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake Suite - I find the music more engaging than the more famous Nutcracker Suite.
7. Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue - a successful marriage of classical elements and jazz.  The many moods of this piece reminds me of the facets of New York.
8. Handel: Water Music - for those who wants to try the older, baroque music.  Exalting music, especially the parts with the trumpets.
9. Holst: The Planets - from fiery warlike music (Mars) to music of utmost serenity (Nepture), this piece of work is fascinating.
10. R. Strauss: Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks - story told in music.  Not very accessible to beginners because of modern music dissonances, but the themes and the orchestration is marvelous.  If you listen hard, you can hear Till Eulenspiegel being hanged in the end!