Beethoven is a no brainer to recommend -
Beethoven Symphony No 3.5.7.8.9
No introduction needed here... Karajan is the copy I love the most so far, but if SQ matters then you should look for recordings pass 1980s, but I gotta tell you... SQ isn't everything. The cycle I seek for most now is George Szell though.
Beethoven Violin Concerto in D Major
This is the one 1 only violin concerto ever written by Beethoven, and one of the most beautiful melody. Often an underdog, but not to be missed. Itzhak Perlman perhaps play it best among my collections.
Beethoven Sonatas - Every Beethoven's sonata is gem by itself. But some of them might be 'too deep' for beginners. But the 3 listed below should be easier to digest.If you are buying CD albums, try to look for those with these 3 sonatas together:
- Piano Sonata No.14 C Sharp Minor Op.27 No.2 Moonlight - Possibly one of the best 2nd Movement, minus the violin sonatas / violin concertos that is. 3rd movement's power and intensity is unmatched and is often a challenge on the piano itself lol... I always imagine someone will / HAD AREADLY slammed the keyboard off the piano! 1st Movement might be boring to some, but if you enjoy it... you will be deeply moved.
- Piano Sonata No.21 C Op.53 Waldstein - Very positive and energetic start - you can't stop once you start listening to it! Beautiful 3rd movement.
- Piano Sonata No.23 F Minor Op.57 Appassionata
If you find these too intense and you wanna go on the light side, try some Chopin Noctures, Bach (don't go for solo instruments it will bore you to death), Mozart (i.e
iano sonata No.16), Johann Strauss. These should go easy on you.
You want something folk like, you can go for Antonín Dvorák
You want more spice, Brahms, Sebelius, Mahler and Shostakovich.
You want the spiritual stuff - Bach solo violin sonata and partitas / cello sonata - You have been warned!
Just to clarify - I love the Bach Solo Violin Sonatas and Partitas myself so much, I used to listen to them everyday for at least 6 month or more - and I still listen them to like once 1 week at minimum. But I find it hard to recommend for people who stepped in to the classical genre...