So you want to start listening to classical music, but don't know where to begin? Here's a list of the twenty essential CDs that every classical music fan should have - if you're only going to buy twenty classical CDs in your life, they should be these twenty. The list provides a sampling of the greatest works from a wide variety of styles and time periods. There are roaring symphonies and intimate chamber works, old-fashioned Baroque music, a scandalous twentieth century piece, and everything in between. The works are all among the most popular pieces performed today, and there are dozens - if not hundreds - of recordings of each. You're bound to fall in love with at least a couple of works on this list.

So you want to start listening to classical music, but don't know where to begin? Here's a list of the twenty essential CDs that every classical music fan should have - if you're only going to buy twenty classical CDs in your life, they should be these twenty. The list provides a sampling of the greatest works from a wide variety of styles and time periods. There are roaring symphonies and intimate chamber works, old-fashioned Baroque music, a scandalous twentieth century piece, and everything in between. The works are all among the most popular pieces performed today, and there are dozens - if not hundreds - of recordings of each. You're bound to fall in love with at least a couple of works on this list.