Performed by the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Andre Previn, pianist: Vladimir Ashkenazy

Rachmaninoff's exciting and often-performed piano concertos. The recent film Shine featured the "Rach 3," highlighting its drama and technical difficulty. Ashkenazy's expertise in Rachmaninoff works makes this recording brilliant.

Performed by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Zubin Mehta, violinist: Itzhak Perlman

This playful, short, and showy piece has much drama. The CD schowcases violin legend Perlman's talent.

Performed by the English Symphony Orchestra, conducted by William Boughton, pianist: Martin Jones

Showy, virtuosic, and exciting first and fourth movements enclose a deep melancholic middle movement and an unusually short third movement. This concerto highlights the pianist's technical prowess and contains much humor, including a sudden bang on the keyboard in the middle of the fourth movement! Written for the uncommon instrumentation of chamber orchestra (strings only), piano, and trumpet, this piece pleases any audience while shocking them with its depressive inner movements.

Performed by the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Alfred Wallenstein, violinist: Itzhak Perlman

Perlman brilliantly performs this romantic violin concerto, full of passion and excitement.

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*hint: the famous Mozart Piano Concertos are listed under Pieces Often Assigned to Students.