UK's favourite piece of classical music revealed
Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No 2 has been voted the nation's favourite piece of classical music for the third consecutive year, according to the annual Classic FM Hall of Fame.
The concerto topped the poll, with 90,000 votes from members of the public, beating popular favourites such as Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No 5 and John Williams' theme to Steven Spielberg's Schindler's List.
The Russian-born composer finished his piano concerto in 1901 after struggling with depression, and dedicated the piece to Nikolai Dahl, his doctor. Its second movement was the inspiration behind Eric Carmen's All By Myself , which was sung by Celine Dion in 1996 and used in the 2001 film Bridget Jones's Diary.
Sir Karl Jenkins, the Welsh composer, came second with The Armed Man: A Mass For Peace – his highest ranking in the chart. The piece came in at number four last year.
The song was originally dedicated to victims of the Kosovo war, and Sir Karl said: 'I'm honoured and humbled that The Armed Man has reached its highest ever position in the Classic FM Hall Of Fame 2025, particularly as I look at all the great masters, past and present, that sit on this list with me.
'With 2025 marking the 25th anniversary of The Armed Man, I'm delighted that this piece has found resonance globally with so many of you over the years.
'I regret to say that there has been no let-up in war and conflict since I dedicated the piece to the victims of Kosovo, but we continue to make music in remembrance of those who have fallen, and in the hope that humanity can find a way to heal.'
Schindler's List was the highest ranking film score this year, coming in at number 11, two places ahead of Howard Shore's Lord of the Rings. The soundtracks for Jurassic Park, Star Wars and Harry Potter also featured in the Hall of Fame but failed to make the top 20.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart remains the nation's most popular composer, with over 13 entries, followed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, who overtook Beethoven and Johann Sebastian Bach.
There were a growing number of entries from modern composers this year, including Ludovico Einaudi, the Italian pianist, with five entries.
The results were announced by Dan Walker, the presenter of Classic FM Breakfast, who said: 'Every year, the Classic FM Hall Of Fame provides a fascinating insight into the nation's favourite classical music and how those music tastes are changing, and this year – the 30th Hall Of Fame – is no exception.
'It is wonderful that Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No 2 tops the poll once again – cementing its place as a timeless masterpiece, which appeals across the generations.
'It's also exciting to see the growing popularity of film music, with 37 entries this year, and increased recognition for modern and living composers. Names like Ludovico Einaudi, Phamie Gow, and, of course, the legendary Sir Karl Jenkins are climbing up the chart, showcasing how classical music keeps evolving at the same time as honouring the greats.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
4 days ago
- The Independent
Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson ‘kiss' on live TV after ‘madly in love' declaration
and Liam Neeson jokingly "kissed" live on The Today Show on Tuesday morning (29 July). The Naked Gun co-stars appeared on the talk show ahead of the release of their new project. It comes after Neeson declared his love for Anderson in October 2024, telling People: "With Pamela, first off, I'm madly in love with her. "She's just terrific to work with. I can't compliment her enough, I'll be honest with you.' While posing together on the red carpet at The Naked Gun 's London premiere, Anderson kissed Neeson's cheek as the Schindler's List actor wrapped his arm around her back.
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson cozy up on The Naked Gun red carpet in New York City amid romance rumors
The pair were even joined by each of their two sons on the red carpet last night in New York 'A LOT OF CHEMISTRY' Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson cozy up on The Naked Gun red carpet in New York City amid romance rumors Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LIAM Neeson and Pamela Anderson have been seen cozying up to one another on the Naked Gun red carpet amid rampant romance rumors. Rumors are rife that the 73-year-old Oscar-nominated star of Schindler's List from Northern Ireland, and the 58-year-old former Baywatch babe are romantically involved. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 6 Pamela Anderson and Liam Neeson looked smitten with one another as they attended The Naked Gun US Premiere Credit: Getty 6 The event took place at the School for the Visual Arts Theatre in NYC Credit: Getty 6 The pair were joined by their kids at the event Credit: Getty The glamorous pair star in the new Naked Gun movie together, with Liam recently saying about Pamela: 'I'm madly in love with her.' And last night in New York, the pair stepped out for the premiere of the hit flick, which first hit screens in 1988, starring Leslie Nielsen. Held at the School for the Visual Arts theatre in the Big Apple, the leading actor and actress gazed at one another while standing together at the glitzy event. Pamela looked chic in a midnight blue gown that was modestly cut and sailed all the way down to the ground. Read More about Pamela guess who 90s sitcom star unrecognisable 26 years after hit TV show with Tim Allen ended She wore her blond locks in a sleek style and finished off her old Hollywood look with some lace gloves on her hands. Meanwhile, Liam wore a gray suit and white shirt, complete with a black belt and matching shoes. Looking dapper and smart, Liam gazed down as Pamela as the pair smiled sweetly at one another. The Naked Gun duo were even joined on the red carpet by their children. Pamela has two sons, Brandon, 29, and Dylan, 27, with her ex-husband Tommy Lee. Meanwhile, Liam has two sons, Micheál, 29, and Daniel, 28, with his late wife, actress Natasha Richardson, who sadly died in 2009. The couple, along with each of their two sons, were seen standing with one another as they all smiled. Reacting to the red carpet snaps and videos circulating social media, one person said on X, "I'm just obsessed with Pamela Anderson and Liam Neeson!" Another gushed, "They are so cute. Hope they get together!" "I hope they fall for each other. They are two nice people who deserve a great love story," penned a third. I think I have a friend for ever in Liam and we definitely have a connection that is very sincere, very loving, and he's a good guy. Pamela Anderson on her bond with Liam Neeson "They would make a nice couple," swooned a fourth. A fifth then said, "They have a lot of chemistry." "They really nailed it with this pairing, damn," added a sixth, speaking of the Naked Gun movie casting. While a seventh person added, "I saw Pamela Anderson and Liam Neeson interviewing each other and they are 100% in love,,, or if not then he's definitely in love with her." Earlier during the press tour for the comedy flick, the actress took snaps of the smartly suited actor's crotch, while he pretended to photograph her as she giggled on the floor. The off-screen chemistry went further with Liam planting a gentle kiss on the side of Pamela's head as he held her waist. Liam also joked that his favourite part of making The Naked Gun, which opens on August 1, was 'the sex scenes', which the pair were given an intimacy co-ordinator for. Liam added: 'I'd never had one before. But she was in the background. There was no kind of, 'OK! Excuse me!'.' Pamela is a five-times married former Playboy model, who has seemingly hinted that her on-screen love interest Liam will not be her next hubby. She commented of her co-star: 'I think I have a friend for ever in Liam and we definitely have a connection that is very sincere, very loving, and he's a good guy.' She added: 'He really is a silly guy. He acts like a silly little boy sometimes.' 6 Pamela looked chic in the midnight blue frock Credit: Getty 6 She and Liam beamed beside one another at the event Credit: Getty
Scottish Sun
20-07-2025
- Scottish Sun
How Liam Neeson has fallen ‘madly in love' with Pamela Anderson after filming sex scenes together for Naked Gun reboot
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ON the face of it Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson make for an unlikely couple. He is the 73-year-old Oscar-nominated star of Schindler's List from Northern Ireland, while she is the 58-year-old former Baywatch babe synonymous with Hollywood glamour. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 7 Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson might make for an unlikely couple Credit: Instagram/chopslobsterbar 7 Liam and Pam in the reboot of The Naked Gun Credit: Alamy 7 Leslie Nielson and Priscilla Presley in Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult Credit: Alamy But having made a reboot of The Naked Gun movies together, Liam said about Pamela: 'I'm madly in love with her.' During their promotion of the comedy — which first hit screens in 1988, starring Leslie Nielsen — the actress took snaps of the smartly suited actor's crotch, while he pretended to photograph her as she giggled on the floor. The off-screen chemistry went further with Liam planting a gentle kiss on the side of Pamela's head as he held her waist. Liam also joked that his favourite part of making The Naked Gun, which opens on August 1, was 'the sex scenes', which the pair were given an intimacy co-ordinator for. Liam added: 'I'd never had one before. But she was in the background. There was no kind of, 'OK! Excuse me!'. 'Acts like silly little boy' Pamela chimed in that the co-ordinator knew when to walk away and joked that she stormed off, with Liam claiming she threw her hands up in the air and said, 'I can't take this! This is too hot for me. I'm going for coffee'. It's not clear whether this outrageous flirting between the pair is to help promote their film. But five-times married former Playboy model has made it plain she is not intending to turn Liam into husband number five. She commented of her co-star: 'I think I have a friend for ever in Liam and we definitely have a connection that is very sincere, very loving, and he's a good guy.' She added: 'He really is a silly guy. He acts like a silly little boy sometimes.' Pamela Anderson stuns in her first scene in Baywatch However much they admire each other though, Liam admitted to never having seen Baywatch, explaining: 'It wasn't my thing.' Pamela's response? 'I watched Schindler's List!' But after Liam watched her Golden Globe-nominated performance in this year's The Last Showgirl, he was impressed, saying: 'She was real. She was funny. Incredibly sexy.' The connection is clear to see, which perhaps is not so surprising as both Liam and Pamela have suffered personal heartache. The Irish actor had been married to actress Natasha Richardson for 15 years when she died in a skiing accident in 2009 aged just 45. Liam, who was left to raise their two sons, Micheal, now 30, and Daniel, 28, alone, struggled to believe she was really gone. While Pamela has told how she was sexually abused and raped in her childhood. She also contracted hepatitis C after sharing a tattoo needle with first husband Tommy Lee. They divorced in 1998 and he was later jailed for assaulting her. Both Liam and Pamela, who first rose to prominence in the 1990s, saw their high-profile careers implode. A string of box-office flops led Pamela to conclude her Hollywood career was over and to relocate back home to Vancouver Island in Canada around 2020. In 2019, Liam was shunned after revealing that in his youth he had wanted to kill a random black man in revenge for a rape of someone he knew. She was real. She was funny. Incredibly sexy Liam on Pammi Having expressed his apologies, the actor is now back in demand, with scripts rolling in. Pamela is enjoying the most fruitful period in her acting career, earning her Golden Globe nomination for her brilliant performance in The Last Showgirl. Perhaps their humble beginnings gave them the strength to claw their way back. Pamela's dad Barry was a furnace repairman and mum Carol was a waitress, while Liam's dad Barney was a school caretaker and mum Kitty was a cook. There are other things the pair have in common. They both like to garden, read every night before going to bed early and dote on their new puppies. 7 Liam in the upcoming reboot of the film Credit: Alamy 7 Liam had been married to actress Natasha Richardson for 15 years when she died in a skiing accident in 2009 aged just 45 Credit: PA:Press Association 7 Pamela with her ex-husband Tommy Lee Credit: Getty Neither, though, would have been the first names to spring to mind if you were remaking The Naked Gun. Leslie Nielsen, who died in 2010 at the age of 84, was always going to be an incredibly tough act to follow. His deadpan performances in Airplane! in 1980 and The Naked Gun: From The Files Of Police Squad! in 1988 transformed them into much-loved movies. Liam has made his name as a tough guy in the Taken films and had only made one comedy before. He was surprised to be offered the role by producer Seth MacFarlane, whose credits include Ted and Family Guy. Liam said: 'I didn't think I was funny, far from it. But I really enjoyed those Leslie Nielsen movies. We have a connection. I'll follow him anywhere Pammi on Liam 'When Seth pitched the idea, I thought maybe he saw something in me.' Pamela has done comedy, such as Blonde And Blonder in 2008, but had recently become more famous for her animal rights activism than acting. When Liam saw her audition tape he felt certain she was the right person to take over from Priscilla Presley as The Naked Gun sidekick. He said: 'It was a no-brainer.' 7 The Naked Gun opens on August 1 Credit: Alamy And once they got on set, that appreciation grew and grew. Liam continued: 'She's just terrific to work with. 'I can't compliment her enough. 'No huge ego. She just comes in to do the work. She's funny and so easy to work with. She's going to be terrific in the film.' Pamela is equally complimentary about her 6ft 4in co-star. She said: 'He brings out the best in you with respect, kindness and depth of experience. It was an absolute honour to work with him.' Pamela, who has two sons, Brandon, 29, and Dylan, 27, with her ex-husband Tommy Lee, said Liam was 'the perfect gentleman' who 'wrapped his coat around me when I was cold'. Fans will get the chance to see how strong their chemistry is when the movie comes out in less than two weeks. If it is a hit, a sequel to this remake is sure to follow. Pamela has already confirmed she would be up for another Naked Gun if Liam is. Talking about her co-star, she said: 'I'll follow him anywhere.' Cupid might just be listening.
