We asked Hungarian violinist and conductor Gábor Takács-Nagy to choose seven pieces of classical music guaranteed to improve your mental health and soothe your soul.
Not to be outdone, we've also added five serene, uplifting choices of our own. Enjoy!
The best classical music for your mental health
1. Mozart: Ave Verum Corpus
Mozart wrote this motet just a few months before he died and, listening to it, I sense that he felt his time was running out. There is a transcendence to this music that is hard to find anywhere else.
It has a connection to the world above – not in a religious sense exactly, but it is far removed from the problems of everyday life. Playing or conducting it is like taking a spiritual tonic: I come out of it feeling younger and calmer, wondering why I waste my time on doubts and fears.
2. Beethoven: Symphony No. 9, III: Adagio molto e cantabile
Beethoven once said that anyone who understood his music spiritually would be able to shed the problems of their life. That is certainly true of this piece. After hearing it, I no longer feel jealousy or anguish; I’m not afraid of death.
And this is remarkable, coming, as it does, from a composer whose life was full of problems: hearing problems, the difficulty of always living life alone, of forever craving somebody’s love. Beethoven found love in nature, God and humanity as a whole, and the slow movement of his Ninth Symphony makes that very clear.
3. Schubert: String Quintet, D956, II: Adagio
It’s no wonder that the great pianist Arthur Rubinstein wanted to die while listening to this piece. I’ve just finished reading War and Peace and I believe that Tolstoy and Schubert were expressing the same sentiments: honesty, warmth, spirituality, consolation, the depth and complexity of human experience.
This was a composer who never had a real love, but in this movement, I think he found everything that he was looking for in life. If I could take one movement with me to a desert island, I would choose this.
4. Beethoven: String Quartet Op. 135, III: Lento assai
Op. 135 was Beethoven’s very last string quartet. I played it many times with the Takács Quartet as an encore and I always got the sense that it helped the audience to understand the message of Beethoven: one of healing the soul with eternal calm and love.
Sometimes I have brief moments – say, 30 seconds – when I think, ‘Wow, now I understand everything clearly’, where I feel able to reconcile myself to the shortcomings in my life. This piece helps to bring me to that point.
More of the best classical music for your mental health
5. Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 17, II: Andante
This is a piece that is very close to me as I recorded it with my friend, the pianist Jean-Efflam Bavouzet. Mozart once wrote to his friend that the making of a genius is not talent or hard work, but love for others. And you can hear that so clearly in this piece.
Listening to it is like going into a beautiful forest and suddenly stopping in a meadow and thinking, ‘This is so simple, so natural. And how great it is to be alive just in order to be able to experience this.’
6. Haydn: ‘Today you will be with me in Paradise’
This moment in Haydn’s orchestral works Seven Last Words, where you suddenly arrive at the key of C major, is the most representative portrayal of paradise that I’ve ever heard in music: free of all suffering and anguish.
I am something between a believer and a non-believer. But once when I conducted this music with the Manchester Camerata, I had goose pimples and I thought, ‘Now I believe in God’. Even now, I feel there must be some higher force out there. How else could Haydn dream up this magical music?
7. Brahms: 'Ihr habt nun Traurigkeit' (You Now Have Sadness)
This soprano solo is one of the shortest movements in Brahms’s German Requiem, but I’ve never found a moment in any Requiem that more fully conveys a sense of humanity. It portrays the love between a mother and son.
Brahms wrote the Requiem just after the death of his mother and I’ve always felt that this movement was a homage to her. I programmed this piece just a few months after my own mother had died and, for me too, it was an expression of my relationship with her.
Best classical music for mental health: our choices
8. Bach: Goldberg Variations
Bach's much-loved Goldberg Variations for solo piano are widely regarded as one of the most calming and mentally stimulating pieces of classical music. For one thing, these variations are built on a serene, flowing aria, which has a soothing effect on the nervous system.
The balanced and structured nature of the music can help lower anxiety levels. The intricate counterpoint and repeating harmonic progressions engage the brain without overwhelming it. And the steady rhythm can aid in concentration and deep focus, making the Goldbergs a great choice of music for studying.
In fact, Bach’s music is known to stimulate both hemispheres of the brain, improving memory, problem-solving skills, and mental clarity. It’s often associated with the so-called 'Mozart Effect', a theory that listening to structured classical music enhances cognitive performance. Last but not least, the repetitive yet evolving nature of the variations mirrors mindfulness practices, helping listeners stay present.
9. Debussy: 'Clair de lune'
The third movement of his Suite bergamasque for solo piano, Debussy’s 'Clair de lune' is a masterpiece of tranquility, making it an excellent aid for mental wellbeing. Its gentle, flowing melodies and soft harmonies create a dreamlike atmosphere that soothes stress and anxiety. The slow, delicate pacing encourages deep breathing and relaxation, much like meditation.
Elsewhere, 'Clair de lune's impressionistic quality evokes peaceful imagery, helping to quiet an overactive mind. The piece’s dynamic swells and gentle resolutions provide an emotional release, fostering a sense of calm and introspection.
10. Satie: Gymnopédies, No. 1
Owner of seven identically coloured white suits, eating only white foods, Erik Satie was one of music's more unusual characters. When it came to writing music of great tranquillity and harmony, though, he was one of the greatest. If you're exploring Satie's music, the three Gymnopédies, and in particular the uber-tranquil Gymnopédie No. 1, would be the place to start.
This is a musical balm for the mind, offering deep relaxation and emotional comfort. Its slow, flowing melody and soft, repetitive harmonies create a meditative atmosphere that helps reduce stress and anxiety. The piece’s simplicity and gentle pacing encourage mindfulness, allowing you to focus on the present moment.
The delicate balance between melancholy and serenity provides emotional catharsis, making it perfect for unwinding after a long day. Whether used for meditation, sleep, or quiet reflection, Satie's piano music envelops the listener in a tranquil, dreamlike state, promoting inner peace and overall mental well-being.
11. Grieg: 'Morning Mood'
The opening movement of the composer's Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Edvard Grieg’s 'Morning Mood' is a gentle, uplifting piece that evokes feelings of renewal and tranquility. Its soft, flowing melodies and gradual build-up mirror the beauty of a sunrise, fostering a sense of calm and optimism. The warm orchestration and soothing dynamics help reduce stress and anxiety, making it ideal for starting the day on a positive note.
There's more. 'Morning Mood's natural, pastoral quality connects listeners to the serenity of nature, promoting mindfulness and relaxation. Whether used for meditation, stress relief, or simply as background music, 'Morning Mood' encourages a peaceful mindset and enhances overall mental well-being.
12. Arvo Pärt: Spiegel im Spiegel
Written originally for piano and violin (although often heard with a cello or viola replacing the latter), Arvo Pärt’s meditative Spiegel im Spiegel (Mirror in Mirror) is a masterpiece of musical minimalism, offering a profound sense of peace and introspection. Its slow, repetitive structure, with gently unfolding piano arpeggios and sustained violin notes, creates a meditative, almost hypnotic effect.
This simplicity allows the mind to slow down, reducing stress and anxiety while promoting deep relaxation. The spaciousness in the music encourages mindfulness, helping you focus on the present moment. The piece's serene, floating quality provides emotional comfort, making it ideal for reflection, meditation, or unwinding after a long day.
