haunting/dark classical

Lwatson

You might try this CD (Greif: Sonate de Requiem, etc / Bertrand, Amoyel, Weithaas). I have it and I need to be in a very special mood to listen to it. Shostakovich as well as Prokofiev are also capable of some very dark melodies.

Chuck

A few of my favorites.

Elgar's Cello Concerto would be similar in mood to Barber's Adagio and is every bit as good IMHO, well almost. You might also like Barbers Violin Concerto.

I would also vote for Sibelius' Sym #4. For something a little different try Death and Transfiguration by Strauss. It is elevating and beautiful.

Quartet for the end of time is a great suggestion. The Brahms Clarinet Quintet might float your boat as well.

Bartók, Concerto, Fischer Iván, BFZ, Philips or Reiner on Living Stereo,
Liszt Faust, Fischer Iván, BFZ Philips
Shostakovich Symphony no 5, 6, 10, 14,
Mahler symphony no. 2, Fischer Iván, BFZ Channel, Klemperer, EMI,

richard strauss' "four last songs" (esp. w/Jessye Norman! or Elizabeth Schwartzkopf).